[Editor: This article, about the rescue of a group of people from drowning, was published in The Clarence & Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser (Grafton, NSW), 6 April 1878.]
A heroic rescue.
— One of the bravest and most successful efforts to save life that has ever come under our notice was performed by a young girl of 14 years of age — Christina M‘Kay — near Palmer’s Island in the beginning of last week.
On Tuesday, the 26th of March, five persons were on their way in a sailing boat from Iluka to Rocky Mouth. When opposite the entrance to the North Arm, the boat was capsized by the carelessness of some of the occupants, — attributable probably to a supply of gin said to be on board.
One of the party, a man named Mark Shelton, seems to have been drowned at once, and the others, including a Mrs. Eugenie, were left struggling in the water.
The mishap was observed by a boy named Carr, who at once conveyed the news to Miss M‘Kay, and that brave young woman, with a presence of mind which cannot be too highly spoken of, at once put off in her father’s boat to the scene of the accident, about a mile distant. Being an accomplished oarswoman, Miss M‘Kay soon reached the spot, and with commendable coolness and at great personal risk, managed to get the whole of the party, with the unfortunate exception of Shelton, into her boat. One of the party, Arthur O’Connor, was quite insensible, and the others could not have held on the bottom of the capsized boat much longer.
We cordially agree with the rider of the jury, who sat on the body of Shelton, in expressing “their high appreciation of the courage and promptitude with which Miss Christina M‘Kay proceeded to the assistance of the parties struggling in the river, by which some lives at least were saved from drowning,” and we trust that her heroism will not be permitted to pass unrewarded.
Source:
The Clarence & Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser (Grafton, NSW), 6 April 1878, p. 2 (column 3)
Also published (with some minor differences) in:
The Northern Star (Lismore, NSW), 13 April 1878, p. 2 (column 6)
The Logan Witness, and Southern Districts Advertiser (Beenleigh, Qld.), 20 April 1878, p. 2 (column 2)
Editor’s notes:
See also: “Coroner’s inquest”, The Clarence & Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser (Grafton, NSW), 6 April 1878, p. 2 (column 6)
cordially = the action of being cordial (friendly, affectionate, warm in demeanour; hearty; nice)
rider = an extra statement added to a previous statement; a statement which adds a change (or changes), extra information, or clarification to a previous statement (especially further information or an additional clause, or clauses, added to a legal document); a statement made by a jury, in addition to its verdict, as a non-binding recommendation to a judge (such as a sentencing recommendation)
sat = sat in consideration of, or in deliberation of, an issue, matter, or subject; the past tense of sitting in consideration or deliberation
[Editor: Changed “Mark Shelton” to “Mark Shelton,” (added a comma); “oarswoman” to “oarswoman,”.]
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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