"On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 19th, 1891, Miss Mary Collier,
daughter of Mr. Simon Collier, shoe manufacturer, of Northampton, was
out bathing with her sister and some friends. The party had been amusing
themselves with a life-buoy, and one of them called attention to the
distance two children, aged respectively eleven and fifteen, were out.
Miss Collier exclaimed: 'Why, they are drowning,' and at once took the
buoy and went out to them. She succeeded in reaching them just as they
were going down for the third time, locked in each other's arms. They
seized hold of the buoy, and Miss Collier attempted to swim back to the
shore; but the tide was going out, and the current too strong, and they
were observed to be drifting farther away. At length the cries of her
companions reached the ears of those on the beach, and the machine
attendant on horseback dashed off to the rescue. After swimming his
horse a considerable distance he reached the scene of danger. Miss
Collier at once seized on a chain attached to the collar, and the
horse's head being with difficulty set towards the shore, the whole
party were dragged through the water, the two children holding on to the
buoy, through which Miss Collier had thrust her spare arm. After going
some distance, the rider called to them that his horse's feet touched
the bottom, and soon they were dragged ashore, amid intense excitement
among the large crowd who had assembled and witnessed the rescue. A sum
of money was collected on the spot to reward the plucky rider for his
conduct, and we are glad to say Miss Collier was none the worse for the
excitement and exertion."
[Illustration: MISS MARY COLLIER.
_From a Photo. by Draycutt, Birmingham._]