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HEROIC CONDUCT OF A.LADY. Who, in these latitudes at least, has heard of the loss of the steamship "Georgette" Alas, shipwrecks are so many and so mournfully alike in their main features that the disaster to the "Georgette" might pass unnoticed among a crowd of maritime casualties. There happens, however, to have been circumstances connected with the par ticular catastrophe in question which seem to remove the story of the "Georgette" far from the usual category of. wrecks. To a Western Australian contemporary, the Inquirer and Commercial News, we are indebted for the information that one day last January the steamer "Georgette" ran on shore near Perth, Western Aus tralia A boat was got off and rowed towards the beach, but so heavily was the surf running that she capsized, and her crew were an hour righting her and returning to the ship. They took a hawser from the vessel, and putting some women and children in the boat, they paid out the line so as to get near :the shore. But the boat was swamped by the surf ; the poor creatures were all struggling in the water, and in imminent peril of their lives, when on top of a steep cliff appeared the figure of a young lady on horseback. To the spectators it seemed utterly impos sible that a horse with its rider should be able to descend that rugged preci .pice; still, down the declivity did the young lady, whose name it afterwards transpired was Grace Vernon Bussell, ride at- speed. Reaching the shore, she urge:l her horse into the boiling surf, and rode out beyond the second line of roaring breakers until she reached the boat to which the affrighted women and children were clinging. Miss Bussell's horse stumbled over the rope, and she was nearly lost, but she managed to get alongside the swamped raft, and to bring off the women and children. After landing them there was still a man left on board the boat. Thus another journey on horseback into the breakers had to be undertaken, and the man was brought safe to shore. Sa fierce was the surf that four hours were occupied in landing fifty persons, and every boat engaged was capsized. Meanwhile, the- heroic Grace Veron Bussell, drenched with the sea-foam and half-fainting with fatigued, galloped a dozen miles home to tell her story and have relief sent to the half-drowned, half-naked folks whom she had left on the sea-beach. The heroine's sister, Mrs. Brockman, took horse, galloped that same night through the woods to the shore, taking provisions of tea, milk, sugar, and flour for the destitute people; and the next day the rescued were' brought to Mr. Brockman's house at Busselton, Perth, and cared for until they were sufficiently recovered to depart on their solitary ways. It is melancholy to have to record,:that the anxiety and exciteme .t consequent on her exertions proved f4tal to Mrs. Brockman, who took a severe cold, and died eventually of brain fever. Her sister, the heroic Grace Vernon Bassell, however, yet lives; and if ever a courageous British girl deserved to be likened to Grace Darling, the Northumbrian lighthouse keeper's daughter, iand to receive the ,Royal Humane Society's brightest medal for exertions in saving life, such a maiden is, we apprehend, Miss Bussell, ,of Perth, Western 'Australia?.-Daily Telegraph.

Digitisation generously supported by
State Library of Victoria
Digitisation generously supported by

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