Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-12-25

his inability to render succor. The
The boiling sea made it impossible for
him to reach the mainland for assist
ance, and he felt that he was to be
tormented by a spectacle of agony and
death which he was powerless to battle
or avert. He was brave man and an
accomplished seaman, with q fame
along the coast for generous and noble
daring; man who dominated emer-
gencies and whose command no one
disputed. His daughter inherited
these qualities, and for the moment
they were in conflict. What could he
do alone in such a tempest.
Grace seized the glass from her
fathers hand and looked long and
earnestly, while with every devouring
billow her sympathetic and dauntless
soul rose continually higher until she
broke through all restraints and de.
manded that her father and she 90 to
the rescue OF the sufferers. At this he
revolted, and for her sake, seeing that
her dear life would be involved in any
possible effort, begged her to desist.
In this he was joined by her mother
with all q mothers love and fears.
Again she poises the glass. The wreck
reels TO and fro under the strokes of
the angry sea, while the remnant OF
clinging humanity makes another and
another appealing signal with each re.
ceding wave. The last rallying hope
with which q returning dawn had
nerved them is fast ebbing away.
They disappear from her view, but
again emerge with feebler and more
despairing grasp. She now knows
that they cannot Outlive the storm.
Her spirit rises to full command and
her father yields, for not a minute
must be lost.
Their little boat could only be kept
from swsmping by the most consum-
mate skill, and the pull to the wreck
was long and laborious; for they were
compelled to beat, keeping the head of
their little craft to the storm. OF
course, both were drenched by the
shipping seas. For easier movement
Grace had hastily donued light appar-
el, which clung like cerements and
much encountered her. But the hard.
est OF her task was yet to come. The
sailors had cast a line adrift from
the wreck and many a strong swimmer
had gone to his death in attempt to
land it and make it fast. The lee of
the wreck is reached, but skill and
strength are necessary to avoid con-
tact of ship and boat, or all is lost.
With a word OF cheer to Grace, her
father throws himself in the sea,
grasps the line, and makes his way
through the surf to the rocks, than
which there is not more dangerous
task among all the employments
OF men. There is a local tradition
that it was not until that moment that
the shipwrecked crew discerned that
the boat was in the hands OF woman.
They we're amazed at her peerless skill
and could not believe their vision. 1t
was those hands, made strong by her
prayer and a plying Heaven, at which
they must find rescue, and they
blessed the angelic appsrition. The
line made fast, seaman descends it,
and she so manages her boat as to
safely receive him without missing the
stroke of an oar. Another descends
the line and with the same precision
her boat again wrests a victim from
the hungry sea. She is now in q
measure relieved. for her boat .ia
manned with worn and weary men, to
be sure; but q draught from her ready
flask revives their dropping strength
and they take the oars from her hardly
less weary hands and obey their fair
commander until all are saved.
The nations strike their Tyres oil
praise. and fortune pours its tribute at
her feet. But her fame does not un-
balance her. She pursues the quiet,
dignified tenor OF her way and dis
claims the well-earned laudations. A
London dramatic manager offered her
On amount equal to a hundred dollars
y night if she would appear for few
minutes in a boat, in o shipwrecked cd
scene. She declined. The Queen IA.
vored her, and all sought her. She
was not of masculine mold, but deli
cate and refined. Her parents had
been careful OF her reading and her
training. Her letters show evidence
of rare culture. Her father was de-
vout Christian, and q studious and
constant reader. We were in the
house in which she died, although we
did not know it when we entered.
Seeing photographs in the window, as
il for sale, we entered and learned
much from the elderly hostess, which
l regret there is not time here to re.
peat.
Grace Darling's death was caused by
her being caught in drenching rain
On one OF the islands. q boatmsn fail
ing to see her signal to ferry her over
to Coquet Island. She had been
known to the world less than three
years when consumption claimed her.
and her form was laid in the little
yard OF Saint Adams church. The
memorial over her tomb consists of q
canopy, in the style of the thirteenth
century; beneath which. resting on q
couch, is an effigy of her, with an oar
in the embrace OF her right arm. 1t
was executed in 1874 by Smith, Lon
don artist. The effigy was cut in
Portland stone, which unfortunately,
was much effected by the atmosphere.
being eroded and wasted 80 as to cause
much anxiety among all interested in
the perpetuation of her fame. In 1884
q movement, originating with the rec.
tor of the church, resulted in the pro.
duction Of a new one of moro enduring
stone, furnished by Sir William Arm.
strong, the gun maker, who now owns
the ruin Of scarborough Castle. The
original artist was found and he was
still able and pleased to reproduce the
work. Providentially, for forty years,
he had preserved the first clay model
The first efigy was carefully placed on
q bier in one Of the transepts OF the
church, in full view OF the worshipers,
and doubtless there it will rest as long
as care and devotion to her memory
remain.
A saddening misfortune occurred to
the memorial shortly before We were
there, by one Of those violent storms
which make the northeast coast ter