Worcester Daily Spy

A Heroine of the Sea.

Among the noble band of women who, by their heroic bearing, under great trial and suffering, have won for themselves imperishable fame, Mary A. Patton may claim a prominent position. Mrs. Patton is a native of Boston, and but twenty years of age. Her husband, Capt. Joshua A. Patton, sailed from New York in July last, for San Francisco, as commander of the clipper ship 'Neptune's Car,' and it was during this voyage that his wife rendered herself so distinguished. Capt. Patton is well known in New York, and at the eastward, as a young and rising seaman; and the vessels under his command have made some of the swiftest passages on record. He took command of the 'Neptune's Car' about two years ago, and made his first passage in her to San Francisco in ninety days. On that occasion Mrs. Patton accompanied him to San Francisco, China, London, and back to New York. His next voyage was that last year to San Francisco, in which his wife again accompanied him. The 'Neptune's Car' left port at the same time with the clippers 'Romance of the Seas,' 'Intrepid,' and two others, the names of which we do not remember. As usual with commanders in the Pacific trade, Capt. Patton wished to get his ship into port ahead of his rivals. He soon found, however, that his first mate slept during half his watch on the quarter deck, while he kept the ship under reefed courses, and after repeated remonstrance had proved unavailing, he found it necessary to remove him. After that, he undertook to discharge the mate's duties as well as his own, and in consequence of fatigue was taken sick, while passing through the Straits of Le Maire, around the Horn, and in a short time brain fever developed itself.

From that time up to the period of her arrival at San Francisco, Mrs. Patton was both nurse and navigator. When her husband was taken sick the ship was given in charge of the second mate. He, however, was but an indifferent navigator, and although he knew how to take an observation, he could not work up the reckoning. Mrs. Patton, who, on her previous voyage, had studied navigation as a pastime, now took observations, worked up the reckoning by chronometer time, laid the ship's courses, and performed most of the other duties of the captain of the ship. During this time her husband was delirious with the fever, and she shaved his head, and devised every means in her power to soothe and restore him. To this end, she studied medicine to know how to treat his case intelligently, and in course of time succeeded in carrying him alive through the crisis of his complaint.

About one week after the Captain fell sick, the mate wrote a letter to Mrs. Patton, reminding her of the dangers of the coast and the great responsibility she had assumed, and offering to take charge of the ship. She replied that, in the judgment of her husband, he was unfit to be mate, and therefore she could not consider him qualified to fill the post of commander. Stung by this rebuff, the fellow tried to stir up the crew to mutiny against her; but she called the other sailors all, and appealed to them to support her in her hour of trial.—To a man, they resolved to stand by her and the ship, come what might. It was pleasant to witness their cheerful obedience to her orders, as each man vied with his fellows in the performance of his duty.

By the time the ship came nearly up to the latitude of Valparaiso, Capt. Patton had somewhat recovered from the fever, although far too weak for any mental or physical exertion, and the mate, under promise of doing better in the future, had partially resumed duty. But Mrs. Patton discovering that he was steering the ship out of her course, and making for Valparaiso, apprised her husband of the fact. The mate was summoned below and asked to explain his conduct, which he did by saying that he could not keep the ship nearer her course. Capt. Patton then had his cot moved to a part of the cabin from which he could view the 'tell-tale' of the compass, and soon found that the mate was still steering for Valparaiso. He then sent for the four mates and sailors, and formally deposed the first mate, promoting the second officer to his place.—Then he gave orders that under no circumstances was his ship to be taken into any other port than San Francisco.

Soon after, he had a relapse, and for 25 days before the vessel reached port, he was totally blind. At length San Francisco was reached in safety, after a short voyage of 120 days, the vessel beating three out of four of her competitors.

The safety of the ship and the preservation of her husband's life were wholly due to the constant care and watchfulness of Mrs. Patton. On her arrival she informed the consignee of the vessel that for fifty nights previous she had not undressed herself.

On Tuesday we received a note from our ship-news collector, stating that Mrs. Patton and her husband was in this city, having arrived in the steamer George Law. We found them at the Battery Hotel, and obtained an interview with Mrs. Patton. She was assiduously attending her husband as heretofore; but his situation is such as to preclude all hope of recovery.

With that modesty which generally distinguishes true merit, Mrs. Patton begged to be excused from speaking about herself. She said that she had done no more than her duty, and as the recollection of her trials and sufferings evidently gave her pain, we could not do otherwise than respect her feelings. Few persons would imagine that the woman who behaved so bravely, and endured so much for her husband's sake, is a slender New England girl, scarcely twenty years old. She is a lady of medium height, with black hair, large, dark, lustrous eyes, and very pleasing features. Her health is much impaired from the hardships which she has undergone, and she is very near the period of her maternity. Yet she does not spare herself in the least, but is most faithful and constant in her attentions to her husband. We have been informed that she is in straightened circumstances, and although she might and doubtless would shrink from assistance from others, yet it seems to us that this is a case in which our merchants may do themselves honor, by a liberal recognition of her heroic conduct. The Board of Underwriters, we understand, have voted or will vote her $1,000. Considering that the ship and cargo were worth nearly $350,000, and that to her skill and decision they are mainly indebted for its safety, under most adverse circumstances—for the weather was unusually severe—we think, looking at the matter from a purely pecuniary point of view, the least they should have done would have been to give her a check for $5,000. Not only did she safely take the ship from Cape Horn to San Francisco, but both vessel and cargo were in better trim than any of her competitors when she reached port. Of course, the owners of the ship will do handsomely by Mrs. Patton; but were the merchants of New York to make up a liberal purse, it would prove highly acceptable to the widow (as she almost certainly soon will be) and her small family.—New York Tribune.