Fishing Boat Sinks - Biddy Hero
From the Hastings Mail of 04/06/1904
Hastings fishing boat wrecked: The William and Maria, owned by John Gallop of Hastings, struck a submerged pile near Hastings Harbour at 4am on Saturday 28 May and foundered. The crew had a very narrow escape and, but for the conduct of ‘Biddy’ Stonham, the skipper would have perished. On 30 May the vessel was dragged from the harbour mouth and beached, very badly damaged. A committee was formed to raise donations to help Mr Gallop and his crew. The Mail of 11 June said the National Lifeboat Institution had awarded a medal for the heroism shown by Biddy Stonham in rescuing the skipper of the William and Maria. The mayor presented the medal in an official ceremony at the Market Hall, George Street, on 4 July. [Biddy later became famous as ‘Biddy the Tubman’.]