The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-07
UNNELCONE Sailors WIVES
4 QUESTION OF DISCIPLINE AGI-
TATING SHfPMASTERS.
Heretofore the Captains of Tramp
Steamers Have Had the Privilege
Of Taking Their Wives at Least

subject that is agftating the minds of
foreign trading saipmasters is that OF
seeming determination on the part Of all
owners 10 issue rules prohibiting them in
the future from carrying their wives,
Claiming that the discipline on board ship
Is often in mis- way slaekened and Sisas-
ter frequently fellows.
For long time It has been the rule
"'{h the passenger line steamships. but
almost every tramp owner until re-
Gently had allowed their captains 70 carry
with them their wives at least one voyage
every twelve months. This rule is now
being rescinded by owners. and as a re-
suit shirmasteEs, some Of whom are home
possibly only TWO or three days IN the
year. are very much dissatisfied. and they
are considering the feasibility of joining
III a long petition to all owners both here
ana abroad, asking that the privilege be
again given them.
IN discussion Of this matter several
days ago in a leading ship chambers Of
nee 1t was suggested that the discipline
or a certain steamship that was running
OUT or mere on what is known as a West
India time charter was destroyed through
the captains wife's familiarity with the
crew. and that much time to her charter
eFs was lost. This was. however. sin
guar case, and the exception rather than
the rule.
In support of the assertion that women
at sea are help rather than a draw
back in time OF disaster might be recalled
many instances where life was saved
through a woman's courage alone. The
case of the loss, at Smiths point, near
Fire island. of the four-naSted schooner
l.. II. Randall. November Is. 1898. while
en- route from Philadelphia 10 Boston. IS
strong plea in the wife's favor. Airs.
Randall. the captains wife. who always
accompanied him, fought the elements
IKE demon, and through her pluck all
hands after being dashed in the rigging
all one night were saved.
Another instance of a wife's pluck Is
recalled in the case of the wreck of the
British bark Lady Elibank. which foun-.
dere6 at sea October i5 1893 and whose
crew was landed here December /, 1898.
in the British steamship Siedmere. Capt.
Padgett, from Hueiva. This woman al
though accompanied by her two babes.
braved the elements and waded about .
cabin knee-deep with water preparing
FOOD for the WORKOUT crew, who were
struggling to keep the vessel afloat until
assistance came. Through her encourag-
ing words and heresm the men kept up
heart and were saved after an experience
seldom had.
The heroism of Mrs. Maggie Crossman,
wife Of the mate OF the schooner Kate
T. Rich, which foundersd at sea In No
vember. 1894. while en- route from Phila-
delphia to Pawtucket. r. l., saved that
crew from a watery grave. She assisted
In manning the pumps and kept the men
at work when such was beyond the eff
forts of either Capt. James or his mate.
The wife of Capt. Sjogren. Of the Phil
adelpha bark Sarah S. Ridgeway, which
was lost at sea in the winter Of 1895.
while en- route from New Castle, N 8.
w, to Singapore. did much toward saving
the crew of this vessel. 1t was said at
the time that had 1t not been for Mrs.
Sjogren. the men would have given up the
battle for life. and an awful fate would
have overtakcn them.
The argument was closed, the audience
deciding that those favorable 10 women
on board ship had the better end of It.
1t was also claimed by them that there
could never be recalled single instance
of shipwreck resulting from any inatten-
ton TO duty on the part Of masters or Of
ficers owing to the presence of women on
board. Whether or not the efforts that
are being made by shipmasters to have
their owners allow wives on board will be
successful remains to be seen.-Philadel-
phia Press.