PADSTOW, CORNWALL.—On the night of the 24th October, 1868, during a whole | gale from the W.N.W., the steamer Au- gusta, of Bristol, went on the Doom Bar i Sand. When her signals of distress were i seen from the shore, the " City of Bristol" j life-boat, Albert Edward, was quickly taken to the spot, and with her assistance, and the aid of a line sent on board the vessel by means of the Rocket Apparatus, hawsers from two capstans on shore were got out to her, and she was prevented from falling to leeward on the sand. The hawsers parted several times, but, with the prompt assist- ance of the life-boat and other means, they were quickly connected again, and ultimately the steamer was got off and taken up to the quay in safety, without having sus- tained much damage.

Again, on the 15th Jan., 1869, this life- boat put off, during a W.N.W. gale, and in j a very heavy sea, to the brigantine Tfiomas, of Poole, which was near Stepper Point in | imminent danger. On arriving alongside, it was found she had on board, in addition to her own crew, eight men belonging to a shore-boat which had gone off to the vessel and been capsized by the tremendous seas.

Without delay the life-boat took off the fourteen men from the brigantine, which went on the Doom Bar, and became a total wreck. The poor fellows had only just been landed, when the services of the life-boat were again called into requisition, the schooner Alexandrine, of Pornic, having also gone on the same fatal sandbank, and becoming a total wreck. The determined life-boat men promptly responded to this further call, and were the means of saving the schooner's crew of 6 men—only just in time, for they were scarcely taken off before a huge wave broke over the vessel almost half-mast high. The Inspecting Officer of Coast Guard, who was an eye-witness of these services, reported that the life-boat was managed most admirably, and that the greatest credit was due to the coxswain and the whole of the boat's crew. WILLIAM CoRKHILL, one of them, jumped overboard from the life-boat, and cleared a floating rope from the shore, which, having got foul of the rudder, and getting fastened there, endangered the safety of the boat.

PORTHDINLLAEN, NORTH WALES.—On the 29th Oct., 1868, during a hard gale, a smack, which was riding heavily in a danger- ous position outside the roadstead, hoisted a signal of distress. The Cotton Sheppard life-boat was launched, and proceeded out, when it was found that the vessel was the flat William, of Carnarvon, and that she was short handed. Four of the life-boat men then went on board, got the vessel under weigh, and navigated her, with her crew of 2 men, safely into harbour. But for this help the vessel would probably have become a total .wreck, with the loss of those on board.

NEW BRIGHTON.—During a strong gale, on the night of the 3rd November, the ship Grand Bonny, of Liverpool, went ashore opposite the Waterloo Coast Guard Station.

She exhibited blue-lights and other signals of distress, and on their being observed, the Willie and Arthur tubular life-boat promptly went off to her through a heavy sea, and, at the earnest request of the Master, remained alongside all night in readiness to save the crew should the ship go to pieces, which, however, was fortunately not the case, and at low water the vessel was left high and dry.

WEXFORD, IRELAND.—A ship was ob- served in distress on the Long Bank, during a southerly gale, on the 25th November.

The Patrick life-boat went off to her, and found she was abandoned. Afterwards she floated off the sands, but capsized as she was about to be boarded by the life-boat men. However, the steam-tug Ruby, of Wexford, coming to their assistance, they were enabled to tow the wreck into the South Bay at Wexford. It proved to be the barque Mauda, of Liverpool, bound to that port from Lagos with a valuable cargo of palm oil, &c.

CULLERCOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND. — Thirty-one fishing-cobles belonging to this village were out on the 30th Sept., 1868, when the sea rose, causing them to run for Cullercoats; but, on approaching the bar, it was found they could not attempt to take it without great risk. The inhabitants, both men and women, being alarmed, urged the coxswain of the Palmerston life-boat to launch her to the assistance of the cobles, which was done; and her presence on the bar, ready for any emergency, enabled the cobles to run in, in safety. Again, on ] the 20th October, the life-boat was taken j out to the help of a fishing-coble, which was the only one that had ventured out, on account of the weather, and which was prevented from returning by the heavy seas breaking over the bar. The crew being nerved by the presence of the life-boat, however, the attempt was made, and the bar crossed in safety. It was considered a very daring action, even when the life-boat was on the spot.

THORPENESS, SUFFOLK—During a gale of wind from S.W., on the 2nd January, 1869, the brig Belle, of Sunderland, was total)/ wrecked on Sizewell Bank. The life-boat Ipswich,- which is stationed at Thorpeness, was launched with all practical speed, and happily saved the crew of 9 men, the boat behaving very well in the broken water on the sand. Again on the 8th February, the same valuable boat saved the crew of 8 men from the barque Selina, of Falmouth, which was wrecked near the Misner Haven Coast-guard Station, during a strong S.W- gale, and in a heavy sea. Attempts had previously been made to rescue the crew by means o? the Rocket Apparatus, but without success.

Since the Ipswich was placed here in 1862, she has saved the crews of the following wrecks-.—Barge Henry Everest, of Eochester, 4 men saved; S.S. Osprey, of Hartlepool, 6 ; brig Florence Night- ingale, 6 ; smack Leader, of Harwich, Jl; brig Belle, of Sunderland, 9; and barque Selina, of Falmouth, 8; total Jives saved, 34.

CAISTER, near GREAT YARMOUTH.—A foreign ship was observed in a perilous position off this place, during a heavy S.S.W.

gale, on the 3rd January, 1869, and on her hoisting signals of distress, the life-boat Birmingham put off with the promptitude and skill which invariably characterise the movements of the Caister beachmen. The foreigners seeing the vessel of mercy ap- proaching, renewed their exertions to save their ship, and ultimately worked her off the sands.

As the Caister life-boat was returning to the shore, the brig Elizabeth, of Blyth, was seen on the south part of the Cross Sand with a signal of distress flying. Approach- ing her, they saw the ship's boat in the midst of the breakers on the sand, and, making all speed, they found the crew of the vessel in her, and saved them, 8 in JULY 1,1870.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

517 number, from their imminent peril. Some of the poor fellows were only half clothed, and their boat was almost swamped, for it had nearly filled and must soon have sunk.

On the 15th February, the same life-boat was taken to the assistance of the barque Eliza Caroline, of London, bound from Sunderland to Carthagena, with a cargo of guns, ammunition, and coke, which went ashore on the West Scroby Sands during i blowing weather. With the aid of the Scratby life-boat the vessel, which was very leaky, was got off the sands, and by work- ing hard at the pumps she was kept afloat and taken to Yarmouth. The crew, with the exception of the master and mate, had previously gone ashore in a yawl.

On the 22nd February, this noble life- boat was again out on service, and saved the crew of 20 men from the ship Hannah Patterson, of Bergen, which parted from her cables, and drove on shore on Yarmouth Beach during a strong N.E. wind.

The small life-boat—the Boys—at Caister, i also did good service on the 29th April.

The iron screw-steamer Lady Flora, of Hull, went ashore amidst the heavy breakers whilst the wind was blowing strong from I the E.N.E. On her showing a signal the life-boat went off to her, and remained by her till the following day, when she returned to her station. The men had some dan- gerous work to get to the steamer amidst the breakers, and one of them was seriously bruised by the oar which he held being violently driven against him and broken by a tremendous wave which dashed over the bow of the boat.

GREAT YARMOUTH.—During a southerly gale and in a heavy sea, on the 3rd Jan., 1869, the Yarmouth beachmen observed a vessel apparently on the Scroby Sands. The large life-boat, the Mark Lane, was at once launched and taken in that direction, but when near the ship it was seen that she was clear of the sands, and did not require the services of the life-boat. A mast was then noticed above water on the Cross Sands, and the life-boat proceeded towards it, and found that it belonged to a sunken smack, bat no persons were observed on the rigging or near the spot. The brig Elizabeth, of Blyth, was also seen on the same sand with a signal flying; but while the life-boat was on her way to her the crew left in their small boat, and were picked up by the Caister life-boat, as already stated. The life-boat was then returning to the shore, when a barque in the roads was observed to have a signal displayed.

On boarding her she was found to be in a sinking state. Her anchors and chains were then slipped, and to save the vessel she was run on the beach. The life-boat then took off part of the crew, and after some of the cargo had been thrown over- board, and the pumps had been worked, she was got off and taken into Lowestoft Harbour, with the life-boat in attendance.

She was the barque Fieremosca, of Genoa, bound from Grimsby to Alexandria, with a cargo of coals.

The same life-boat also went off on Sunday, the 31st of January, to the assist- ance of the barque Liebertas, of Genoa, which was bringing up in the roadstead during very heavy squalls from the S.W., when her cables parted, and she went on the Scroby Sand, and at once hoisted a signal of distress. On reaching the vessel part of the crew at once jumped on board the life-boat, which remained ' alongside until the evening, when the remainder of the crew, numbering altogether 13 men and a pilot, were tafeen into the boat and brought safely ashore. The surf life-boat at Yarmouth, named the Duff, was also launched on the 20th March during a heavy N.E. gale, and was instrumental in saving the crew of 4 men from the brigantine Cherub, of that port. When first seen, the vessel was running through the roads with a signal of distress flying in the rigging. She was evidently in a sinking state, and was being steered for the shore. Before the life-boat could be got to her she took the beach near the old jetty, and quickly sank when the heavy seas broke completely over her. It was not without much difficulty the boat was able to rescue the shipwrecked crew, who were taken off in a very exhausted state.

RAMSGATE.—The schooner Gaspard, of St. Malo, was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands on the 3rd Jan., 1869. The Rams- gate life-boat Bradford went off, in tow of the harbour steam-tug Aid, on signals being fired from one of the light-ships, and on arriving at the Goodwin they per- ceived the schooner lying on the sands.

The sea was very rough, a violent gale blowing at the time, and to get at the schooner the life-boat was run on to the 518 THE LIFE-BOAT.

1, 1870, sands. Six of the boat's crew then got on to the sand and walked to the vessel with great difficulty, in many places passing through deep water. They found only the master on board, whom they rescued. He stated that the crew, 5 in number, had taken to their own boat, which drifted away. The life-boat men laboured for two hours before they could get their own boat off the sands. It is believed the schooner's crew were fortunately picked up by a passing vessel.

The life-boat and the steamer also went out on the evening of the 14th January, in reply to signals and rockets fired from the Gull light-ship, during very threatening weather.

On speaking the light-vessel, the men were informed that the signals had been made in consequence of a large light having been seen in a south-easterly direction. After searching some time, the wind having in- creased to a fresh gale with a heavy sea on, which frequently broke over the steamer and boat, a vessel was discovered ashore. The life-boat having been cast off from the steamer, made her way across the sand, through the broken sea, to the ship. She was found lying athwart the tide, with her head to the eastward and all sails set, the sea making a complete breach over her. After some difficulty the boat got alongside, but the master declined the help of the life- boat's crew. Soon after, the vessel came afloat with the rising tide, and at the master's request a hawser was with much difficulty got on board her from the steamer, the sails were clewed up, 4 of the life-boat men were put on board, and her cable was made fast to the ship. She was then towed a short distance, but was found to be rapidly filling, and the life-boat was hailed to take out the hands as fast as possible.

With very great difficulty and much risk, the vessel fast sinking, and the heavy seas breaking over her, all on board—7 in number—were saved by the life-boat. The cable of the boat had then to be cut, and the vessel soon after sank. She was the schooner Chaften-wnkel, of Aalborg, and was bound from Hartlepool to Lisbon, with a cargo of coals. The steamer and life-boat, with the shipwrecked men, arrived safely in Ramsgate Harbour at about two o'clock the next morning.

Early on the morning of the 24th January, during blowing weather and in a very hard frost, this noble boat and her consort were again the means of rendering good service to a shipwrecked crew. They went out in ready response to signal-guns and rockets fired from the Gull light-ship, and discovered the barque Lady Westmoreland, from New- castle, ashore, but she did not require their assistance, being enaWed, with the help of another steamer and some luggers, to get off the sands. They afterwards found the brig Carl, of Rostock, had stranded and was likely to become a total wreck; her crew of 7 men were accordingly taken into the life- boat and landed in Ramsgate Harbour.

Also, on the 12th February, the life-boat and steamer were again off in reply to sig- nals of distress from ships in the neighbour- hood of the Goodwin Sands. The wind had shifted from a southerly to a north-westerly direction, and in a few minutes a terrific gale sprang up, which eventually became a perfect hurricane. On reaching the Goodwin, the life-boat men found a large barque on shore on the North-West Spit. The sea was very rough, making a complete breach over the vessel, and the life-boat could not then get alongside of her. She accordingly cruised about for a while, and shortly after midnight repeated the attempt to get along- side the barque, but again without success.

About three o'clock, the ship being nearly to pieces, she made a third attempt, and this time succeeded. The vessel proved to be the Highland Chief, of London, bound from Shields for Carthagena, with a cargo of coals and cinders. Five of the crew had got into a boat and endeavoured to save themselves, but were supposed to have perished. The remainder of the crew (11 in number) and the pilot were taken on board the life-boat, which proceeded back to Ramsgate in tow of the steamer. As they were returning they fell in with an aban- doned schooner, the Tavistock, of Plymouth, which they succeeded in bringing safely into harbour.

Another vessel—the schooner Pride of the West, of Penzance—on the llth March, also went ashore on the North-West Spit, while the wind was blowing strong from the N.E. The life-boat and steamer went to the assistance of the crew, on their burning a tar-barrel as a signal of distress. The boat was towed to windward of the vessel and slipped, when sail was made, but when about fifty fathoms from the ship the life- boat struck the sand heavily and grounded, the sea breaking fearfully over her. Her noble crew, however, remained undaunted, and soon afterwards the falling tide caused the Bradford to become hard and fast on the sand, the crew of the stranded ship JULY meanwhile shouting for assistance. After some difficulty a line was got from the vessel to the life-boat, and a hawser hauled into the latter. A number of the life-boat men then plunged into the sea and waded through the heavy surf, with the assistance of the cable, and boarded the ship. The master at once requested them to do their best to save the lives of his crew, and the vessel if pos- sible, the wind then blowing a gale from N.E., and much sea breaking on the sand.

As the tide flowed the pomps were occa- sionally kept going, and sail was made to force the vessel over the sand, but without success. The anchor was then let go under foot to bring her head to the northward, the vessel striking very heavily and there being too much surf for the steamer to approach.

After great labour and risk their efforts were rewarded, for sine was taken in tow by the steamer and brought into Ramsgate harbour, the pumps going occasionally.

TEIGNMOUTH, DEVON.—On the 4th Jan- uary, 1869, the trawler Start, of Brixham, was observed trying to beat to windward to obtain the shelter of Babbicombe Bay, a gale blowing at the time from the S.W., with a considerable sea. Just then she lost her mast in a squall, and thereupon the life-boat China was launched with the greatest promptitude, and proceeded to her assistance, being about two miles dead to leeward at the time. Shortly after the boat was launched, the men were observed to leave their vessel, and the life-boat made all speed towards them, and after a long and heavy pull rescued the crew of 4 men, who were much exhausted. The life-boat now started for home, but after nearly one hour's hard pulling the crew found they could make no headway against the gale and tide, so bore up for Dawlish, where they landed amidst the cheers of hundreds of people. A steamer had during this time proceeded to the wreck, placed men on board, and got a tow-line made fast; but hardly had she begun to tow her ahead, when the smack went down stern foremost, in consequence of the great damage she had sustained from the fall of her mast. The poor shipwrecked men, on reaching home, wrote to the Local Life-boat Committee to express their heartfelt gratitude for the valuable assistance thus afforded to them by the life-boat.

SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLK.—On the morn- ing of the 15th January, a man ran from Dunwich to Southwold to the house of the coxswain of the life-boat of the National Institution, and informed him that a boat was driving down from Dunwich with men in her, and was fast approaching the breakers on the shoal. At the time a strong gale was blowing, and a heavy sea was running on the bank. The coxswain immediately collected'a crew and proceeded [ to launch the large life-boat, and after the boat had twice been filled with water and driven back on the beach, they succeeded on the third attempt in getting her afloat, and proceeded towards the shipwrecked people, whose boat was then close to the breakers on the Dunwich side of Southwold Pier.

The life-boat succeeded in taking off and safely landing the shipwrecked men, who proved to be the master and 3 men of the schooner Lord Coke, of Middlesborough, bound to London with a cargo of bricks, which vessel had struck and foundered on the Sizewell Bank. If the men had not been rescued when they were, everj one of them would most probably have perished.

LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.—On the 29th Jan- uary, during a south-westerly gale, the coal- laden brig Queenofthe Tyne, of South Shields, went on the Gorton Sand. The life-boat Iiostitia promptly proceeded off to the scene of the wreck, and on reaching the spot found the vessel on her beam ends, with the crew of 8 men in the weather main rigging.

From the position in which the vessel lay, it was a work of great risk to board her, she being on the most dangerous part of the sand, and the seas being very heavy, making a complete breach over her. However, the rescue was safely and nobly accomplished, the men being taken into the boat from the maintop gallant yard, which at times it was feared would have gone through the boat, as she and the vessel rose and fell together.

It was a most narrow escape for the poor shipwrecked men, for they would probably all have been lost as the flood tide made, had not the life-boat gone out to them so promptly.

Another vessel went ashore on the same sands during a gale from the S.W. on the 1st February. The Lcetitia went off to her, but on arriving alongside, it was discovered that she had been abandoned by her crew.

The men, however, found a dog and a cat in the cabin, and they brought them ashore in the life-boat. The vessel's crew, it afterwards appeared, had fortunately suc- ceeded in reaching Yarmouth safely in their own boat..