The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-10-23

NAHSCELHA.NE1O
A FRIGHTFUL STEAM BOAT DISASTER
FORI'Y-IHREE LIVES LOST.

Our London CORE spondent has sent us letter
by the Royal William, detailing the following
particulars Of most appalling steam boat disas-
ter.-hug,tirer.
"The Forfarshire steam boat, 100 horse pow
er, from Hull to Dundee was dashed to pieces on
Wednesday last rock, when, melancholy
10 relate, 43 persons found watery grave. A
bout four clock OH Thursday, blowing hard
from N. f. and showerng rain and sleet the boi.
Ter gave way, which was the cause of rhe sad ca
tastrophe. The Captain was observed with his
wife in his arms, clinging to the wreck,
when IL sea came and swept them off.
Amongst those who persisted were gen
teman and his family belonging toDundee, who
were returning from ST Petersburgh, after res
idence there Of fourteen years. There were %
cabin passengers steerage, Including a chill
dren) and % of n crew, making in all So persons
out of which number only ten were saved to tell
the tale. The captain John Honihe, con.
eidered an excellent man, and was much es een-
ed, while the conduct Of the mate is the subject
of much comment. When the danger first ap.
pcureG, he, followed by four of the crew, took TO
the boat, and shortly after had put off, the YES.
sci struck and parted IN two, the stern drifted
southwark, and the fore part remained OH the
rock"
send yon the following instance of female
intrepihiy in connection with the above mourn
full catastrophe.
William Darling, the keeper Of the Outer
Light House on the Longstone Rocks, observed
the wreck about O'Clock in the morning--thut
is, about two hours after the vessel struck
From the thickness of the weather he could not
discover whether there were any men upon it,.
Between seven and eight, A. M. he at last per.
ceved some men, and asked his daughter Grace
ilorsley Darling to accompany him in n cable
boat, with view to assist and save the untortu
nate people. She ut once consented. 1t may
he remembered, that Darling quite certain
that he would not be able to get back to the light
house without the help of some OF the men he
saw on the rock, and his calculation of returning
was founded on that assumption. lie and his
daughter anticipated such help, let Mrs Darling
to attend to the light house, and rowed their lit
tie boat round by the southern sides of the three
intervening rocks, to the spot where they saw the
shipwrecked persons. This was about Il mile
: or upwards, and the sea was all broken waters
When the men on the rock young slender
woman pulling ihe boat to their rescue, their JOY
almost frantic.
Darling and his daughter succeeded i'm getting
the boat to spot where they could get a land
ing, aud took Mrs Dawson and four of the men,
and brought them to the light house. Here
Darling left his daughter, Mrs Dawson, and two
of the men, and took two of the men back to
the rock, and brought the remaining four per-
sons. The danger was most imminent, but the
experiment was successful. This is one of the
noblest instances recorded of female heroism,
and the writer who this young woman, was
struck with The singular modesy of this coura-
geous female. 1t is to he hoped that this act of
self devotion will be duly regarded. A boat put
off from North Sunderland The same morning
but Darling had already effected the delverance
Of the unfortunate people.