The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-03-10
"A Deed Of
Bravery
BY a Lovely and Darling Child
Who Saved Many Lives
On Stranded Ship.

On Stranded Ship.
ces-and some of those which have
heard tonight are thrilling enough-but
I think, when [ have rec0unted one
episode in my life's history, you will
all take off your hats to Marjorie Corn
wallis-God bless her, and yield her the
palm for being the bravest and yet
withal the most retiring-Of all heroes
or heroines either" The speaker was
Captain Alfred Luckhurst, Commodore
Captain of the Transatlantic Steamship
Company Around him, in the smok-
ing room of the Seamen's Institute,
were gathered party of old and re-
tired sailors who had weathered many
storm; who witnessed manya coura-
geous deed in the saving of human life
aud who had, over a glass or SO of hot
toddy, been recounting the most crucial
in their respective lives.
Captain Luckhurst-of whom there
is none more brave and honest-should
he read these lines will recall the i'm
preston made upon his hearers by the
facts then narrated-given with such
intensity of feeling and truth-as he
spoke of the bravery of this child, but
upon none was the story more vividly
impressed than the writer and it Is for
this reason am able to recall his very
words though no narration of the bare
facts will cOnJure in the mind the pic.
ture which he then verbally drew, aud
which for bravery and altruism places
this child, on account of her age, on a
higher pedestal than either Grace OAR
ding, or Joan of Arc.
Let me give the story in his own
words AMI which are as fresh in the
tnemory as the actual deeds are real:
"You all know me, boys and many of
you have known me more years than l
can recall. Some Of you knew me in
my younger days when l was only an
A. 3 'afore the mast 1t was in those
days We thought it fine performance
if we crossed the Atlantic in less than
six weeks. With the coming of steam
ships / was made second mate on the
Garfield, then later first mate on the Mis.
souri, and finally l was given command
of the Mississippi. During the thirty
years. service which have render ed
my employers you have all heard of one
or more of the vicissitudes through
which have passed, but donot think
that any of you have ever heard, from
my own lips, the experiences through
which / lived when the Mississippi be-
came a total wreck in the English Chan
mel.
"The voyage, to which [ make refer
ence, tegan ON July 6, 1885. We lef
Philadelphia with crew of fortyeigh
hands, exclusive of some dozen or NOR
cattlemen. My cargo, as usual, from
this side of the pond, consisted mainl,
of cattle. The season of the year jus
titled the expec ectation of calm weathe
and for this reason L not only crowded
the poor beasts between decks but ais
used every available inch on the mail
deck. had obtained permission to asl
an old school chum to accompany me
as a guest. on this particular trip as b
was desirous of paying one more visi
to the auld sod. Being widOwer an
entirely wrapped up in his daughte
Marjorie-who at this period was onl
seven years 0ld-he agreed to accom-
pany me, provided she also was an in
vited guest. You know that we hav
no accommodations for passengers an
l might have refused his request had
not so much desired Mr.. Cornwalli
company. Had / known to what daI
gers his daughter was to be expose
and what she was to accomplish Imus
surely have hesitated before taking he
aboard.
Of her / can hardly find words
make you realize what an angel 7sh
was. No woIds of mine will give 20