On Saturday, July 20, 1907, four young girls Eva Stickney, Louella Winters, Stella Howick and Louise Howick set out for a leisurely boat ride on Lake Erie in a hunter’s punt. The wind came up unexpectantly and carried the girls from Port Ryerse to Long Point almost 16 miles away. It wasn’t until almost dark that their families realized they were missing. A search party was formed including a tugboat from Port Dover.

By Sunday morning the girls had not been found and most had given up hope of finding them with the exception of Mrs. Stickney, who said that the girls would be found alive. Her husband, Herbert Stickney, went to Port Dover and secured the services of another fishing tug. They made their way towards Long Point. Once there, they found Mr. Secord who was the lighthouse keeper at the time. They asked him if he had seen the girls. He had not only seen them but they were safe and sound at his home.

The girls were put aboard the tug and taken to Port Dover. They were then driven to Port Ryerse where a large crowd was waiting to give them a warm welcome. Of course, everyone was eager to hear the story of their adventure.

Eva Stickney told of the rough waters they encountered. Two of the girls became very seasick but she kept them busy. While she sat in the stern to attempt to keep the waves at bay with her back, the other girls were tasked with keeping the boat upright with the pole and bailing water with their aprons. They would soak up the water, wring them out and start again. At about 11 p.m., their boat struck the bottom of a bluff near the west end of island about 16 miles from Port Ryerse. The girls got out and pushed the boat to shore. The other girls immediately wanted to lie down and sleep in the boat but Miss Stickney saw a patch of white sand and suggested it would be warmer. As they were making their way there, they heard a dog barking and spotted a house. Miss Stickney went to the door and knocked, waking Mr. and Mrs. Secord who took them in, fed them dinner and put them to bed.

Luella, Louise and Stella considered Eva a heroine for saving their lives through her wit and bravery.

Norfolk artist W. E. Cantelon read the story of the Four Brave Girls in the newspaper. He arranged to photograph the girls so that he could document the event with a painting. He put the girls in a canoe on the Lynn River in front of the Simcoe High School and took a photograph. He then created a painting complete with wild waves. There is a daytime and nighttime version.