HOW MARIA PARSONS WON A LIFE SAVING SERVICE MEDAL

NOEL GISH

Guild Hall was full to the balcony for Noel Gish's 350th Anniversary lecture on "Pirates, Whales, Wrecks, and Salvages: East Hampton's Maritime History." This is an excerpt; the entire talk, given March 27, may be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.350theasthampton.org

I have not found this story in any account of the Life Saving Service or exploits of the Coast Guard. It does not involve a great whaling event, or the rescue of hundreds in a stormy sea.

It begins on a summer's day, July 7, 1883. A young man was beginning to lower the sail of his catboat in Gardiner's Bay. It was only three days since the fourth of July, and the island was still in a holiday mood. The young man, known to history only as "Irvine," was an inexperienced sailor, but wise enough to see an approaching storm.

He headed himself and his 7-year-old passenger, Anna Miller, back to the shore. The wind was beginning to shift quickly as the front neared, and a strong gust of wind caused a jibe in the boom. The boom struck young Anna, knocking her overboard.

Irvine dove after her and managed to keep her head above the increasingly choppy water. The frightened girl clung tight to her rescuer, who himself now needed to be rescued. He was quickly becoming exhausted by the effort, as the boat drifted further and further away.

That innocent summer day of sailing could have ended tragically. However, fortunately for Irvine and Anna, a young East Hampton girl named Maria D. Parsons had witnessed the accident from shore. Quickly she launched a skiff and rowed nearly a quarter of a mile to reach the pair now barely afloat.

With the storm still bearing down, Maria managed to lift Anna into the boat and helped Irvine slowly climb aboard. Exhausted, he could barely help Maria row the boat back to shore.

On Feb. 7, 1888, after several witnesses gave accounts of Maria's extraordinary feat of courage and daring, the United States Life Saving Service awarded Maria D. Parsons a silver medal with the accompanying citation:

"With great presence of mind and bravery she rescued the man and child from drowning. It was fortunate that Maria Parsons was skilled in the use of oars, otherwise her noble efforts would have proved fruitless. The courage and self-possession she displayed, considering her years, deserves the highest commendation."

How could young Maria not have been a good oarswoman? She was a Parsons, a member of one of East Hampton's oldest families. She grew up around the bays and oceans; the land and sea were one to her. Without her effort, two people may have perished. . . .

By the way, Maria was only 10 years old when she performed her gallant rescue. That's a fifth-grade elementary school student.

Since 1874, the U.S. Life Saving Service and the U.S. Coast Guard have awarded just 1,800 medals. President Ronald Wilson Reagan made over 70 saves as a young lifeguard and never got a medal, but Maria D. Parsons of East Hampton did!

The marine heritage of this island community is long and rich. The part played by the people of the South Fork and the town of East Hampton has been significant. Take pride in the 350th anniversary of this town. Be proud of the place where you live, take pride in its past, and take care of its future.

Noel Gish, a trustee of the Smithtown Historical Society and of the Suffolk County Historical Society, teaches history at Hauppauge High School.