Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-16
BATTLING WITH THE OCEAN.
A VILLAGE Of Heroes--Men and women
Saving Lives--Bravery Of a Little Girl

A VILLAGE OF Heroes--Men and Women
Saving Lives--Bravery Of Little 9ir''
The following account is quoted by
the London Times from the Stockholm
paper. the Dcgens Nyheter, OF .
COURAGEOUS act performed by the people
of the fishing hamlet OF Cresswen, on
the coast of Northumberland, in rescu-
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-
ouence 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. The sea was
breaking heavily, and the vessel struck
violently at every wave. The dlscharge
pipe burst very shortly, and the vessel
drifted helplessly among the breakers,
which now broke over her. Two OF tne
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 sea
and cast ashore in the midst OF the
breakers. Every one in this little VII
lage-men, women, children-hastened,
on Witnessing the misfortune, down TO
the lifeboat station, and at three O'Clock
the lifeboat was got afoat, 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 lnto
the water to get the lifeboat afoat.
After an hours fruitless endeaVor 20
get on board, the lfeboat had to come
on shore again, and q message was sent
to the nearest ifeboat station, Newb!g
gin, to fetch a rocket apparatus, with
which to attempt the rescue OF the crew.
The tide was rising, and at half-pastfour
the lifeboat was launched once more,
and at last succeeded in getting along
side of the steamer and saving the crew.
Several of the men had by this time
been more or less injured by the break
ers. but all were able to get into the life
boat, and the last of all the master. VINO
left his fine and hitherto fortunate
steamer with deep emotion. On shore
the shipwrecked men were received IN
the most friendly manner; whatever the
poor people had they placed at their DIS
posal: the crew were sheltered In the
fishermen's huts, and the owner OF a
neiehboring estate, Cresswen Hall, in
vited all the crew to dinner. Later In
the day the crews things were also
saved, but much injured by the water.
A touching incident of the shipwreck
deserves especial mention. The writer
of this heard of it on the following day,
and was attracted to the spot by cries ior
help and of pain. On hurrying TO the
place whence the cries proceeded, ne was
received by a venerable couple-tne
steersman of the ifeboat and his wife.
cit is poor Bella" said he; "she was
not satisfied with being in the water Like
the others; at night she was wet through
for six hours, and has now got one OF
her attacks of cramp on returning from
Newbiggin." It was this little pale fish, .
er girl who, wet through on cold night
in January, had rushed along the beach,
wading through several bays by the way,
and at length had reached the next hie'
boat station to obtain assistance for the
shipwrecked people, and to accomplish
this feat she had been compelled to 90
ten English miles. Who those ship
wrecked people were was unknown to
her; to what country they belonged was
all the same to her; it was 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 name "lsabella
Brown, born 1853" On the wall hangs
a silver medal, awarded to the father for
saving life. Everything in that little
hamlet bore witness to q 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
the Swedish steamer Gustaye and its
crew.