The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-02-28
BATTLING WITH TIE OCEAN.


A village OF ueroer--NIrn md Women
| saving Livrs--Brnvery OF n Little Girl.
The following account is quoted by
| the London Times from the Stockholm
paper, tho Dngcns Nyhcter, OF n
courageous act performed by the people
of the fishing hamlet OF Crcsswcll, on
the coast Of Northumberland, in rcscu-
ing the crew of the Gustave, Swedish
steamer:
On the fifth of January last, at five in
the morning, the steamer Gustave, Capt.
A. o. Anderson, went ashore, in conse'
quence OF the fog and the set Of the
current, at the little fishing village OF
Cresswell, on the coast OF Northumber-
land, five English miles north Of the
town Of Newbiggin. Tho sea was
breaking heavily, and the vessel struck
violently at every wave. The discharge
pipe burst very shortly, and the vessel
drifted helplessly among the breakers,
which now broke over her. Two OF the
boats were stove at the outset, and the
third, which it was contrived to launch,
and in which three men were lowered,
was injured, and carried away by sen
and cast ashore in the midst OF tho
breakers. Every one in this little vii
lage-men, women, children-hastencd,
on witnessing the misfortune, down to
the lifeboat station, and at three o'clock
the lifeboat was got aaoat, and manned
by thirteen out Of the fifteen male in.
habitants of the village. Only two old
fishermen were now left on shore, and
the women, who had TO wade well into
the water to get the lifeboat ahoat.
After an hours fruitless endeavor to
get on board, the liieboat had to come
on shore again, and a message was sent
to the nearest lifeboat station, Newbig-
gin, to fctch rocket apparatus, with
which to attempt tho rescue OF the crew.
The tide was rising, and at half-past four
the lifeboat was launched once more,
and at last succeeded in getting along
sido OF the steamer and saving the crow.
Several Of the men had by this time
been more or less injured by the break
crs, but all were ablo to get into the life
boat, and the last Of oil tho master. who
left his fine and hitherto fortunate
steamer with deep emotion. On shore
the shipwrecked men were received i'll
the most friendly manner; whatever the
poor people had. they placed at their dis
posal; the crew were sheltered III the
iishermen's huts, and the owner Of Il
neighboring estate, Cresswell Hall, in.
yited all tho crew to dinner. Later III
the day the crews things were also
saved, but much injured by the water.
A touching incident OF tho shipwreck
deserves especial mention. The writer
of this heard of it on the following day,
and was attracted to the spot by cries for
help and OF pain. On hurrying to the
place whence tho cries proceeded, he was
received by venerable couplc-the
steersman OF the lifeboat and his wife.
at is poor Bclla," said he; "shc was
not satisfied with being in the water like
the others; Mt night sho was wet through
for six hours, and llas now got one OF
her attacks OF cramp on returning from
Newbiggin." It was this little lalc fish
or girl who, wet through on cold night
in January, had rushed along tho beach,
wading through several bays by the way,
and at length had reached the next life
boat station to obtain assistance for the
shipwrecked people, and to accomplish
this feat she had been compelled to so
ten English miles. Who those ship,
wrecked people wero was unknown to
her; to what country they belonged was
all the same to her; it was a question OF
human life that might be rescued by her
means. opened the family Bible, the
sole ornament OF that unassuming room,
and there read the namo isabella
Brown, born 1853" On the wall hangs
silver medal, awarded to the father for
saving life. Everything in that little
hamlet bore witness to long struggle
against the ocean.
Fortunate the country which possesses
men and women like those who on that
icy January night flew to the rescue OF
tho Swedish steamer Gustave and its
crew.