New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-08-01
| W0MAN'S BRAVERY.
HOsD Mrs. NickersO'o Helped to
SGUe T5cO Girls Lives.

NY crew hollered. She's a hero' when came
10 with the two girls.
"'HeHor I said. 7 don't know where the hero
Genes i'll only did my duty. I'd have dived AFTER
the dog II he'd gone over -
That IS the way Mrs Nellie Nickerson, OF No s5
Strong Place. Brooklyn, who Sunday saved two
girls from drowning OF Hoffman's Island. in the
lower bay. after helping 10 save their four men
companions. winds up her story Of how il all
happened.
Mrs Nickerson IS a small. fraI woman. who
pTobably does not weigh one hundred pounds Her
face Is Of the type dear TO the pre-Raphaelite
painters. her eyes are large and blue and the
masses q her dark hair are parted NIadonnawise
rsr broad forehead. Ordinarily she is so deli.
zfe she cannot lift a chair.
! an the owner Of the tug Sarah E wetherfIl
which my husband is the engineer" she told
7hbune reporter 7 had not been out in her for
II months TIL last Sunday, when decided day
(. the water would do me good. About noon. as
D. were towing four-masted schooner to City
land. that storm which caused SO much loss Of
T. along the coast struck US. The schooner
aieh vas under fun SAIL swept along at z rapidly
51seasing speed. and il only by cutting the
lFser and reversing the wheel that we escaped
ing broken in two by her. As il was. she ramrned
iOle IN our hull, so that were really in dis
I'd state ourselves when some one. glanclng out
4 he engine room. where we had all gathered IN
hone Of keeping dry, cried, Why. there's boat
SIZED
rushed out to and the 2O-foot catboae
4 floating turtle only a short distance away
Us. while four men and two girls were houn-
Ing about in the water, holding on 10 her hull as
1 they could. The girls were nearly gone,
Id see, especially one OF them. She black
he face and the blood was gushing from her
and mouth.
4 Rushing TO the bow, where lay a hawser as big
ny wrists, and so heavy that should not
narily dream Of lifting even one end, flung It
1 the girls But it fell short. dropping close 70
men I saw that unless help reached the girls
they would 90 down for the last time.
1 For Gods sake, don't let those girls drown"
-ed 10 the crew. and running TO the point near
1 them. I stopped down. one foot over the bull
-ks. ana stretching out my hand 10 them, cried.
4 81 YOU reach2' Another second and should have
I'd IN after them. when the two. brought within
- by wave, caught my outstretched hand in
l lsath grip pulling me over and down.
4 ne came up as easily and quickly we went
W. rising to the surface between the tug and
/ caTszed catboat. When our men saw US they
Bed great shout and dragged Us in over the
gs side Boy, my little dog. helped in the rescue
bes De could running UP and down and barking
I7a,ady and when we got the poor things into
| engine room, he worked as hard any one to
5g them %. The men gave a cheer for Boy
1 Hrs NiclleTson cart remember 10 save her life,
ges 5 d g seei ' any Tan sS ae Said simply
l y things were happening 70 me just the same,
Z There we're no open wounds-only q, mass Of
l 1es ! could not afford 70 collapse though, not
Z nat early stage Of the game. ! went through
/ stock Of clothing for the girls, and we poured
4 eonee down their threats and stimuants, but
n Z were too SICK TO take much, having swallowed
II "a LOT q salt water. For the most part we just
IL together. sitting huddled in heap as near
/ engine FIRE could get
Ne ddnt reach Brooklyn till Monday morning.
4 "a We drove 70 my house, where laid the
l ones out in my hospital, while / fixed them
l Eh decent clothing.
faeful?" MS. Nickerson smiled sympatheti-
~ "Oh. yes but they were too much shaken
i say pucE. They just said, Thank you
q tod IL Tuesdays Tribune the occupants OF
z Chief were Lyman II. WardIe William Sci
- Frederick Setter Frederick kookagey and
y NO sister Alice and Louise. girls Of eighteen
1 - n.neeer
rs i not the first time Mrs. Nickerson has
1 ~ ne Some years ago she dived in after her
/ G1 his companion. but the latter died two
/ - after being taken from the water.
\ a. testned 20 swim before I can remember. l
- always been fond Of the water, and used
staur 10 spend three and four hours In it
/ s-e5oh she said. by way Of explanation.
as her love q and familiarity with the water
i - her 70 20 into the gate and harbor towing
- ana 10 be her own manager. Mrs Nick
II 49, familiar figure down in Broad and South
\ - I9r she Goes all her own collecting.
"a 10 never get cheated-not a bit OF IT.!
y n.ssE smiling assertion. And ] am always
| ~ With the finest courtesy, too"
= ,rs-sN not been for attack OF appendicitis.
i ~ ssSs.ng stay of FIVE months in hospital,
/ -Ntteekerson would have been her own pilot
10y ny weakness has kept me from taking
j 8 Examination" she said. Il am ambitious TO
n Ay own wheel"