The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-14
Another Grace Darling !.

announcer N03Hn0.
The Buffalo Commercial Of Saturday contains
detailed account Of the exploit Of Mrs Becker, who
resides the Canada shore Of Lake Erie in saving
the lives Of eight seamen who we're wrecked near
ON the morning Of the 2oth November, 1864, the
schooner Conductor left the port Of Amherstburg,
bound for Toronto. with cargo Of ten Thousand
bushels of corn. The wind blew fresh from the
southwest all day, q heavy sea running meantime.
About o'clock. p. NJ, the wind increased to per.
feet hurricane, and oil the canvass reefed snug
down. Toward midnight severe storm arose. The
sspsaI se nee Were carried e.; away the boat was wash
thing, and the vessel would not obey her helm and
seemed to settle into the trough of the sea.
About 4 O'Clock in the morning Of the 2lst the
crew Of the schooner made what they supposed 10
be Long Point light, but Il was really the light at
Long Point Cut. The thckly drifting snow instant
" obscured this light and IN about half an hour az
ter the vessel struck bottom. Although the vessel
was not more than two hundreds yards from the
shore. il was impossible TO form accurate opinion
az 10 the locality, because Of the thickly drifting
snow. The sea made clear breach over the vessel.
manned from o'clock in the morning until in the
afternoon. Ice was making fast all the time. The
crew then deserted woman and two little boys sp-
preaching along the beach
and made ngns to the sailors 70 swim ashore. The
Sea was great that they we're afraid to venture,
until the captain, thinking the risk Of drowning bet
Ter than almost certain death BY cold and exposure,
eforts nearly reached the shore; but his strength
failed. and being csnght by the undertow he would
have been carried out had not the woman come to
his assistance. She SEEDING his critical situation,
came to him an speedily e the deep water would
permit, and having walked In up to her neck, for
tunafey reach him he 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 him TO tbs fire and resuscitsted
him.
like manner failed to reach the shore, and sank.
The captain, supposing himself sufficiently re-
stored went to the assistance Of the mate, but
again himself gave way, and the woman again went
which she could stand, and brought the two men
ashore. The mate seemed to be lfeless, bnt was
at length restored. In addition TO these ef-
forte, five several times did the woman go
out TO the rcceding surge, and at each time bring
an exhausted drowning seaman ashore, until seven
persons-the master, matt and five Of the crew
were saved 1t WA evening now, and one man who
could not swim still chung to the rigging. During
along the shore renewing the fire, encouraging the
rescued men, giving them food and warm tea, and
administering 10 their comfort. From time TO time
she would pause, and wishfnlly regarding the
stranded vessel, thus give utterance TO her hui
mauity.
"0h, if could save that poor man I should he
happy" When morning ut last came, on the 22d,
he storm having abated, the sea was lcss violent
The master and crew being now strengthened and
iBvgorated by the food and fire, constructed raft
and reached their comrade, whose resoute spirit,
though fast giving way, still sufficient to enable
him TO retain his position in the rigging. Thus he
too. was saved, though badly frozen. The crew re.
maincd OF the cabin Of Mr.. 8. Becker nearly week
before they were able TO depart.
On the week following this occurrence, two Ame-
rican vessels were lost on the same point, whose
crewswerc greatly comforted by Mrs. Becker, whose
husband WAS still engaged in trapping. The crews
of these vessels sheltered In her cabin and were
the recipients of her hospitabe and humane atten-
tons and care.
We, The captain and crew of the schooner Con-
ductOr, whosenames are hercunto subscribed certify
the correctness Of the above statement.
HENRY HAcKETr, captain.
JOHN JONES, mate.
JAMES J. Cousins, seaman and cook.
JEREMIAH SAwYERs, seaman.
JOAN CHAMBERS, do.
JEROME ID. ANDREWS, do.
john McAULEY, do.
GEORGE NIcoDgMUs, do.
certify, as owner Ut the schooner Conductor that
who were on board the schooner nj the time she was
wrecked, az stated in the foregoing narrative.
JOHN McLHop.
We have simply to state, that OH Monday evening
next Mrs. Becker viii be at the American Hotel, at
the request Of numerous gentlemen and that thus y
and gentlemen TO meet her. On Monday we will, 10
few words, give some necessary particulars upon
this subject.
Mrs. Becker has received purse Of $500, raised
desire that the money should he appropriated toward
thu education Of her Children noble purpose.
When Captain Paxton made the git, she said .shc
would thank him il she knew how" shc knew how
to save the lives Of eight persning sailors, IN six
women about Elk feet high, weighs 200 pounds, was
horn i'm Canada, and IL 30 years old. She lives ON
the island OF Long Point with her husband, and they