The New York herald., 1879-01-02
CAPTAIN BOYTON AND IDA LEWIS.
WHAT THE CAPTAIN HAS TO SAY ABOUT AMERICAS
GRACE DARLING.

WHAT THE CAPTAIN HAS TO SAY ABOUT AMERICAS
GRACE DARLING.
CAPTAIN Paul Boyton had an engagement to patrol
the river front last night with Nan the Newsboy when
the latter made his rounds. The Captain postponed
the tramp until some more pleasant night. He had
lust returned from visit to Ida Lewis the Newport
heroine, when the HERALD reporter met him last
evening. Ida is an old friend Of the Captain, and
he called upon her soon as convenient after his
return to this side of the water. Lime Rock. the
little island on which the brave woman lives and
keeps the light is not easily accessible at this season.
and it only after hard pull across Newport Bay
in small boat that the Captain got alongside tho
Rock. Ida came of the little cottage beside the
light and extended hearty welcome to her visitor.
She had been engaged in the unromantic employment
of washing clothes, the Captain says.
MANAGING A wAsHrUB.
"Come right in here" she cried. introducing him
into the room in which the wasltub STOOD 'ths is
the only part of the house in which we have fire..
Her mother, who is also an old acquaintance Of tho
Captain, came down stairs at once and the party
fell discussing events that had occurred on either
side since their previous meeting three years ago.
The old lady, it may be mentioned incidentally, has
been ashore Off the Rock only twice in five years.
The visitor inquired for the other resident of the
house. Hatty Lewis, whose name was pretty well
known years ago when the land was ringing
with the exploits OF her sister Ida. The Inter went
to bring the missing one; but the result half
audible discussion between them in another room, i'll
which something said about mot being fixed
up. The Captain describes Ida as looking somewhat
older than she years since, but still bud
ding out well.
"IIows the rescue busincss?" he inquired Tho
reply that it was dull there now very few
accidents the bay being traversed by the govern
ment steam launch from Fort Adams and by regu-
lar ferryboat ut is most amazing thing to me-"
said the Captain "that little has been done for
Ida Lewis after all the fuss that made her
daring exploits few years ago She saved altogether
eleven lives, and know those waters well. and know
that the risks she were terrible. Grace Darling.
in England. did not save many lives and yet she
has been pensioned and cared tor in every way.
LITTLE APPRECIATION. -.- '''-'.f'-'
"The salary that Ida gets as keeper of the Limo
Rock light is not enough to support herself and her
mother in comfort She is. indeed forgotten
celebrity, and all the practical appreciation of her
efforts limited to medal and 500 cash from the
Royal Phelps Humane Society o boat from the cit-
zens of Newport and house to keep 1t in which
built as present from Jim Fisk. The great specu
lator. when he gave the order intended to have u
handsome structure erected. and he very much
disgusted when he found that mere shed had been
built. There was great furore over Ida some ten
years ago and many persons suppose that she got
enough money at that time to support her for the rest
OF her life, but that is a mistake"
''How about her husband Captain!" asked the
porter
''she was married seven years ago. but lived only
one year with her husband. He, l believe took up
his residence the Rock and prepared to pass his
life in idcness, supported by his wife, She not
the sort of to stand that. however, and she
kicked him ont. l think she attributes to this
As she married people ceased to patroniD
her