Again, on the 31st January, one of the most gallant of the many gallant Life- boat services that are from time to time recorded took place in the neighbourhood of Montrose. For two days previously a strong gale had blown from the south- east, and a tremendous sea was breaking everywhere on the coast. At daybreak a partially dismasted schooner, which turned out to be the Diana, of ,33roskjobing, in Denmark, was observed to be at anchor in Bervie Bay, about twelve miles north of Montrose, in a very dangerous position.

The rocket apparatus from the nearest coast-guard station was soon on the spot, but the vessel being too far from the shore to be reached by it, a telegram was at once sent to Montrose for the Life-boat and a steam-tug to come to the aid of the vessel and crew. As soon as practicable the Life-boat Mincing-lane was launched, manned by the well-known and skilled Ferryden fishermen, and was towed to the harbour's mouth, when it was found that the sea on the bar was too heavy to admit of the steamer being taken through it. After some consultation, and an only natural slight hesitation, the coxswain and crew of the Life-boat determined at all risks to cross the bar, if possible, and perform the service without any other aid than that of their own strong arms and wills, and off they went, followed by the anxious gaze and hopes of the spectators on shore.

The sea on the bar is said to have been terrific, yet as each broke heavily over the boat, one throwing her almost perpen- dicularly, she, nevertheless, steadily sur- mounted them, and when over the heavy lines of surf on the bar her oars were taken in and sail set, and in an hour more she had reached the distressed ship.

Owing to the heavy sea it was still a work of no slight difficulty to get her crew on board, who, standing on the stern, had to avail themselves of the brief moments when the boat was raised high on the summit of a wave, and thus, one by one, they jumped into her, and all got safely on board. It had been thought that the Life-boat would then have had to run to Stonehaven, ten miles further north, with the five rescued men ; but fortunately the wind had veered more to the east, and they were enabled to return to Montrose, to the no slight joy and relief of those who, with anxious and wistful eyes, had been watching for her return. The Life-boat's crew were loud in their praises of the behaviour of their boat, both under sail and oars; yet what would be the value of even such boats without the daring courage and skilful management of such men ? When the character of this service is considered, against the specially dan- gerous "seas •which in on-shore gales of wind break wildly on the bars of all rivers on so exposed a coast, and the long distance of twelve miles on a rocky lee shore, which had to be traversed, it will be readily conceived that it would be difl> cult to speak in too high terms of the noble courage and hardihood of the brave fellows by whom it was performed..