THE BRAVE STEWARDESS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 23

THE BRAVE STEWARDESS

Then the steamship Stella left Southampton (England) thirty-five years ago, she was bound for the Channel Islands with nearly 200 holiday makers on board. Not long after the vessel had left the Solent a fog settled down upon the sea. Near the end of the trip the fog grew denser, and the Stella crashed upon the rocks. The ship was doomed and began tojsiuk. The lifeboats were lowered, and in those terrible moments the unhappy people behaved as bravely as men and women can.

But one woman will always be remembered when men think of the sinking of the Stella. Her name was Mrs. Mary Rogers, a stewardess, who comforted the women, gave each a lifebelt, and helped them into the lifeboats. At the last moment it was found that one woman had no lifebelt. Instantly the stewardess took off her own belt and gave it up. and the last of the women under her care was safely

lifted into the boat. The sailors called to the stewardess to jump in. but the boat was already full. “No, no!” she said. “There is no room-for me; one more would sink the boat.” The ship plunged down into the sea, and Mary Rogers» looked upon the world for the last time. “Good-bye, good-bye!” she cried, and that was the last anyone saw of her. In a minute the Stella was gone, and the memory of the brave stewardess

has become one of the things that help to make us brave in time of great trial.