Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-08-24

Another Grace Darling.

Another Grace Darling.
The Bu0l'o Commercial contains n de-
tailed account of the exploit Of Mrs Becker,
who rcSi'lrs IN the Canada shore of Lake
Erie, in saving The lives of eight scaintn vino
were wrecked near her residence
On the morning Of the Goth November,
1854, the schooner Conductor left the port
of Amherstburgh, bound Tor Toronto with a
cargo for ten thousand bushels of Corn The
wind blew fresh from the southwest all day,
a heavy sen running meantime. About
clock, p. NJ. the wind increased to perfect
hurricane, and all the canvass was rceicd
snug down Towards midnight severe
storm arose. The top sheet sails We're car
ricd away, and the boat was washed from
the davits, tho decks swept clean Of every
thing, and the vessel would not obey her
helm, and seemed to settle into the trough
of the sea.
About ] O'Clock in the morning of the DIST,
the crew OF the schooner lnaie, what they
supposed to be Long Point Light, but it was
really the light at Long Point cut. The
thickly drifting snow instantly obscured the
light. and in about halt an hour atterward
the vessel struck bottom. Although the YES
sci was not more than two hundred yards
from the shore it was impossible to form an
accurate opinion as to the locality, because
Of the thiclily drifting snow. The sea maded
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 afternoon. Ice was fast making all the
time. The crew then deserted woman and
two littlc boys approaching along the beach.
The women and children built fire upon
the Shore and made signs to the sailors to
swim ashore. The sea was great that
they were afraid to venture, until the cap
tain thinking the risk Of drowning better
than almost certain death by cold and expo
sure, struck out from the wreck, and by ex-
traordinary efforts nearly reached the shore,
Tut his strength failed, and being caught by
the undertow, he would have been carried
! out had not the woman come to lis aid. She
seeing his critical situation came to him us
speedily as th, deep water would permit,
and having walked in up to her neck, iortu-
nately reached him. he beng utterly ex-
hausted. 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 rcCuscitated him.
: The mate ofthc schooner next struck out,
| but in like manner failed to reach the shore,
and sank The captain supposing himself to
| be sufficiently restored. went to the as-is-
! tance the mate, but again himself gave way
and the woman again went into the angry
waters. out to the utmost depth ut which she
| could stand, aud brought the two men shore
! The mate seemed to be lilclcss, but was at
length restored In addition to these efforts
five several times did the woman 80 out tC
the recedIng surge, and at each time bring a!
! exhausted, drowning seaman ashore, until
persons, the master, mate, and five Of the
crew were saved, 1t was evening now, and
one man who could not swim still clung t.
the rigging. During the whole night the
woman paced back and forth along the shor'
renewing the fire, encouraging the rescued
men, giving them food and warm tea, and ad
ministering to their comfort. From time t,
time she would pause, and wishtully regard
ing the stranded vessel, thus give utteranc'
to her humanity.
'Oh, if could save that poor man,
should be happy
When morning at last came, on the 22d
the storm having abated, the sea was les
violent. The master and crew being no,
strengthened and dinyigorated by the food an
fire, constructed a raft and reached thci
|, comrade, whose resolute spirit, though E,s
giving way, was still sufficient to enable hir
to retain his position in the rigging. Thu
lc too was saved, though badly Frozen
The crew remained Mt the cabin OF Mr.. ;
Becker, nearly week before they were abI
to depart.
On the week following this occurrence
two American vessels were lost on tho SAT-
point, whose crews were greatly comiorted J.
: Mrs Becker, whose husband was still cl
gagged in trapping. The crews were slcterc
in hcr cabin, and the recipients Of her hosp
table and humane attentions and care.
We. the captain and crew Of the schoon
Conductor, whose uames arc hereunto su
scribed, do certify to the correctness of Il
above statement -
Henry lIacket, captain,
John Jones, mate.
d James j. Cousins, seaman and Cook.
> jeremiah Sawyers, seaman.
> John Chambers, do.
Jerome d. Andrews, do.
John McAuley, do
George Nicodemus, do.
! certify az the owner OF the schooner Co
) ductor that the above are the names of I
J. captain and crew who were on board t
;r schooner at the time she was wrecked,
e. stated in the foregoing narrative.
70 ions MCIFoD
We have simply to state, that on Mond
evening next, Mrs Bcckcn will be at t
American Hotel, at tho request Of numcro
gentlemen, and that thus convent ent oppC
-. tunity viii be alfordcd for ladies' and gent
v. men 10 meet her. On Monday We will, il
~ few words, give some necessary paricult
lg upon the subject.
cs Mrs Becker ha. received purse Of 56I
TO raised by private subscription in Canad
she expressed the desire that the mon
should be appropriated towards the edu'
tion Of her childrcn--a noble purpose.
When Captain PiXt0n made the glft
said 4" she would thank him If she kn