Brooklyn Standard Union 18 May 1907 HERO'S WIDOW DIES AT AGE OF NINETY-SIX Mrs. SMITH's Husband Saved Many Lives From Shipwreck Off Freeport in 1837 FREEPORT, May 18-----Mrs. Elizabeth SMITH, the oldest resident of this village, is dead at the age of 96 years. She was the widow of Raynor ROCK SMITH, who was the hero of the wreck of the American bark Mexico, which came ashore on the beach off here on Jan. 2, 1837. SMITH saw the stranded vessel from a window of his house, on the Shore road, and quickly got together a crew of eight men to go to the rescue of those on board. The bay was frozen over, and SMITH and his companions, after launching a big whaling boat, had to break their way through the ice in order to reach the wrecked bark. The mercury was below zero, and the rescuers suffered greatly while on their life-saving mission. They succeeded, however, in getting a number of the passengers and crew safely to land, among them being Capt. WINSLOW, the commander of the bark, and his wife. Of the 115 souls on the bark, 62 were lost. Many of them were found frozen fast to the rigging, where they has sought refuge. SMITH received recognition of his bravery a gold cup from the citizens of the Fifth ward, New York City. He was the first man to be appointed captain of a life-saving crew in this section. Mrs. SMITH was born in New York City, and was the daughter of John DIXON. She was the second wife of SMITH, who was one of the pioneer settlers here. Mrs. SMITH had eight children, three of whom are living. They are George BENSON SMITH and Mrs. Margaret W. CORNELIUS, of this village, and a daughter in New Jersey. Mrs. SMITH leaves grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, five generations being represented in the family. Transcribed for the Brooklyn Info Pages by Marilynn Wright http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blkyn/Bklyn.Info.Page.html