A HEROINE OF THE OCEAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2280, 14 November 1889, Page 2

A HEROINE OF THE OCEAN

SHE CONQUERED MUTINY ON SHIPBOARD AND SAVED HER HUSBAND.

On January 3rd, 1835, a little after midnight, and on the ocean, nearlng St. Helena, was tbe good American ship Frank N. Thayler, commanded by Oipt. Robert K. Olark. Soon after the midnight watoh was changed the oaptaln was roused from a sound sleep by hearing bia name oalled In a tone of Ttlarm Fearing that all was not well wlh his ship, he hurried np the companion-way In his night olothos. Aa his head appeared above the oompanlon-way he reoelved a number o! stabs ln the faoe, neck, and head, but be managed to see that bis as- ; sallants were two Manilla Indians, mem. bers of his orew. He fell to the floor beneath, where the Indiana followed hfm and plunged their knlve3 Into hla aide, leaving him for dead. The oarpenter, the lookout man, aud mate were killed. The balance of the orew were locked In or terrified, and the captain, hla wife, and daughter wore left to the mercy of the Infuriated Manilla Indians. The capt.lo faint from the loss of bloodi waa ns_l_ied to the cabin by hia wife; Oie of the lungs of the officer was proti'udiag. The brave woman, vylth a nerve aa firm ns adamant, and with a oare as guarded as that cf a skilled physloian, fore.d the vical parts baok and aewad up the frightful wound . She then bandaged hla faoe and head and set herself to the task of making their position safe by teourlDg the windows of the cabin, arming herself, and plac'ng the wounded oiptaln In a position to defend or assist ln tho def enoa of tbeoabin. The precaution was taken just ln time, for thing of the vigil they had kepi; abont the captain's cabin, the mutineers determined to finish him But he and the intrepid woman at his side repelled their assailants, who had broken open the cabin window. What words cm describe the courage of his wife, who stood with firm hand by her husband's side, ready to do or die, hoarlDg meanwhile the tread of the Indians thirsting for his blood. "' The skulking orew, by the ooursge of the wife and oaptaln, wero at last urged to aotion. Ono of the Indians jumped overboard. The other sought refuge In the hold, and when dislodged it was found that he had set the ship on fire. He jumped ovorboard aud waa lost. Then oame renewed hero'Bm on the part of the wife. Ten derly tho loved captain was placed iv a boat, aud after a long and tedious sail of about 700 miles they reaohed the Island of St Helens, having been nine days adrift ln a boat Insuffialently provisioned, with a man a* moat out; to pieces. But the bravo woman was tho master spirit of the shipwrecked, and to-day she Is pointed out as tbe brave wife of the equally brave Oaptsin Robert g, Olark.