The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-12
GRACE DARLING.

VITO has not heard of Grace Darling.
the heroine of the Longstone Light house
whose name, associated with the wreck
of the Forfarshire steamer, will long be
remembered amongst the annals of those
who, although holding humble stations in
life, have yet exhibited traits of natural
greatness which would grace the occupier
of the loftiest position In society.
There are probably few persons in thu
country who have not heard of her and
Of the act of daring courage in the cause
of suffering humanity for which her name
has become celebrated The account OF
the transaction appeared generally in the
newspapers at the time it occurred. AS,
however, good and great act will not
lose its lustre from being oft recited, and
as prominent object of the Life Boat
Journal (from which we take the mar
ratlve) is to encourage and stir up others
to the exhibition of such deeds, we hold
up to emulation the intrepidity of one of
that sex whose virtues are commonly of
a more retiring nature, and who are
neither morally nor physically so con-.
stituted as to fit them for encountering
such perils.
Grace Darling was born in November,
1915, and was the daughter of William
Darling, keeper of the lighthouse on the
Longstone, one of the group of the Farne
Islands; in which solitary abode she con-
stantly resided with her parents. She is
described as having been remarkable
for a retiring and somewhat reserved
disposition-of fair complexion and
comedy CONFERENCE.-THE nothing mas
cullne in her appearance; but, on the
contrary, gentle in aspect, and with an
expression of the greatest mildness and
benevolence - which latter qualities, we
need scarcely remark, are not uncom-
monty found associated with gallant bear
ing and the most resolute courage.
Previous to describing the distinguish
ed act of Grace Darling, in proceeding
with her father to the rescue of the suf-
ferers on the wreck Of the Forfarshire, it
will be desirable that we should explain
the nature of the dangerous locality where
it occurred
The Farne Islands lie off the North
eastern coast of England. They are
group of barren and desolate rocks, in
habited principally by sea-fowl, and their
sides are in many parts extremely pre-
cipitous
Through the channels between the
smaller Farne Islands the sea rushes
with great impetuosity, and doubtless
many shipwreck of which there is no
record has occurred there in former times,
when no beacon existed to guide the
mariner in his path through the deep.
Rather more than century ago, Dutch
40-gun frigate, with all her crew, was
lost amongst them and numerous other
wrecks are recorded to have happened
between that time and the present.
Living on this lone spot, in the midst
of the ocean, with the horrors of the tenn
pest familiarized to her mind, Grace Darl-
ing was shut out as it were from the &C
tive scenes of life, and was principally
ccc lpied in assisting her mother in the
management Of their little household :;
and it is worthy of remark-in order to
the better appreciation Of the magnanim-
ity she exhibited on this occasion-that
she was not habituated to the use of an
oar, or the management of boat, those
Offices having been performed by other
members of the family.
She had received a good education for
her station in life, and had reached her
twenty-second year, when the incident
occurred which has rendered her name so
famous, and which we will now proceed
to relate.
On the evening Of the 9TH Of Septem-
Der, 1888, the Forlarshire, steamer Of
about 300 tons burden, John Humble,