A BRAVE SAILOR LASS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1528, 9 April 1887, Page 2

A BRAVE SAILOR LASS

A tele-Tram from Victoria, 8.C., m the v New Yo:k Forftid," Bays :— The sealins? schooner Maggie Darling went ashore on Pebai. ff Island last Mon <»y niuht. a • fierce etnrm was raging at the time, and when the wreck was boarded next mornins fter captain, a daring young woman, was fnund dend at the wheel, to which she had clung till the laot. The name of this heroine was Calm McDonald, aud the story of her life is a curious one. Captain McDonald i Oalin's father, spent ail his life at the seal industry. He was the owner of the Macgie Darling, and saventeen years ago Calm was born m the schooner's snug little cabin. Four years later, it ia said, Mrs McDonald eloped with a government agent, and nothing more was heard of her. Calm, therefore spent the rest of, her life on board the schooner With Her father, her knowledge of the world outside its wooden walls consisted only of what (he gathered on brief visits to tho shores along whioh her father coHitad. A thorough seanun she was, with a fall knowledge of navigation, and she stood her waroh regularly with the rest of the orew, consisting of two men, l About six months ago Captain Mo Donald died, and Calm took oommand of the schooner. She pursued the seal industry with an enthusiasm that surprised even the old hunters, and the sailors obeyed her with alacrity, A gale was raging last Monday night, and heavy sans made rough weather for the sohuoner. With difficulty ahe was put about and headed off Pebaloff Islands. The seas ran higher and higher, and as night came on one of the sailors waß washed overboard. Oalin stood firmly at tha ffheel, while the only remaining sailor tried vainly to keep control of the sails. About midnight the sohooner was blown on a reef and firmly wedged. At the moment the mainmast went by the board, Hine was carried into the sea with the wreckage. He succeeded, however, m reaching the chore. When morning broke the wreck was sighted, and a boat's crew put off to save the skipper. As they approached the wreck it was notioed that the foremast had fallen and lay extended along the deck and over the stern. Two of the orew volunteered to board the vessel, and with difficulty they sucosded, only to find the form of Calm hanging over the wheel a crushed to death. The body of tha glrl-oaptain waß taken on shore as carefully as the olrcumstaooeß wo ald permit, and the old salts mourned a brave lass.