The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-03
GRACE DARLING.

I'm an aisle of the Transportation
Building at the Columbian Exposition
was Grace Darling's boat. "Who was
Grace Dariing?" We find in The Chau-
tauouan this answer to the question.
On the verge of the sea of the Northum-
berland coast of England is little village
of Ehite-waIled, thatched-roofed cottages.
clustering at the foot of a grim ancient
castle. In the old Bamburgh Churchya d
near by is an transformations tombstone
with canopy covering, under which.
carved in the stone, is sweet girlish
face, a slender figure in graceful pose
with tiny hands folded over her breast,
and her arm encircling an oar, the en-
blen of her greatness.
On the most exposed OF the Farne
Island on the Northumberland coast is
Longstone lighthouse. Standing within
the castle keep one can see, even in the
darknest night, the revolving. light that
sheds its CLEANS to warn mariners OF the
sunken 10 ks and perilous passage sur
rounding the group Of islands known as
the Outer and Inner Fame
Here in this lighthouse tower, ffty-fve
wears ago, was living Grace Darling, a
name associated with heroism not only
GREAT, but sweet in the gentle humility
which made her reply to all who praised
her, 81 only did my duty"
On the night of September 7Sh, 1888, q
steamer trading from Hull to Dundee,
drifted and struck on the deadly, outer
rock at three o'clock in the morning. The
hull almost instantly parted and, with one
exception all the cabin passengers,
twenty-five in number, were drowned.
The captain was washed overheard with
his wife in his arms. At five o'clock n
the morneng Grace saw from the light
house the vessel lying broken on the rock :
nearly mile and 8 half distant. This
small girl, always rather delicaten health,
was alone with her father and mother at
the time Of the wreck. With daring cour-
age she urged an attempt to rescue the
shipwrecked survivors any there were.
Her parents demonstrated, but yelled to
her wishes and assisted her. She and her
father stepped into their tiny cookie shell
of boat, which could not have lived IN
the open sea for any length ct time: it was
pushed off by the bravely unseifsh moth
er. and, in the face Of the binding storm,
knowing that unless some OF the ship
wrecked crew were able to help them they
could not return, under shelter OF range
Of rocks they crept. rowing with the gale,
and by wonderful strength and skill they
brought their boat to where the sufferers
nine In number-crouched. Darling
himself picked the survivors off the wreck
while Grace, with dauntless courage
managed to keep the boat from being
dashed to pieces, and they returned to the
lighthouse in safety. The storm ragged
on for three days in such wild fury that
the survivors could not be conveyed to
the mainland.
The Longstone Lighthouse was solitary
and unknown no more This noble deed
roused q warm and enthusiastic admira-
ton Throughout the world. A gold medal
was awarded to William Darling. the
father, while to heroic little Grace was
given the highest honorary distinction OF
the Royal Humane Society-the gold
medallion. These we're forwarded to the
Darlings through the Duke OF Northum-
berland, who constituted himself the
hero;ne's especial guardian and friend
Resolutions, awards, and other medals
were bestowed by other National Hu-
name Societies, money and gifts were
heaped at Grace's feet by the wealthy and
great who visited the wave-beaten rock.
bound tower. Even Queen Victoria sent
a mark of gracious appreciation. :,
in some respects this fame was'trouble
some. Applications for locks Of hail
came until Grace was in danger OF bale
ness; the proprietor of circus tried te
engage her and groundlessly advertised
her appearance; and even old William
complained that sitting for his protral'
seven times in twelve days was too tire
some. :.
Grace was quite unspoiled by the atten
ton showered upon her. She only oc
casionally left her ..island, and invar.abl'
returned from the busy, crowded worlt
outside with stronger preference TO
her lonely life. Within four years afte
the loss of the Forfarshire her life was
ended, and to her dying day, the SIGH
of the sea flying over the wrecked
vessel was constantly before her imaglna
; ton. !,
In the little Church on St. Cuthbert
Isle containing her monumental slab
Wordsworth inscribed this tribute t
Grace Horsley Darling. .
"Pious and pure, modest and yet s
brave; though young, so wise, thoug
weak so resOlute"