The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-08-16

- ANU4fmn 0akcx DAnxfHo -Jn9 bu1eto OOme
mercisl Of Saturday contains . detailed account
. the explode OF Mrs. becker. who resides on the
C.asss shore of Lake Erie, IN saving the lives Of
eisht ssanen who were wrecked near her resi-
depces .
On tus morning Of The ooh November, 1874. the
schooner Conductor left the port OF Amhertsburg,
bound for Toronto, WIKI cargo OF ten thousand
bushels Of corn. The wind blew fresh from the
south ~est all day, heavy sea running meantime
About o'clock r. NJ, the wind Increased 70 per-
feet hurricane and ell the canvas was reeied snug
dowl Towards midnight severe storm arose.
The sopeail sheets were carried away, the boat was
washed from the davis, the deck swept clean Of
ever ythiug and the vessel would not obey her
helm. and seemed to settle Into the trough OF the
sea. r
Abou. four O'Clock 10 the morning Of the 21st the
crew OF the schooner msde what they supposed 10
be Long Point light but 1t was really the light al
Long Point Cut. The thickly drifting snow nstant-
" obseured this light, and In about half an hour
after the vessel struck bottom Although the vessel
was not more th an two hundred yards from the
Shore Ii WAS impossible TO form an accurate opin-
lon as the locality because OF the thickiy orog
snow Tho sea made clear breach over tne yes.
they RI maiaed from five O'Clock 10 the morning
until two in the afternoon. Ice was making fast
all the time The crew then deserted woman
and two little boys approaching along the beach
The women and children built fire on the shore,
and made signs to the sailors to swim ashore. The
sea was SO great that they we're afraid to venture,
until the captain. thinking the risk OF drowning
better than almost certain death BY cold and expos
ure, struck out from the wreck, and BY extraor'
dinary efforts nearly reached the shore but bis
strength failed, and being caught BY the undertow
he would have been carried ont had not the wo.
man come to his assistance She seeing his critical
situation. came 70 him a. speedily a. the deep water
would admit and having walked 10 up 10 her neck,
fortunately reached him, he being utterly exhausts
ed. The woman supported the man and drew him
ashore, having been herself several times beaten
down by the force of the waves With the sssis-
lance of the boys she drew him to the fire and re-
suscitated him.
The mate of the schooner next struck out, but
10 like manner failed to reach the Shore and sank
The captain, supposing himself sufficiently restoI-
ed went to the assistance of the mate, but again
himself gave way, and the woman again went Into
the angry waters out to the utmost depth at which
she could stand, and brought the two men ashore
The mate seemed to be lfeless, but was at length
restored In addition to these efforts. five several
times did the woman go out 70 the receding surge.
and at each time bring an exhausted drowning sea-
man ashore, until seven persons-the master, mate
and five of the crew-were saved. 1t was evening
now, and one man who could not swim still chung
to the rigging. During the whole night the woman
paced back and forth along the Shore renewing the
fire, encouraging the rescued men, giving them
food and warm tea, and administering to their
comfort. From tims to time she would pause, and
wstfulIy regarding the stranded vessel, thus give
utterance to her humanity:
"Oh, If | could save that poor man should be
hsppy" When morning at last came on the 22d,
the storm having abated, the sea less violent,
the master and crew being now invigorsted and
strengthened by the food and fire, constructed
raft and reached their comrsde, whose resolute
spirit though fast giving way was still sufficient to
snable him to retain hts position In the rigging
Thus he, too was saved, though badly frozen
The crew remained at the cabin of Mr. Becker
nearly a week before they were able to depart
On the week following this occurrence, two
American vessels were lost on the same point,
| whose crews were greatly comforted by Mrs.
Becker, whose husband was still engaged In trap
| ping. The crews of these vessels were sheltered
In her cabin, and were the recipients of her hos
pitabIe and humane attention and care.