Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-06-21
| VERY HEROIC ACTION

B. o. Dahl brings to the attention
Of the Censor a bit of history with
reference TO his fathers sister, whose
maiden name was Ingeborg Osmund-
son Axendahl and recently reprinted
from the Journal of Commerce, Lon
don, England dated December 2S, 1852
The article is as follows: An I'M
usual brave deed was accomplished on
November 26, 1852, by the heroic
young Norwegian girl, Miss Ingeborg
Osmundson, which entities her to as
much praisworthiness as our own
Grace Darling. The Waterford Steam
ship Company's boat, Neptune, was
IN danger when its Cargo had been
showed over to one side and appeared
before the port of Flekkefjord, in a
dangerous region on the coast of Nor
way and signaled for pilot. The ship
was known as the usher or introductor
OF traffic between this country and
St.Petersburg and was therefore by
the specific order of the Gar exempt
ed from all custom duty Russia, those
on the wharf on account of the stormy
weather did not attempt to 90 out and
pilot the ship TO safety when this
young girl came and met before them
on the shore and challenged any of
them to go with her and try to save
the ship. BY sharp remarks she in
duced two men to go With her and they
put a boat to sea and started for the
ship. When they came along the side
Of the ship the waves were so high
that the two men deemed it impossible
to try to board the ship and intended
TO return to shore for safety when the
girl set an example by getting hold
Of a rope thrown from the steamer,
fastening it around her waist and
jumped into the sea and was hauled
on board. The others followed her
example and by their knowledge of the
navigation channel, soon brought the
ship to safety.
All on board were very much i'm
pressed over her heroism and a col
lection of money and other valuables
was taken, especially for her. Even
the poorly paid iremen contributed
to the amount of three pounds. The
crew insisted on her STAYING with
them and she consented to 90 with
them to StPetersburg and when she
returned was landed with all signs of
respect, the landing boat being deco
rated with the Norwegian and British
."|te9- Inns sic dppicNldttu very fuuC1
and when she returned she found that
her employer had granted her a tenn
porary discharge for leaving her place
OF employment so suddenly. 1t was
surely an achievement that should be
written down by the historians by the
side of Grace Darling.
Mr.. Dahl says he has heard this
story told many times by his father
and he is in possession of small
trunk which has large figures on the
nd showing it was painted in the year
1907 and was used as a bookcase by
his grandfather, 0smund Evertson, in
going from house to house, teaching
school, for about twelve years. There
were no school houses in those times
IN that vicinity. The small trunk was
also used as hand sachel by the girl
above mentioned when she received
further notice from England to come
to Eigersund and receive an additional
amount OF three hundred spesi dollars
for. her bravery, which was a consid-
cradle amount of money at that time.
The passengers on board were of the
well to do people and of tn e blue
bloods, which accounts for the gen
erous reward.