Minnie Patterson

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Minnie Paterson (d. 1911) was a Canadian heroine noted for her daring rescue of men from the barkentine (barque) Coloma during a severe storm in 1906.

Paterson was the wife of Tom Patterson, keeper of the Cape Beale Light near Bamfield, British Columbia. On December 6, 1906, Keeper Paterson spotted the crippled Coloma being battered by waves near shore. The telegraph line was broken, and the nearest hope was the lighthouse tender Quadra, six miles away on Bamfield Creek. While Tom kept watch over the Coloma, Minnie went to seek help.

To reach the Quadra, Mrs. Paterson had to wade through icy, waist-deep seawater and mud; she finally reached the tender, with the aid of another keeper's wife, some four hours after leaving home. The vessel eventually came to aid the Coloma, putting out a longboat just as the barque was breaking up. All onboard were saved.

For her actions, the Canadian government presented Minnie with a gold watch and a silver plate. Her health damaged by her heroic actions, she developed tuberculosis and died five years later.