Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1893 — Cheers for the Captain's Wife. [ARTICLE]

Cheers for the Captain's Wife.

A veteran sailor, Captain Eastwick, declares that of all the women with whom he was ever at sea, he never met more than one who could refrain from asking questions in moments of extreme peril and urgency. That one was his wife, and elsewhere in his autobiography he pays another tribute to her courageous disposition. He had just ridden out a gale with much difficulty in the Indian Ocean, when he was sighted by two Dutch brigs of war, which immediately gave chase. He ordered all sail spread, but his ship was insufficiently manned and much precious time was lost. It was morning, and my wife had come on. deck, and stood with my glass in hand looking at the two brigs, while I had myself taken the wheel, so as to spare every man for the urgent work aloft. Every minute I glanced back over my shoulder to see the position of the enemy. They had every stitch of canvas spread, and were sailing three feet for our two.

A great 'celiug of despondency came over me as I saw this and thought of iny young wife standing there in front of me, and of the fate that might be in store for her. And then, to increase the danger, the brigs opened fire, and a shot came skipping after us, but fell short. In a few minutes more they fired again, and now it was evident that we should soon be in range, and I called to my wife to go below. But she refused to do so. Another shot came closer to us than any previous one, and I shouted to my crew up aloft to redouble their exertions; hut they, unable to cope with the work in hand, answered that they wanted help. There was only myself left who could aid them, and I dared not leave the wheel. We were sailing close to the wind, and any deviation from our course might throw all sails aback, and be our ruin. My wife perceived my extremity, During the voyage she had three or four times, by way of amusement, taken a short trick at the. wheel. This gave her confidence for the occasion, and without a moment’s hesitation she ran to my side. “Give me the wheel, Robert,” she cried, “and you gar help! I will do my best to keep her head up.” There was no time to remonstrate, and indeed her assistance came like aid from heaven. With a blessing for her pluck I handed the helm over to her, and darted up the shrouds. As soon as the crew saw what had occurred, the noble example seemed to animate them with new vigor, and when I joined them, and was able to assist as well as direct, we managed to complete the bending on the foresail.

The shots from the Dutchmen were comipg fast and thick now, but hope was in our hearts. Sail by sail we got a splendid spread of canvas on the Endeavor, and as each fresh one began to draw, we first held our own, and then gradually left our enemy behind; and when, after an hour’s work, I returned to deck, we were practically out of danger. Then one of the men took off his cap and called for three cheers for the Captain’s wife,' and never, 1 think, did any lady at sea receive such a compliment as burst from the throats of those rough men, whose best instincts had been appealed to by the brave deed they thus spontaneously applauded.