RHOSNEIGIR, ANGLESEY.—About 1 A.M. on the 3rd January, the barque Clifton, of Liverpool, was wrecked on Rhosneigir rocks. It being then moderately smooth, the crew remained by the ship in the hope of floating her off; but about 1 P.M., in consequence of increase of sea and wind, the bottom of the ship was penetrated by the rocks, and it began to break up.

A signal of distress was then hoisted, and the Life-boat Thomas Lingham was promptly launched. She succeeded in res- cuing all on board, consisting of 10 per- sons. The Clifton became a total wreck.

CRESSWELL.—At 2 A.M. on the 5th January, during a gale at S.E., the steamer Gustaf, of Gothenburg, in Sweden, was wrecked in Dunridge Bay, near Cress- well, on the coast of Northumberland. On the lights of the vessel being observed, the crew of the Life-boat Old Potter promptly proceeded to get their boat ready for ser- vice. Cresswell is a very small fishing hamlet, and every man in it except those infirm from age was required to man the boat; it remained for the women and children to run the carriage into the sea, and launch the boat off it. The Old Potter, the gift of THOMAS HACKWOOD, Esq., had been only placed on the station four months previously. The darkness of the night, the violence of the sea, the inadequate strength of the party which had to launch the boat—all combined, together with want of practice on the part of the crew in getting a Life-boat off a lee shore in a gale of wind, to de- crease the chances of success. It is not a matter of surprise, therefore, that, after getting fairly afloat, the boat was forced astern and ashore again by successive heavy seas. There seemed to be no pro- spect of saving the crew by the Life-boat; but it was thought that when the tide went down, if a rocket-apparatus were on the spot, a rocket-line might be thrown over the wreck. The nearest rocket-station was at Newbiggin, distant 5 miles. No men could be spared on such an errand.

Three young women—MARY BROWN, aged fourteen; MARGARET BROWN, whose father and three brothers were drowned off this beach three years ago; and ISABELLA ARMSTRONG—started off along the beach, and wading the River Lyne (an impossible feat at some states of tide), reached New- biggin, alarmed the coastguard, and in due time returned to Cresswell with the rocket-apparatus and brigade.

In the meantime, however, the Life- boat's crew had not been idle, and a second and successful attempt was made at 4.30 A.M.: they succeeded in reaching the wreck after an arduous struggle, necessitated not so much by the violence of the wind, as by a heavy breaking sea on a lee shore. Fourteen persons, including 3 women, were on board the stranded vessel; they had no boats left, the last having been washed away with 4 men in it, who, strange to say, gained the shore alive.

By 5 A.M. the Life-boat had succeeded in landing the whole of the remaining 14 per- sons ; the steamer eventually breaking up.

RAMSGATE.—At 6 A.M. on the 5th Jan., in consequence of signals of distress ex- hibited from the lightships, the Life-boat Bradford proceeded, in tow of the steamer Aid, to the assistance of the brig Speed, of Sunderland, which was ashore on the north- east part of the Goodwin. In conjunction with some Deal boatmen, the Life-boat's crew assisted in laying-out anchors and casting overboard the deck load, and with their aid and the help of the steam-tugs Rescue and Cruiser the vessel was ulti- mately got off the .t ank. It was blowing hard from the S.E. at the time this ser- vice was rendered. The brig carried a crew of 9 men.

On the 8th January at 7.15 A.M., the Harbour-master at Ramsgate received a telegram from the coastguard officer at Harwich thus worded: "Large ship ashore on Shipwash: Liverpool tug going out, but got no Life-boat." The Ramsgate steam-tug Aid was then alongside the wharf coaling, but with as little delay as possible she was got ready for service, and at 8.30 put to sea with the Life- boat Bradford in tow. 'The position of the wreck, as indicated by telegram, was about 40 miles dead to windward of Ramsgate; it was blowing a hard gale at E.N.E., while the weather was so cold that the salt water froze as it fell in showers over the bows of the steamer and Life- boat, and on the exposed crew of the latter. The " Shipwash " was reached at ! 3 P.M. This lightship is a little over 4 | miles from the lighthouse on the mainland ! about Orfordness. From the crew of the I Shipwash Lightship it was ascertained that the Norwegian barque Hunter had been wrecked on the bank during the night of the 6th, and on the morning of the 7th she was observed from the adjacent land and by various fishing smacks. During the night of the 7th the steam-tug Liver- pool put out from Harwich, and soon after daybreak on the 8th succeeded in re- moving all on board, consisting of 9 per- sons, who had undergone great sufferings during their long exposure.

The Ramsgate tug and Life-boat, thus forestalled on their errand of mercy, made their way back to Ramsgate, where they arrived at 10.30 P.M.—all bauds, espe- cially in the Life-boat, terribly prostrated, having suffered much from the severity of the cold and the storm. They had passed over 90 miles of ground, and had been fourteen hours at sea.

! In consequence of information brought ! into this port by the fishing smack Sum- mer Cloud, at noon on the 12th April, the steam-tug Vulcan left the harbour with the Life-boat Bradford in tow, and made for the Long Sand, a shoal at the entrance of the Thames, about 20 miles from Harwich, and 30 nautical miles from Ramsgate.

The iron barque Atlantic, of Swansea, with a crew of 16 men, was found stranded on the shoal. Two Harwich fishing smacks and the Harwich steam- tug Liverpool were in communication with her. It was blowing hard from the N.W., with a considerable sea running.

The Life-boat Bradford, having slipped from the steam-tug on arriving at the shoal, about 4.30 P.M., boarded the dis- tressed barque, and the crew were at once engaged to assist in throwing overboard the cargo of coal, and the steam-tug Vulcan to tow the vessel off the Sand as the tide rose.

Soon after midnight the combined effect of lightening the cargo, towing, and the flood tide, produced the desired results, and the Atlantic drove off into deep water, after bumping heavily. The Ramsgate tug then towed her to a safe anchorage in the Downs, and the Harwich party returned to their own port.

At 5 P.M. on the 12th March, when blowing a strong gale from the N., the schooner Resolute, of Peterhead, and brig A. E. M., of Nantes, went ashore on the north-west part of the Goodwin Sands.

The steam-tug Vulcan and Life-boat Bradford proceeded from Ramsgate to their assistance, and when within the proper distance the Life-boat was cast off from the steamer, which had towed her out, and making sail, anchored near the schooner, from which with great difficulty the crew rescued 6 men. Afterwards they closed the French brig, and the Life- boat men, wading through the water upon the sands, succeeded in removing the whole of her crew also, consisting of 8 persons.

The tug and Life-boat, with the 14 rescued persons, regained the harbour at midnight.

WITHERNSEA.—On the 8th January, at 5 A.M., the smack Frank, of Grimsby, having on board a crew of 10 persons, was driven ashore off Waxholme, 2 miles north of Withernsea, during an E.S.E.

gale, accompanied by a heavy sea. The news having reached the Life-boat Station at Withernsea, the Life-boat Pelican was conveyed on her carriage by land and launched off the beach at the nearest point to the stranded vessel. She was success- ful in saving all on board the vessel.

During the night of the 27th March the smack Victory, of Hull, bound from the Dogger Bank to that port, was driven ashore north of Withernsea Pier. It was blowing hard from E.S.E., with a heavy sea running and thick rain. The wreck was discovered a couple of hours after midnight, and the Life-boat Pelican was promptly launched to her assistance.

Unfortunately, scarcely had the Life-boat got through the worst of the surf, and fairly clear of the shore, than some people on the beach hailed to say that the crew had been saved. The Life-boat was accordingly run ashore; then it was ascertained that the news was untrue, and the crew still clinging to the rigging of the sunken vessel. The Life-boat had to be remounted on her carriage, and the difficulty and danger of launching off an open beach in storm and darkness a second time encountered. Eventually the Life-boat reached the wreck and succeeded in rescuing the entire crew of 5 men.

LOWESTOFT.—On the 14th January the Life-boat Lastitia proceeded under sail | to the assistance of the three-masted schooner George Smeed, of Rochester, which vessel, while on a voyage from Shields to Rochester, was observed to lose her foremast when off the Corton light- i ship, it blowing from E.N.E. The Life- ' boat afterwards succeeded in bringing the vessel into port.

BROOKE.—On the 19th January at 8 P.M.

the coastguard at this station discovered that a ship was on the rocks at Sudmore.

The crew of the Life-boat George and Anne { were summoned as soon as possible, and with the aid of horses the boat was con- veyed on her carriage to the vicinity of the wreck, and launched about 10 P.M.

through a heavy ground swell. Towards ! midnight she regained the shore with the I crew of the wrecked vessel, 14 in number.

The wind at the time was moderate; the wreck had been caused by a thick fog.

The vessel's name was the Mignonette.

She belonged to London, and was bound from Berbice, British Guiana, to London, with a cargo of sugar and rum.

NEWHAVEN.— On the 17th January, soon after noon, the Life-boat Elizabeth, Soys was launched, and proceeded to the assistance of the screw steamer Eulens, of Liverpool, bound from Buenos Ayres to Antwerp, which vessel had gone ashore in a thick fog under Beachy Head. The Life-boat remained in attendance for the two following days and nights, till a change of weather rendered her presence no longer necessary.

On the 21st February at 8.30 A.M.

this Life-boat again proceeded to Beachy Head to the assistance of the barque Coonatto, of London, which vessel, while on a voyage from Adelaide to London, with wool and copper, got ashore near the Head in a strong breeze at W.S.W.

The Life-boat embarked those on board, and was about to make for Eastbourne to land them, when a signal was shown from that place, " Don't abandon ship," whereupon the Life-boat replaced the crew on board, but remained alongside till 3 P.M., it being expected, from the state of the weather, that the vessel at any moment might have to be abandoned.

The Life-boat beached at Crowlink.

BUCKIE. — The schooner Claudine, of Antwerp, bound to Ipswich, was observed about noon on the 20th January, when blowing very hard from S.W., with snow squalls, to be drifting to the eastward in a helpless and disabled state. The Life-boat James Sturm was thereupon launched, and proceeded out tinder sail to her assistance. The disabled vessel was boarded about 9 miles from the land, and the Life-boat's crew having afforded material assistance in repairing her damages, left two of their number on board, and landed about 8 A.M. The schooner, thanks to the timely aid thus afforded, got safely into Macduff Har- bour.

At daylight on the llth April the schooner Elizabeth, of Llanelly, was dis- covered in a dangerous position, on a lee shore, 5 miles from this station. It was blowing a gale from the N.E. at the time, accompanied by heavy. squalls of snow: and the vessel was riding with three anchors down, all her masts gone by the board, and the bulwarks washed away. The Life-boat James Sturm was manned, and stood off to the vessel under sail. She succeeded in boarding her, and landed the entire crew of 5 persons in safety about noon.

NEW BRIGHTON.—About sunset on the 17th January the barque Brothers Pride, of St. John's, bound from that port for Liverpool, while in tow of a steam-tug, got ashore on Taylor's Bank at the entrance of the River Mersey. The weather was foggy, but the wind so moderate that, in expec- tation of being able to float her off, the steam-tug at once proceeded into port to obtain lighters to receive part of the cargo.

On her return to the stranded vessel, how- ever, the wind and sea had increased to so dangerous an extent that all communi- cation was cut off, the heavy rollers on the shoals breaking incessantly over her.

The steam-tug Tartar was sent back into the river for a Life-boat, and at 11 P.M.

found the tubular Life-boat Willie and Arthur ready for service, the crew being on the alert. This Life-boat was promptly taken in tow, but the Tartar got ashore on the way out, and the Life-boat was swept under her sponsons by the heavy sea, to the great peril of the crew and damage of the Life-boat. Getting clear of the tug, the Life-boat eventually reached the wreck at 2.30 A.M., and succeeded in rescuing the 11 persons who formed the crew, with whom she returned to her station at New Brighton at 5 A.M. on the morning of the 18th. Most of the rescued men had to be conveyed to the hospital, in consequence of their having been severely frost-bitten during their night's exposure on the wreck and in the Life-boat.

At 3.40 P.M. on the 4th March, in con- sequence of signals from the Bock Light- house at the entrance of the Mersey, the tubular Life-boat Willie and Arthur started in tow of the steam-tug Wonder for the Pormby Spit. A moderate gale was blow- ing from the W.N.W., accompanied by a heavy sea. On nearing the Spit it was found that the schooner lona, of Belfast, bound from Bridge water to Liverpool with a cargo of stone, had struck on the bank and foundered, but the mast remaining above water, 3 of the crew had succeeded in securing themselves in the rigging; the master, however, was washed away and perished. The Life-boat had great diffi- culty in embarking the rest of the men.

After the rescue had been effected she was obliged to remain at anchor near the wreck for a couple of hours till the tide turned, as she was unable to stem it.

Eventually she made sail and succeeded in reaching the steam-tug, which towed her back to her station by 8 P.M.

WINCHELSEA.—On the 21st January, at 2.30 A.M. the Life-boat Storm Sprite was launched, in consequence of signals of distress being observed from the brig Fred Thomson, of Dundee, which vessel, while on a voyage from Boston to London, had got ashore off Tower No. 32 whilst it was blowing hard at S.W. As there seemed a chance of saving the vessel, the cox- swain was asked by the master to remain by him, and accordingly the Life-boat stayed alongside till day broke, when the weather moderated, and eventually the vessel was got off.

SILLOTH.—At 7.30 A.M. on the 24th January, the Life-boat Angela and Hannah proceeded through a heavy gale at S.S.W.

to the assistance of the schooner Tweed, of Greenock. This vessel had struck on the north-west end of the Powfoot bank, and soon became a total wreck. The crew of 5 men and a pilot were saved with difficulty, as the sea was breaking continually over the stranded vessel. The Life-boat regained her station with the 2 M 3 588 THE LIFE-BOAT.

[AUGUST 1, 1876.

6 rescued persons on board at about 11 o'clock, having been towed back by the steam-tug Arabian.

WEST HARTLEPOOL AND REDCAR.—At 11.15 P.M. on the 5th February night signals of distress were observed from the direction of the South Gare, at the entrance of the Kiver Tees. It was blow- ing a gale from E.N.E., with snow, and a heavy sea was running. As soon as the crew could be got together, the No. 1 Life-boat, the James Davidson Shaw, was launched from West Hartlepool, and pro- ceeded in tow of the North-Eastern Kail- way Company's steam-tug Freedom to render assistance. Having approached to within a mile of the wreck, the Life-boat was cast off, and she proceeded through a heavy sea to board her. The vessel proved to be the barque Emily, of North Shields, bound from that place to Cartha- gena. She had a crew of 17 men, 13 of whom were landed by the Life-boat, which, unable to regain the steam-tug, beached near Coatham. The master of the Emily and 3 others remained by their vessel, which held together till the next day.

At 6 A.M. on the 6th the Redcar Life- boat Burton-on-Trent landed the remain- ing 4 persons, the gale continuing, ac- companied by a heavy sea.

NEWCASTLE, DUNDRUM BAY.—At 1 P.M. on the 13th February, the brigantine Trader, of Portaferry, was seen driving before a hard gale, at S.E., into Dun- drum Bay. The Trader had lost her fore- topmast and was otherwise disabled aloft, and had a signal of distress flying. The Life-boat Reigate was launched and pro- ceeded out, under the direction of Captain C. GRAY JONES, E.N., Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats. The disabled vessel struck the ground off the entrance of the Castle River, and at the same moment the Life- boat got within reach of her, and ulti- mately succeeded in embarking and land- ing in safety the whole crew of 4 men.

PORTMADOC.—During the forenoon of the 18th February the ship Turkestan, of Liverpool, bound to that port from New York, got ashore near the bar at the en- trance to this harbour. It was blowing fresh at S.S.W., with too heavy a sea to admit of the stranded vessel being boarded by an ordinary boat; the steam-tug James Conley therefore made for the Life-boat station at Criccieth, and eventually towed to the vicinity of the Turkestan the Life- boat John Ashbury. By her means the | crew of 22 persons were landed in safety.

The master and some of his officers de- cided to remain on board the stranded i ship, on it being agreed on the part of the Life-boat crew that they would return in the Life-boat and remain by the vessel ] till she was got off or broke up. The Life- j boat was accordingly employed on this ; service until the next day.

DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN.—On the 18th February the brigantine Lapwing, of Li- verpool, bound from that port to New Calabar, was at anchor in a dangerous position, having previously lost sails, &c., in Douglas Bay; the master and part of the crew being on. shore, whither they had gone to purchase stores. The wind having increased to an extent which precluded the use of an ordinary boat, the No. 2 Life-boat, the John Turner-Turner, was sent out with the master and other necessary aid.

FRASERBURGH, N.B.—On the 19th Fe- bruary, during a storm of unusual violence from the N.E., the schooner Augusta, be- longing to Sunderland, and bound from that port to Little Jersey, was wrecked on some rocks to the leeward of this har- bour. The Life-boat Charlotte, having put to sea, bore down upon the wreck, an- chored in a suitable position, and suc- ceeded in taking on board the whole crew, 4 in number. In a very short time afterwards the wreck went to pieces. The rescued crew were not yet safe, however ; for, on the Life-boat weighing her anchor, it was soon found that the utmost power of the oarsmen was insufficient to force the boat against the gale towards the mouth of the harbour; and at length the coxswain, finding his boat fiercely beaten down upon a rocky lee shore, had the anchor let go: two heavy seas in succession striking the boat just at that time, how- ever, the anchor did not bite in time, and when it at length brought up the boat, her stern came into collision with the rocks. As it was manifest that she would eventually destroy herself in that posi- ! tion, and all on board be left beating i about in the sea, the coxswain ordered the cable to be cut, trusting that the heavy sea would force so buoyant and tough a boat far enough up on the rocks to en- able those on board to escape. The cox- swain's judgment proved a thoroughly sound one ; and the Life-boat, though she was reduced to the condition of a wreck herself, carried the whole 17 persons on board safely on to hard, firm rock. A small channel still separated from the mainland the rock on which the Life- boat crew and the crew of the Augusta had thus been landed, but the shoal out- side making smooth water in it, two ordinary boats were launched from the shore, and crossing the channel, finally succeeded in landing, in perfect safety, the whole party, whose arrival was hailed by the cheers of an immense crowd of people, who, with intense anxiety, had been watching the varying fortunes of the two crews for so long.

POOLE.—The Life-boat Manley Wood, stationed at the entrance of this harbour, put to sea on the 12th March, during a strong gale at S.W., to assist the crew of a vessel reported to be ashore near Bourne- . mouth. The ketch William Pitt was found ashore surrounded by broken water, not far from Bournemouth Pier. One man only was on board, who was rescued by the Life-boat. The steam-tug Royal Al- lert, which was in waiting in deeper water, then took the Life-boat in tow and brought her back to her station, after an absence of two hours.

ANSTRUTHER, N.B.—As one of the con- gregations of this town were coming out of church on the evening of the 26th March, the signal gun was fired to summon the crew of the Life-boat Admiral Fitzroy. The schooner Anna, of Kensburgh, had been driven ashore on the Gat rock, near the entrance to the harbour, it blowing hard from the S.E., and a heavy sea setting up the Firth. It was dead low water, and great difficulty and delay would have oc- curred in launching the boat, had not the greater part of the above-mentioned congregation turned-to, and with hearty good will ("Sunday clothes" notwith- standing) transported the Life-boat on her carriage along the basin of the new harbour, and down over the shallows to the edge of the reef, through which she was launched, and was not long in reach- ing the wreck. ' In hopes of doing some- thing for the stranded vessel herself, the Life-boat remained alongside till 10 P.M.; then all hope was abandoned, and the crew of 4 men were brought ashore; the Anna, which had been bound from Ton- ning to Burntisland, becoming a total wreck.

THURSO, N.B.—Eleven lives were saved by the Life-boat Charley Lloyd, on the afternoon of the 7th March. On that day a heavy gale was blowing from W.N.W., when the barque Walker Hall, of Sunderland, having dragged her anchors from Scrabster Eoads, hoisted signals of distress. The Life-boat succeeded in boarding the distressed vessel before she came into collision with the rocks on the lee side of Thurso Bay, and, having em- barked all on board, bore away for the river; but being unable to cross the bar from the heavy sea on it, kept away for Murkle, where she eventually landed the rescued men at 4 P.M. She was unable to regain her proper station at the Scrab- ster side of the bay for some days after- wards. The barque parted her cables and became a total wreck.

WEXFORD.—At noon, on the 8th March, the sloop William, of Wexford, was wrecked on the north bar during a west- erly gale. On observing her signals of distress, the Ethel Eveleen No. 1 Life-boat proceeded to her assistance, and suc- ceeded in rescuing the crew of 6 persons, who were found clinging to the rigging, the hull of the vessel being under water.

This service was most promptly rendered and skilfully executed.

BROADSTAIRS.—At 5 P.M., 12th March, the schooner Lion, of Goole, bound from Hull to the Isle of Wight, was observed driving before a heavy gale at north, with signals of distress flying. The signal guns of the station having failed to assemble the proper number of men, the Life-boat Samuel Morrison Collins was launched with part of the crew only, the place of one being filled by Major ELTARD, of the 2nd Royal Surrey Militia,' an active member of the Local Committee. Stretching off under sail, the Life-boat succeeded in boarding the disabled vessel about 5.30 P.M. She was found to be in a deplorable condition, especially aloft. The Life-boat's crew, however, succeeded in carrying her safely monthly meeting of the Institution in j Staithes, during a N.W. gale. A heavy April last, it was decided to present him j sea was running, and the Life-boat's crew with its gold medal, which is the highest j had at one time a hard pull to reach assisted to save 49 lives from different safety. - wrecks. By order of Major-General Sir GARNET WOLSELEY, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., the Inspector-General of Auxiliary Forces, the j cobles, which having been caught outside a brigade field-day held on the Queen's ! out against a heavy sea, joined company, into Dover Harbour 011 the following day, at which time they had been twenty-four hours without breaking their fast. The Lion had a crew of 4 men. Major EL- YARD has long been distinguished in the Life-boat service—which he culminated on this occasion. Accordingly, at the gold medal was presented to Major EL- YARD at the head of his regiment on honour in the power of the Society to bestow, in recognition of his series of gallant services in the Broadstairs Life- boat. He had been out in the Life-boat altogether 18 times on service, and had Birthday.

DOVER.—On the 12th March, at 6 A.M., when blowing hard at E., the sloop Edith, of Lowestoft, with a crew of 10 men, and remained aground. The wind and sea increasing, at 8.30 the Life-boat Royal Wiltshire was launched to her assistance, and by laying out a hawser to the north pier, enabled the stranded vessel to swing off the rocks with the rising tide, and haul into Dover Harbour. tion at this small town on the Yorkshire coast a few months ago, was successful in saving the lives of 15 persons from the wrecked screw steamer Bebside, of New- castle-on-Tyne, which vessel, whilst on a voyage from that port to London, was cast away near the Con bar Steel, north of On the 10th April the Life-boat Hannah Somerset was launched to aid 3 fishing in a sudden on-shore storm were unable to land. The Life-boat, having pulled the wreck, which was to windward of Staithes. Previous to the arrival of the Life-boat a fishing coble, which was near, had put off, and managed to embark 3 of the crew, whom she also landed in and the four boats bore up together for the shore, the cobles having this surety, that in the event of a capsize aid was close at hand. The fishing boats reached the shore in safety, after some very narrow escapes, and so avoided having to keep the sea in the momentarily increasing gale.

ARKLOW, IRELAND.—At 8.30 P.M. on the 19th March, the weather being fine and clear, and the wind moderate, the ship County of Ayr, of Glasgow, bound from Glasgow to Batavia, stranded on GROOMSPORT, IRELAND.—During a gale ! the Jack s Hole- a Part of the Arklow at W.S.W. on the 14th March, the brig Lin- Banks. whlch are 6 miles from the coast wood, of Marjport, came to an anchor off , of countv Wicklow. At 8.30 A.M. on the White Head in a dangerous position. At j following day, as the wind had then fresh- 2 P.M. she parted her cables, and about the same time hoisted signals of distress.

The Groomsport Life-boat Florence was promptly launched, and stood off to the distressed vessel under sail, with the in- tention of rescuing her crew before she ; ened, the Life-boat Out-Pensioner was launched from her station at Arklow, and proceeded to the stranded vessel to I offer her assistance. On gaining the ship i it was ascertained that the crew of 13 men had already landed in their own boat, but I the master and mate remained on board, fell among the rocks; fortunately for the Linwood, however, soon after the Life-boat i expecting that she would be got off. The got alongside, the steamer Voltaic, of Liver- I Life-boat therefore stood by the County which time the wind had increased to half a gale, when she returned to her station with the mate and cook. Somewhat later pool, bound up the Loch, observed her ; °/ AtJr tm the morning of the 21st, at danger, and turning out of her course, succeeded in taking her in tow, and ulti- mately into port; the distressed vessel being also assisted by some of the Life- ! the master also made good his escape, and boat's crew.

the ship went to pieces.

STAITHES, YORKSHIRE,—On the after- j CATSTER, NEAR GREAT YARMOUTH.—At noon of the 15th March the Life-boat j 8 P.M. on the 19th March, the lights of a Hannah Somerstt, placed by the Institu- ' vessel, supposed to be on the Barber Sand, AUGUST 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

591 were observed from this station, and the No. 2 Life-boat, the Godsend, proceeded to her assistance. A snowstorm from the N. was raging at the time, and on the Sand especially a heavy sea was running.

On arrival at the Sand the Life-boat's crew perceived that the vessel, though in a dangerous position, was on the off-side of the sand, and still afloat, and apparently she required no assistance; they therefore j returned to their station. But they had hardly hauled up the Life-boat when signals of distress were exhibited. The tide had now turned, however, and it being impossible to beat to windward against gale and tide, the steam-tug was sent for, and on her arrival an hour after midnight, the No. 1 Life-boat, which is of larger size and named the Birmingham, was launched and proceeded in tow to the wreck, which turned out to be that of the vessel previously observed in the No. 2 boat, and was the schooner Killin, of i Greenock, bound from Thurso to Yar- mouth. The Life-boat found the vessel had already driven up among the breakers in the very midst of the Barber Sand.

She anchored as near as she dared, but the extreme darkness of the night ren- dered it impossible for a boat of her size to approach near enough to the wreck then to rescue her crew. The steam-tug was thereupon sent back to bring out the smaller Life-boat, the Godsend, which, towards daylight, arrived; but in the | meantime the larger Life-boat, taking ad- vantage of the rising tide, and a tem- porary lull in the fall of snow, had veered down to the wreck, and after sustaining a severe bumping from coming in contact with the Sand, succeeded in hauling on board, with a line and life-buoy, the whole crew of 5 persons, who had then been five hours lashed in the rigging, their vessel having sunk. The two Life-boats returned to the shore at 7 A.M. on the 20th, with the rescued men.

On the night of the 10th June, sig- nals from the Newarp, Cockle, and St.

Nicholas Lightships indicating a vessel in distress were observed from Caister.

The surf Life-boat Godsend was launched, and proceeded in tow of a steam-tug, which had been fetched from Yarmouth, to the Newarp Lightship. On arriving there the captain, pilot, and 12 of the crew of the ship McNear, of Boston, U.S., were found to have taken refuge there on their vessel stranding on Hammond's Knoll, the remainder of the crew having been rescued by a passing ship. The 14 men were taken into the Life-boat and safely landed at Yarmouth. Meanwhile the Caister large Life-boat, the Mincing Lane, proceeded under sail, and came up with the ship, which had floated off the sand and was in charge of 3 Norwegians from a schooner near her, 3 Southwold pilots, and 1 of their men. With the joint assistance of these men and the Life-boat crew the vessel, which was on a voyage from Shields to Bombay with a cargo of coal, was taken safely into port.

LYNMOUTH AND ILFRACOMBE, DEVON.— On the 19th March the Lizzie Morton, of St. Ives, encountered a heavy squall, when off Lynmouth, which carried away her foremast, bowsprit, and bulwarks; in a helpless state she subsequently drifted before a strong breeze at E.N.E., till she came into dangerous proximity to the rocky coast off Highveer Point, where she let go both anchors, and hoisted signals of distress, which were promptly answered by the Lynmouth Life-boat Henry, which, after a hard pull of one hour and a half, succeeded in getting near her about 11.30 A.M., and in safely landing from her all on board, consisting of 5 persons. Great difficulty was experienced in getting the men out of the disabled vessel, as, on account of the heavy sea, the Life-boat could not go alongside, and all the crew had to be hauled on board by a line and life-buoy. The colours, Union down, were left flying, and a passing vessel arriving at Ilfracombe having reported that a vessel with that distress signal up was riding to her anchors in a dangerous position, the Ilfracombe Life-boat Broad- water put to sea, and later in the day succeeded in boarding the deserted Lizzie Morton, and the weather having moderated for the time, succeeded, after great labour, in carrying her safely into Ilfracombe Harbour on the morning of the day fol- lowing.

NEW ROMNEY.—Late in the evening of the 10th April, the Dutch schooner To- bina, of Pekela, from Sunderland, dragged her anchors during a strong gale, and was seen from the shore to strike on the Eoar Bank, heel over, and go down. The crew found refuge in the rigging, part of the masts being above water, as it was low tide.

The Life-boat Dr. Hatton, stationed at New Romney, was launched with difficulty over the widely-extending soft sands, and at 8.30 P.M. reached the wreck. Two of the crew had already perished after a futile attempt to escape in their own boat.

The remainder, 5 in number, were rescued by the Life-boat. Aid had arrived only just in time, as the flowing tide would soon have washed every one from the rigging.

This highly creditable rescue, coupled with the series of good and gallant ser- vices performed by the crew of this Life- boat (who are all coastguardmen), under the command of MICHAEL MURPHY, chief boatman of coastguard, and coxswain of the Life-boat during a period of eight years, induced the Institution to vote to MURPHY its silver medal, together with a vote of thanks on vellum.

LYTHAM.—About 11 A.M. on the llth April, the schooner Wyre, of Pleetwood, having had all her sails blown away, was forced ashore, by the violence of a N.W. gale, on the Horse Bank, at the entrance to the River Ribble. Heavy snow-squalls accompanied the gale.

The Life-boat Wakefield was launched directly the wreck was observed, and being taken in tow by a steamer, was placed sufficiently far to windward to fetch across the shoal water by 1 o'clock.

She at that time, therefore, cast off from the steamer, and making her way through a heavy cross sea to the wreck, the hull of which was now under water, succeeded in taking the surviving 2 men from the rigging, a third having perished some time previously.

SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.—On the 14th April, at daylight, the schooner Wells, of Goole, was observed at anchor off this station, with a signal of distress flying.

The schooner was in a dangerous position on a lee shore, a heavy easterly gale was blowing, accompanied by snow squalls.

The Life-boat Duncan was promptly launched, and boarded the schooner about 7 A.M., having stood out under sail. The crew of the Life-boat having taken charge of the Wells, slipped her cables and car- ried her to a safe anchorage at Blakeney, from whence she was subsequently towed into port. She carried a crew of 4 men, and 1 woman was also on board.

HUNSTANTON.—Early on the 14th April the schooner Alabama, of Goole, while on a voyage from Cliff Creek to Hull was wrecked on the Woolpack Sands, during a gale at E.N.E., accompanied by a heavy fall of snow. The Life-boat Licensed Victualler was conveyed by road to Shorn- ham, 4 miles from her station, and launched off the beach through a heavy surf about 10 A.M. At noon she succeeded in reaching the Alabama, which vessel had already sunk. One man alone re- mained clinging to the rigging, who was taken off only just in time, being greatly exhausted. A second had been washed off, and was rescued from the sea with the greatest difficulty. The other portion of the crew, 2 in number, had succumbed to the severity of the cold, let go their hold, and were washed off and drowned before the Life-boat arrived. The Life- boat regained the shore, with the 2 men who had so narrowly escaped, at 1.30 P.M.

SKEGNESS.—On the 14th April, at 8.30 A.M., the ketch Elizabeth, of Goole, while on a voyage from London to Gainsbro', was observed off this station in a disabled state, with signal of distress flying, and the crew in the rigging. A gale, with snow, was blowing from E.N.E., t. e. on shore, and in a short time the Elizabeth was observed to strike the ground and swamp. The masts remained above water, with the crew lashed in the rigging. The Life-boat Herbert Ingram tried to launch, but OH the first and second attempts was washed back on the beach, broadside on, by the violence of the surf. A third effort was made, and about 9.30 A.M. she succeeded in getting clear of the beach., and by 10 o'clock reached the wreck. Two men were rescued from their perilous position, a third had perished previous to arrival of the Life-boat, and a fourth, supposed then to have been lost, had been picked up by the brigantine with which the Elizabeth had been in collision.

MONTROSE, N. B.—On the 17th April some of the fishing fleet of Montrose were caught outside the bar of the river in a sudden storm from the S.E. Many boats which were in great peril hove-to outside, unwilling to take the bar. The Life-boat AUGUST 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

593 Mincing Lane was therefore launched at 8 A.M., and, pulling out to the bar at- tended each vessel, as she bore up for the attempt, and returning each time for the next boat, was ready to render assist- ance if any of them broached-to or foun- dered, and so continued till 20 open fishing boats, carrying about 100 men, were thus conveyed to a place of safety in the river.

BOULMER, NORTHUMBERLAND.—During the night of the 27th April the ketch Bavington, of Newcastle, while on a voy- age from Middlesborough to Dundee, was wrecked on the North Steel rocks. A fierce gale, with heavy rain, was blowing from the E.S.E. The wreck was observed by the Boulmer men soon after midnight, and about 2 A.M. on the 28th, after en- countering great difficulty, owing to the tide being out, they succeeded in launch- ing the Life-boat Robin Hood of Notting- ham. By 4 A.M. this Life-boat had regained the shore, having with difficulty saved 4 men from the rigging of the Bavington, which had sunk before they reached her. The Boulmer men deserve great credit for the good look-out kept, and the prompt and hearty manner in which they set about rendering assistance.

With the crew clinging to the rigging of a sunken ship in a storm at night, a few moments' delay often renders the most gallant efforts of no avail.

MOELFRE, ANGLESEY.—-About dark on the evening of the 29th April the schooner John, of Euncorn, bound from Penmaenmawr to Dublin, was observed in a dangerous position in Moelfre Bay, during a strong gale from the eastward.

The John had lost all her masts by the board, and had a signal of distress flying when boarded by the Life-boat Lady Vivian, which had been promptly manned and launched on the distressed vessel being observed. The Life-boat was suc- cessful in rescuing the ere* of 3 men.

At a later date, the Life-boat, with other assistants, succeeded in bringing the dis- masted schooner into port.

LYDD, DUNGENESS.—At 2 A.M. on the 18th May, the Russian barque Ilmatar got ashore off Dungeness, during a fresh gale at E.N.E., a heavy sea running. The Life- boats on this part of the coast are mainly dependent on the coastguardmen for crews; on this occasion the greater part were absent at drill on board the district ship, and it was found impossible to as- semble a sufficient number to launch and man the Life-boat David Hulett, stationed at this point. The coastguard, therefore, manned their own four-oared galley, and made for the stranded vessel in her.

The boat, however, was unequal to the service, and before long swamped and capsized, passing over the crew as she drove to leeward. The men, however, supported by their life-belts, regained their waterlogged boat and drove up on the beach again with her. The boat was promptly got ready for service once more, and being conveyed along the beach to the haul-off warp laid down for the Life- boat, a second attempt, which proved successful, was made, and between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning, the coast- guard boat got alongside the stranded vessel. It was thought that there was no immediate danger of the ship breaking up, and it was settled that the master's wife should be brought ashore, she being lowered over the stern by ropes, a work of difficulty and danger to her and all concerned, one of the boat's crew being washed overboard. The master also was got into the boat and both were landed in safety. At 2 P.M., the wind and sea hav- ing greatly increased, and the ship show- ing signs of breaking up, the Life-boat was launched, assistance having by this time been obtained from the surrounding country, and the crew of the Russian vessel, 15 in number, were safely landed by her.

WHITBY.—On the afternoon of the 24th May some of the fishing craft of Whitby put to sea in comparatively moderate weather, but towards evening a violent gale sprang up, accompanied by a heavy sea, and 4 of the cobles were seen labouring and rolling in a fearful manner. The Life-boats Robert Whit worth and Harriott Forteath, stationed at Whitby, thereupon put off to their assistance, and, with great difficulty and danger, rescued the crews, consisting of 12 men. The cobles, with their fish, &c., had to be abandoned, but | they were subsequently washed upon the ! beach, though in a somewhat damaged condition.