Bridgeton pioneer., 1911-11-02
"GRACE DARLING
OF AMERICA"
Ida Lewis Was Heroine Of Many
Thrilling ResCues.
SHE SAVED EIGHTEEN LIVES.
Had Been Keeper Of Lime Rock Light
For More Than Half century-Re-
eeived Thanks of Congress and Many
Other Honors.

eeived Thanks of Congress and Many
Other Honors.
Miss Ida Lewis. keeper of Lime Rock
light. off Newport. r. L.. for more than
half century and who died recently,
was the heroine of numerous thrilling
rescues and was frequently alluded to
as "the Grace Darling Of America"
Miss Lewis had saved eighteen lives.
She received many honors. including
medals, a Life pension and the thanks
Of congress. E5
One stormy night in 1869 she first
came into fame Late in the after
noon of March day winter hurri-
cane had arisen, and at sundown sea
was running that made the shippers
of even the larger coasters put, In for
shelter Ida Lewis had trimmed and
lighted the old fashioned lamp when
In lull of the storm she fancied she
heard cries for help. Peering from
the window, she caught glimpse OF
three figures clinging to the bottom of
a capsized sailboat.
Any attempt at rescue in such a sea
an did not hesitate. Scarcely waiting
to dress. though it was bitterly cold,
she rushed hatless and shoeless, to
her little craft and pushed into the
waves. Then began a desperate strug-
gle. Again and again she was nearly
dr;r Ch cyfo nf
the men and feared she was too late.
At length she reached them, but too
late to save one, boy, who lost his
hold and sank just as his companions
heard her hail 1t was another dis
couraging task to get the exhausted
men aboard without capsizing her lit
tie boat but after repeated failures
they were dragged in and sank in the
bottom of the boat, powerless TO help
her, their dead weight, added to her
exhausted condition, making the re-
turn to the lighthouse doubly difficult
The rescued men proved to be two
young soldiers, a corporal and ser
geant, stationed at Fort Adams. They
had been on their way from Newport
to the fort in a sailboat managed by
the boy who lost his life. When Miss
Lewis reached the lighthouse her
work was not completed. One soldier
was unconscious and in serious con-
dition, but her nursing restored him.
The story Of this daring exploit
spread quickly, The citizens of New
port bought the little hfeboat, refitted
it and gave it to Miss Lewis. The
Life Saving Benevolent Association Of
New York presented a silver medal
and check for $1O0 to her. The gen.
eral assembly Of Rhode Island sent her
document acknowledging her sery-
ices, and from the officers and soldiers
of Fort Adams came letter of thanks
and 5000. She received letters and
gifts from all over the world. She
was thenceforth known as "the Grace
Darling of America"
Ida Lewis was then twenty seven
years old. She had been born and ed
ucated at Newport, and at the age of
fifteen went to live at the Lime Rock
lighthouse when her father. Captain
Hosea Lewis. was appointed its keep
er. Soon after that her father was
stricken with paralysis and Ida, the
eldest of the children, took the great
err part of his duties. She became ex-
pert with the oars On her fell the
duty of bringing supplies from the
shore and of rowing her brothers and
sisters back and forth to school,
Her first rescue was in the autumn
of 1858, when a sailboat had been care
lessly upset and she saved the lives
Of four men. Again on one Of the cold
est days of winter in 1866 a man had
set out in a light skiff He was over
come with cold and would have per-
ished if Miss Lewis at the risk Of her
own life had not gone to his rescue.
A year later. in the face Of a terrible
gale. she rescued two men who were
| crossing the harbor with boatload Of
sheep. She first took the men ashore
and then returned to save the sheep.
With this record already to commend
her. it was fitting that. on the death of
| her father in 1867. Miss Lewis, by a
special act of congress. was appointed
to succeed as keeper at Lime Rock.
the only woman, it is said. ever to re-
| ceive such an honor.
In the fall Of 1869 Miss Lewis was
married to William H. Wilson, yacht
captain. but the couple lived together
less than two years. when they sep
arated. They were never divorced, but
the light keeper resumed her maiden
. norpo