Stewardess is heroine in Kingston shipwreck

Thursday, 15 October 2009 00:00

October 14, 1851. It was an unusually dark night in Kingston harbour when the side-wheel stream Reindeer, known to sailors as Pollywog, rammed and sank the Ottawa. The Ottawa sailors reportedly abandoned ship as fast as they could, leaving shrieking women and children to look after themselves. The ship's stewardess emerged as the heroine, as told in this edited account from the Kingston BritishWhig.

The escape of the passengers was indeed providential. Between 20 and 30 children, nurses, and female relatives were on board. The cabin floor had just been cleared for a dance, when the shock of collision was felt. The captain announced the extent of the sudden danger by exhorting all, "for Heaven's sake," to help themselves.

The captain and purser did all they could to assist the frightened passengers, but the crew, we have been informed, quitted the sinking vessel at the first alarm, and both command and entreaties were alike unavailing to induce them to return to the wreck and assist. One of the manly beings answered a lady's appeal to him by observing that his life was as valuable as hers.

As a noble contrast to such conduct, we record with pleasure the behaviour of the stewardess, who refused to quit the ship until every lady and child had succeeded in getting clear. Her conduct, under most trying circumstances, was heroic.

One lady was drawn out of her birth through the rent made in the Ottawa by the Reindeer—others had similar hairbreadth escapes. The wonder is how so many lives were persevered under circumstances of so much danger.