Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-15
Another Grace Darling.

The Buffalo Commercial of Saturday contains
detailed account Of the exploits of Mrs. Becker,
who resides on the Canada shore Of Lake Erie, in
saving the lives Of eight seamen who were wrecked
near her residence:
On the morning Of the 10th November, 1854,
the schooner Conductor left the port of Amherst
burg, bound for Toronto, with cargo of ten
thousand bushels of corn. The wind blew fresh
from the southwest all day, a heavy sea running
meantime. About Ave o'clock, p. NJ, the wind
increased to perfect hurricane, and all the can.
vas was reefed snug down. Towards midnight
severe storm arose. The topsail sheets were car
red away, the boat washed from the dayits, the
deck swept clean OF everything, and the vessel
would not obey her helm, and seemed to settle
into the trough Of the sea.
About four o'clock in the morning Of the 2lst
the crew Of the schooner made what they supposed
to be Loug Point light, but il was really the light
at Long Point Cut The thickly drifting snow in
stantly obscured this light, and in about half an
hour after the vessel struck bottom. Although
the vessel was not more than two hundred yards
from the Shore il was impossible TO form an opin-
ion as to the locality because Of the thckly drift
ing snow The sea made a clear breach over the
vessel and forced the crew into the rigging, where
they remained from o'clock in the morning until
2 in the afternoon. Ice was making fast all the
time. The crew then deserted a woman and two
little boys approaching along the beach.
The women and children built a FIRE on the
shore, and made signs to the sailors 10 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 exposure, struck out from the wreck,
and, by 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 came to his assistance. She,
seeing his critical situation, to him speedily
as the deep water would admit, and, having walked
in up to her neck, fortunately reached 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 the FIRE and resuscitsted him.
The mate Of the schooner next struck out but
in like Hammer failedit TO reach the shore, and
sank. The captain, supposing himself sufficiently
restored, 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
d.pth at which she could stand, and brought the
two men ashore. The mate seemed TO be lifeless,
but was at length restored. In addition TO these
efforts, five several times did the woman go out to
the receding surge, and at each time bring an ex-
hausted drowning seaman ashore, until seven
persons-the master, mate, and Eve 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, en-
couraging the rescued men, giving them food and
warm tea, and administering TO their comfort.
From time TO time she would pause, and jvistfuly
regarding the stranded vessel thus give utterance
TO her humanity:
ooh, II could save that poor man should be
happy" When morning at last came, on the 22d,
the storm having abatcd, the sea was less violent
The master and crew being now invigorated and
strengthened by the food and fire. constructed a
raft and reached their comrade, whose resolute
spirit, though fast giving way, was still sufficient
TO enable him TO retain his position in the rigging