Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-04-14
Grace Darling.

4
rain, and both of them were on the alert at
the dawn of day to make things securS
about the lighthouse before the turn OF the
tide. At quarter TO five, when the day
light was still imperfect, Grace observed a
steamer ashore on o. craggY island half o
mile distant, and she called the attention
OF her father to it. The sea was breaking
so violently over the vessel, and the morn
ing was 80 dark that more than two hours
passed before they could be sure whether
or not there were living persons on the
vessel. But about seven they saw three
or four human figures upon the rocks near
the steamer, and they began at once to
consider whether 1t was possible to save
them.
Both thought they could get to tho
wreck, but not back again unless assisted
by some Of the rescued persons, as on their
return there would be strong tide 10 con-
tend with. They concluded 10 take the
risk, both being in perfect accord from the
| beginning 10 the end of the affair. Pre-
ciscly what they did was related by the
father in his official letter TO the Light
house Board, now published for the first
time.
1--WE agreed" he said, ''that IL we could
get to them, some Of them would be able
10 assist US back, without which we could
not return; and, having no Idea OF q
Possibility of Boat coming from North
Sunderland, we amediately Laurched our
Boat, and was Enabled TO gain the rock,
where we found men and women, which
judged rather too many TO take ar once
in the state Of the Weather; therefore,
Il he NVNwnaw mel fnx1w Mnwr Nn #lNra
Longstone; two of them returned with
me, and succeeded in bringing the remain
der, in all 8 persons, safely 10 the Long
stone about nine O'Clock"
That is the exact statement OF the case
by honest William Darling. who hsd no
romance is hIs comp DsitIon. His daughter
Grace assisted hum to row his boat about
one mile, although In straight line the
distance was only half mile, and helped
him TO rescue from very painful situa-
/ tion one woman and four men. Having
done this, she went into the lighthouse
} and devoted herself with her mothers aid,
} to the care and restoration of the persons
saved. The storm was of such violence
and duration that the shipwrecked persons
had to remain with them two days and
nights, as it was not possible to communi-
cate with the mainland.
'The sufferings 81 the poor woman,
Grace Darling wrote afterwards, seemed
to me 10 be rarely equAlled, having strug-
gled nearly two hours 10 save her dear
children; they both died i'm her hands. "
Grace Daring performed highly credit
able act; but neither Rhe nor ber fmther
would have supposed they had d0no any
thing I'D very extraordinary III they had not
been told SO BY others Nor indeed can it
be truly said that she saved lives. The
tide was falling, leaving more and more or
the rock free from water, and in short
time other assistance came.
The nearest village to the Farne Island
is Marlborough, two or three miles distance.
A gentleman living there, who probably
knew the excellent character of the Dar-
lings, sent an account OF the affair to the
DuAe OF Northumberland (then living at
his seat near by) who was then The presi-
cent OF tie Royal Humane Society. The
duke call ed attention 10 the exploit, and
, the result was that the gold medal or thB
humane Society was awarded 20 both
father and daughter, accompanied by let
ters Of extravagant and ill-expreaSed eulO-
, gium.
ALI this getting into the newspapers, the
: English people 0Id not stop to scrutinize
tale which appealed so strongly to their
t love of courage and tdelity. Medals and
other presents came pouring into the light
: house. The ShIpwreck Society Of New
} castle and similar societies along that dan
D geroCs coast awarded their medals TO father
and daughter. The Duke of Northumber-
land Lad the good sense to send 10 William
Darling complete suit OF water proof
clothing, and the Duchess gave Mrs. Dar-
ling a silver tea pot, Ito be constantly used
by her, and afterwards to belong TO Grace
IL. Darling" In the good old fashioned
way, the Duchess sent the family four
, pounds of tea; to Mrs. Darling, q water.
proof camlet cloak with hood to Grace
cloak like her mothers, Mlyer-gilt watch,
! gold seal, prayer book, and short
, Commentary on the Bible.
The English people are so constituted
that they wish 10 do whatever Ia done
| by dukes and duchesses. OF course, there
arose fashion to give presents to Grace
Darling. The Lighthouse Board sent her
, fifty pounds; Sir Francis and Miss Bur
Lett Coutts, thirty pounds. The ladies of
! Edinburg collected for her more than
J eighty pounds; and money kept coming
, in until the sum amounted to seven hun
! dred and nifty pounds.
, Her celebrity became extremely incon-
venient to them all Managers of theatres
and cncuSes tried to engage her as an at
, traction, one offering her ten pounds
week if she would appear for fifteen min
utes every evening IN play founded upon
the saving OF life from ship wreck. Hun
dreds wrote for her autograph, and many
, of her autographs were sold al fairs for the
benefit Of sailors; and so many people
r asked her for lock of her hair that she
was obliged to make stand against them,
for fear of being red uced to absolute bald
ness. Her father wrote thus to one of the
J newspapers.
''Please to acquaint the public in your
paper that within the last twelve days, 1
and my daughter have sat to no less than
seven portrait painters"
= He found this so inconvenient, and 1t
4 wasted so much tisue, that he was obliged
) in this public way to refuse further sittings,
) He testlties that his daughters head was
: not turned by all this attention, and tnat
she continued TO perform the duties of her
) cheerfulness as before. Four years after
the wreck of the steamer she caught
, very bad cold, which proved to be the be-
ginning Of rapid consumption, and, after
ilIuooc ~ N faru ,1oonfbo oh diod in