The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-12-11
A Noble Woman.

The Toronto (Canada) Globe gives very
interesting report Of the presentation OF the
Gold Medal of the New York Life Saving
Benevolent Association, to Mrs. Abigail
Becker, for her noble heroism in saving the
lives OF the crew Of the wrecked schooner
Conductor. The presentation was male by
the Collector OF Customs, who recapitulated
the striking facts in the heroic achievement
Us follows:
On the morning Of q cold Noyember's day
the Canadian schooner Conductor left Am
hertsburg, Sound for Toronto. She sailed
with fair wind, but about midnight ter
rible gale of wind overlook her her decks
were cleared, her masts were sprung, the
sheets Of her forwad sails parted, and she
iabored wreck in the trough Of the seas OF
the treacherous Lake Erie. Toward four
o'clock, on cold Canadian winter : morn
ing, snow-storm prevailed, obscuring every
Land mark from the sight OF the suffering
crew. The schooner struck on shoai on
the west end of Long Point, at "a distance OF
two hundred yards from land, aud was a
wreck
The crew could scarcely even hope for as
sistance from OH the sandy, uninhaitated,
desolate looking shores. Their boat had
been washed away, and they were forced in
10 .he frozen rigging to escape certain death
IRON the seas which the raging winds drove
over the decks OF the vessel. Hope was
nearly leaving the breasts ofthat wrctched
crew still ciinging To the shrouds, when
toward evening they deserted woman and
two children walking on the beach toward
them.
The woman made signs to the forlorn men
10 try and swim ashore but the sea ragged to
hat extent that none dared 10 try, until one
lr,ye fellow (Ilackett the captain,) for the
sIke Of setting an example TO the rest, threw
himself into the lake. This daring fellow
hid almost reached shore, and though ex-
hausted, seemed out of danger, when the
mdertow took him away again, and once
again.
We have an insight Of Mrs. Becker's
charity. She had caused her children to
light fire ON the beach to warm those p or
FOULS who might successfully reach the shore.
She saw with anguish the iruitless endeay-
ors Of the intrepid man who tras'ed himself
10 that flaming surge. She saw his strength
falling, she saw him drowning, and her no.
b!s nature sped her to his rescue. This
W ,man, this Mrs. Abigail Becker, walked
INFO the angry waters, ;ill they reached
almost To- her neck The waves often over
c4.mo her strength, but she stretched out
hsr a nd and drew the man safely On shore
Thus c,in aud again did this noble woman
inperil her life. ill she saved six OF the
crew.
Her lulc;hough, enabled the men to b,
warmed by the Ere her children had kindIcC
rn the beach she presently entertained
tasm ia her hut, and she, the lOwly woman
whose only wealth at that time was her hu
mainly, who, having saved all those wh'
were bold enoug', 20 try 10 swim ashore
still deseryinS Unly one man in the riss'ni
.rstlcsSly paced the beach, A" ola, my God
ii that man was saved by the exertions o
,l.oSc she had already rescued, so that none
DT that crew were lost.
This is tie story. and these the circum
u,ancrs, a. nearly rs can collect them
which have called forth the marked aprro
lr.tion Of the cities of Buffalo and Cleveland
and of the "Lilc-Slying Benevolent Associa
zion" Of New York and our own Govern
mcnt and Legislature have not been slow II
Giving Mrs. Becker n solid reward for an &C
of heroism performed comparatively unob
seryed, without loOkers-on. The medal
am now presenting. coming from foreig'
country, whose people have no sympathie
with ours, save in the progress OF clviliza
ton and in acts OF kindness and humanity
must prove TO you, how widely is felt sucs
merits Us Mrs. Bccker's, and also how read,
IRE the noble race We have as neighbors 4
reward that merit.