The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-08-29
ANOTHER GRACE DARLING.


Ga shore OF Lake Erie, in saving the lives
Of eight seamen who were wrecked near
< her residence:
"On The morning OF The Goth Novem
Der, 1854, the schooner Conductor LEFT the
port of Amherstburgh, bound for Toronto.
with cargo OF ten thousand bushels OF
corn. The wind blew fresh from the
south west all day-a heavy sea running
meantime. About 5 O'clock, +. NJ, the
wind increased to a perfect hurricane, and
all the canvass was reefed snug down
Toward midnight severe storm arose
The topsail sheets were carried away, the
boat was washed from the davits, the decks
swept clean Of everything, and The vessel
would tot obey her helm, and seemed 10
settle in the trough of the sen.
About o'clock in the morning of the
list the crew of the schooner m de what
they supposed to be Long Point light but
it WAS really the high, AT L,rg Point Cut
The thicAiv drifting snow instantly obscur-
ed this light, and in about half an hour af
terward the vessel struck bottom. Al
though the vessel was not more than two
hundred yards from the shore, it was i'm
poss bic TO form an accurate opinion as to
the locality because Of the thick drifting
snow. The sea made a clear breach over
the vessel and forced the crew into the
rigging. where they remained from five
O'Clock IN the morning until two in the af
ternoon Ice was fast making all the time
The crew then deserted woman and two
little boys approaching along the beach.
The woman and children built fire on
the shore, and made signs to The sailors TO
swim ashore. The sea was so great that
they were afraid 10 venture, until The cap
am thinking the fisk of drowning better
than almost certain death by cold and *
posture, struck cut from the wreck. and BIZ
extraordinary efforts nearly reached the
shore; but his strength failed, and being
caught by the undertow, he would have
been carried out had not the woman come
to his assistance She seeing his critical
situation came to him as speedily as the
deep waller would permit and having
walked 10 up'o her neck, fortunately reach
ed HIM, be being utterly exhausted. The
woman supported the man and drew him
ashore, having been herself several times
beaten down by the force Of the waves
With the assistance OF the boys she drew
hum TO the fire and resuscitated him.
The mate of the schooner next struck
our, but IN like manner faile to reach the
shore and sank. The captain, suppo ing
himself to be sufficiently restored, wen, to
The assistance of the mate, but again him
sell gave way, and the woman went again
INTO the angry waters, out To the utmost
depth al which she could stand, and brought
The two men ashore. The mate seemed To
be lI(clcss, but was at length restored. In
addition 10 these efforts, FIVE several time
did the woman 90 Quito the reccdinr surge.
and at each time bring an exhaas.e
drowning seaman ashore, until seven per
sons-the master. mate and five Of the
crcw-werc saved. 1t was evening now
and one man who could not swim sill chung
10 the rigging. During the while 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 time to lime she would pause, al
wis fully regarding the stranded vessel
thus give uttcrance TO her humanity:
''Oh, II ! could save that poor man |
should be "happy' When morning al
last came on the % /, the storm having
abated, the sea was less violent. The
master and crew being nov strengthened
and invigoratcd by the food and fire, con
structed raft and reached their comrade,
whose resolute spirit, though fast giving
way, was III sufficient to enable him to
retain his position in the rigging Thus
he too was saved. though badly frozen.
The crewTemained at the cabin or Mr.. S.
Becker nearly week before they were
able to depart
On the week following ,hi, occurrence
two American vessels were lost on the
same point, whose crews were greatly
comforted by Mrs. Becker, whose hus-
band was still engaged in trapping. The
crews Of these vessels were sheltered in
her cabin and were the recipi nts of her
hospital and humane attentions and care.
I'VE, the captain and crew of the schoon
er Conductor, whose names are hereun.e
subscribed. certify the correctness of The
above statement:
HENRY HACKETr, captain.
JOHN JONES. mate.
~ AMESJ J. COUSINS. seaman and cook
JEREMIAH SAWYERS, seaman.
John CHAMBERS, seaman.
JEROME d. ANDREWS, seaman.
John McAULEY, seaman.
GEORGE NICODEMUS, seaman.
IL certify as owner Of the schooner
Conductor, that the above are the names
OF the captain and crew Who were on
board the schooner at the time she was
| n rocked as stated In The fora..n;ns~ .,a~.a