r to see.

For two hours the Stella ran through the dense fog on this fatal March
30, and at about ten minutes to four the captain was under the
impression that the Casquets lay eight miles to the east. But suddenly
they loomed out of the darkness, and almost immediately the Stella
struck one of the dreaded rocks. Instantly the captain saw that there
was no hope of saving his ship.

'Serve out the life-belts!' 'Out with the boats!' 'Women and children
first!' were the orders he shouted from the bridge.

Mrs. Rogers did not for a moment lose her presence of mind, and by her
activity many women were saved who would in all probability never have
reached the deck. The ladies' saloon was long, but the door was
somewhat narrow, and being round an awkward corner there would have
been a fearful struggle to get through it, had a panic arisen. But
Mrs. Rogers, by her calmness and promptitude, prevented anything
approaching a panic, and got her passengers quickly on deck.

To all who had not provided themselves with them she gave life-belts,
and then assisted them into the boats. The last boat was nearly
full--there was room for only one more--and the sailors in charge of it
called to Mrs. Rogers to come into it.

Before attempting to do so she took a last look round, to see that all
the ladies were gone, and saw that there was one still there, and
without a life-belt. Instantly Mrs. Rogers took off her own, placed it
upon her, led her to the boat, and gave up her last chance of escape.
But the sailors who had witnessed her heroism did not wish to pull away
without her.

'Jump, Mrs. Rogers, jump!' they shouted.

'No, no,' she replied, 'if I get in, the boat will sink. Good-bye,
good-bye.'

Then raising her hands to heaven she cried, 'Lord, have me!' and almost
immediately the ship sank beneath her.

Seventy lives were lost in the wreck of the Stella, and the news of the
terrible calamity cast a gloom over the Easter holidays. An inquiry
was held to determine the cause of the ship getting out of her course,
but the result need not be mentioned here. One thing that soon came to
light was the story of Mary Rogers' heroism, which sent a thrill of
admiration through all who heard it.

Her well-spent life had been crowned with an act of heroism, and her
memory is deserving of more than the tablet which has been placed in
the Postmen's Park.

MADELEINE BLANCHET

THE HEROINE OF BUZANCAIS

The Red Republi