Northumberland, Grace Darling,Brooch
On 7 September 1838, the paddle steamer SS Forfarshire was traveling from Hull to Dundee on a stormy night.The Forfarshire was having difficulties with its engine boilers when disaster struck off the coast of the Farne Islands, Northumberland.
9 crew members and one passenger escaped in the lifeboat.
As morning dawned, the survivors were still clinging to the rocks. A lighthouse keeper, William Darling, and his daughter, Grace, decided to row out to the survivors to rescue them.
William climbed onto the rocks to examine the injuries of the survivors, while Grace stayed in control of the boat.
In the terrible weather, Grace fought hard to stop the boat from getting too close to the rocks.
Grace and her father took the survivors back to the Longstone lighthouse, where they stayed for 3 days until the storm finally passed.
She received several awards, including a Gold Medal of Bravery from the Royal Humane Society and a Silver Medal for Gallantry from the RNLI.
Admirers sent letters, money and fine gifts to Grace - and even Queen Victoria sent £50. Artists travelled to Longstone to paint her portrait, which were sold to the curious public and Grace became immortalised in plays, songs, poems and memorabilia.
Tragically, Grace developed tuberculosis in 1842 and died soon after.
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