CAISTER, NORFOLK. — Signal - rockets were fired by the Wold Light-vessel on the morning of the 31st May last. The weather was squally, a strong breeze blowing from the KN.W., and there was a heavy sea. At 3 o'clock the No. 2 Life- boat Beauchamp was launched and towed by a steam-tug to the light-vessel when she ascertained that several rockets had been seen in the direction of the Leman and Ower Sands. The Life-boat and steamer proceeded in search of the vessel in distress and fell in with a Lowestoft fishing-vessel which had taken the crew out of a barque on the Ower Sand. The Life-boat was towed to the Sand and found the vessel, the Alexandra, of and from Frederikstad for London, timber laden, about a mile outside the South Leman buoy, with some fishermen on board. Having cleared away the fore and main masts, which were hanging by the rigging over the side of the vessel, the hawser was attached to the tug and the barque was got afloat and taken to Yarmouth Eoads, the Life-boat assisting to steer her. She was afterwards taken to London and safely docked.

The Beauchamp Life-boat was again called out for service on the morning of the 14th October. The watchman having observed a light in the direction of the Middle Cross Sand, the coxswain, who had just arrived at the beach, looked through the telescope and saw a schooner on the south part of the sand with a signal flying at the maintopmast head.

The crew of the Life-boat were at once summoned and the boat was launched at 6.30. Meanwhile, one of the beach boats put off and took three men to a steam-tng which was proceeding to the help of the stranded vessel. The weather became very thick, the wind, which was blowing from the S.W., increased to a strong breeze, and on reaching the sand, on which a heavy sea was breaking, the Life-boat men were unable to discern the vessel; they cruised about the sands in search of her for some time, but failing to find her, returned to the shore to wait until the weather cleared. At 10 o'clock the haze was dispelled, and then the tug could be seen towing the schooner into Hasborough Gat. The Life-boat thereupon again went out to render help if required. On reaching the vessel a request was made that some of the Life-boat men would board her and assist at the pumps, as she was leaking badly. This request was complied with, and the schooner, which was the W. D. Potts, of Carnarvon, bound from Portmadoc for Wisbech with a cargo of slates, and carrying a crew of six men, was taken safely into the harbour.

YOUGHAL, Co. CORK.—On the evening of the 13th July, the coastguard reported that an open boat, containing five soldiers, was in danger about five miles from land.

The wind was blowing from the N.W. at the time, and there was a choppy sea.

The crew of the Life-boat Mary Luckonibe were summoned; the boat was launched at 8.30, and at 11.30 returned to the shore with the distressed boat in tow, her occupants being in a greatly exhausted condition.

MONTROSE.—The fishing-boat Useful, of Kirkcaldy, while going out of the har- bour on the afternoon of the 27th July in a moderate 8.E. wind and a rough sea, went ashore on the Annat Bank. The seas were breaking heavily on the sand and the vessel's crew were evidently in considerable danger. The Montrose No. 2 Life-boat Bessie Webster immediately put off and at 3.15 was on her way to the help of the fishermen. When the Life-boat reached her the seas were washing completely over the fishing-boat, rendering it a difficult task to take the crew out of her, but ultimately this was accomplished, and the six men were landed safely at 4 o'clock.

MOELFRE, ANGLESEY.—Two gentlemen and two boys started in a boat from Penllech, Carnarvonshire, at 2.30 P.M., on the 4th August, intending to sail along the bay; but the wind blowing off the shore with a strong tide the boat was carried outside the Castle rocks and across Eed Wharf Bay. In returning she was driven further from the shore, and her position having been observed, a mounted messenger at once proceeded to Moelfre to obtain the services of the Life-boat.

At 5 P.M.S the Life-boat Star of Hope was launched, picked up the boat which had arrived off Moelfre and was about four or five miles from the land, and towed her safely ashore.

WALMER, NORTH DEAL AND KINGS- DOWNE.—At about 2.45 on the morning of the 2nd September, signal guns and rockets were fired by the East Goodwin Light-vessel. Signals were also fired by the South Sand Head Light-ship and by a vessel on the Goodwin Sands. The Life-boat Civil Service No. 4, stationed at Walmer; the North Deal Life-boat, Mary Somerville, and the Life-boat Charles Har- grave, of Kingsdowne, were launched in response to these signals and found the schooner-rigged s.s. Cerigo, of Liverpool, bound from Gaza for Grimsby, with a cargo of barley, stranded on the South- eastern part of the Goodwins. A mode- rate to strong breeze was then blowing, the weather was thick and at times a heavy sea broke upon the Bands. The services of the crews of the three Life- boats were engaged by the master of the vessel to throw overboard some of the cargo, in order to lighten his ship, and to lay out a kedge anchor and warp. When the tide had risen sufficiently, the Dover harbour tug, which had also been em- ployed, attached her hawser and after towing for some time the vessel was got clear of the sands and was able to resume her journey. The Life-boats regained their stations at about 4 P.M.

MEVAGISSEY, CORNWALL.—The sloop Jessie, of and for Truro, from Plymouth, with a general cargo, showed signals of distress on the evening of the 10th Octo- ber. The Life-boat John Arthur put off to her assistance at 7.30 and found that she was near Porthmellyn Beach. She was driving and, as a strong gale was blowing and the sea rough, she was in a position of considerable danger, and the Life-boat men would, in all probability, have be- come a wreck. Assistance, however, was promptly rendered, and the sloop, with her crew of two men, was taken into the inner harbour at Mevagissey.

THORPBNESS, SUFFOLK.—The Life-boat Christopher North Graham was called out on service on the morning of the llth October, while a moderate gale was blowing from the S.W., accompanied by a heavy sea. The boat was launched at 6.30, and half-an-hour afterwards reached the distressed vessel—the brig St. Louie, of Fecamp, bound from Newcastle for Courseulles, Calvados, with a cargo of coal—stranded on the Sizewell Bank.

She was lying on her beam ends, her yards were in the water, and the sea around her was covered with floating wreckage; but no person could be seen on board. After sailing round her for some time the Life-boat men observed a ketch about a mile to the northward of her with a flag in the main rigging and proceeding to this vessel found that the brig's crew had taken refuge on board her. They had abandoned their vessel in their own boat and reached the ketch just in time, for their boat was half-full of water. The men, six in number, were taken into the Life-boat and safely landed at Thorpeness. The brig soon afterwards broke up, her stern being washed ashore at Southwold.

HOLYHEAD. — Signals of distress were shown by the schooner Moses Parry, of Carnarvon, on the evening of the 13th October, the vessel, which was on a voyage from Youghal for Conway, having stranded on the end of the breakwater, in a fresh gale from the S.W. with a rough sea. The Holyhead No. 1 Life-boat, Thomas Fidden, put off to her assistance at 7.40, took a rope from her to a steam- tug, and she was towed into the old harbour at 10.30.

The schooner Jane Douglas, of Glouces- ter, bound from Plymouth for Liverpool, showed signals of distress at 5.40 on the morning of the 17th November. The Holyhead No. 1 Life-boat, Thomas Fielden, immediately put off, and on reaching the vessel found that she had lost her sails, and was riding heavily at her anchor in Church Bay. As the wind was blowing a gale from the W.S.W. and there was a heavy sea, the vessel's crew of five men jot on board the Life-boat and were brought to land.

On the following day a very severe »ale was experienced here, the wind blowing with hurricane force from the N.N.W. and the sea being very heavy.

The Thomas Fielden Life-boat was called out five times. On three occasions no service was rendered. At 2.45 P.M. the boat went out the fourth time, a signal of distress having been shown by the brigantine Henry Harvey, of Hayle, which was at anchor in the outer roads. When about half way to her, the signal was hauled down, but the boat went along- side her and brought ashore the master's wife and a boy. Having landed them, the boat again went out, signals having been shown by the schooner Bebecca, which was also lying at anchor in the outer roads, and brought ashore her crew of four men who feared that the cables would part and their vessel be driven ashore. While on their way out the Life-boat men saw that the Henry Harvey was again showing signals of distress.

Having taken off the crew of the Rebecca, the boat went once more to the Henry Harvey and took off her crew of six men who were dreading the breakage of their cables and the possible wreck of the ship.

IRVINE, AYRSHIRE.—The schooner Guid- ing Star, of and from Kuncorn, for Irvine with salt, while endeavouring to enter the harbour, stranded on the bar, in a strong N.W. gale and a heavy sea on the 1st November. The Life-boat Bwsbie put off to her assistance at 6.15 P.M., and at 7.30 returned, bringing ashore the vessel's crew of four men.

HARWIOH.—Signals having been shown by the Cork Light-vessel, the Life-boat Springwell was launched at 2 P.M. on the 4th November, was taken in tow by the steam-tng Harwich, and proceeded to the Long Sand where the s.s. Rockcliff, of West Hartlepool, was found stranded.

The master of the tug was put on board the steamer, and the Life-boat laid by for about four hours. Five of the Life-boat men then boarded the tug, a hawser was taken to her from the Rockdiff, and at high water the steamer was towed off the sands and proceeded for Falmouth. The Life-boat was towed back to her station by the tug, arriving at 2 o'clock on the following morning.

On the 10th November, signals ol distress having been shown by the Cork Light, the Life-boat Springwett was launched at 2.45 A.M., and on arriving at the Cork Light found that they were answering signals from the Sunk Light.

When the boat arrived there the men were informed that a vessel was on the Long Sand. They discovered the wreck, which was the barque St. Olof, of Mariehamn, but could not approach it until the tide rose. The fore and mizen masts of the wreck were alone standing. After waiting a considerable time until there was sufficient water to get the boat across the fands, she wore away to the vessel, steered alongside and took off ten of her crew, the master and one man having after- wards to be drawn through the surf to the Life-boat. Whilst the boat was lying alongside, the vessel began to break up, threatening to fall on her and crush her.

To avoid this risk, the cable of the Spring- well had to be cut, and the Life-boat was then towed back to Harwich by the steam- tug Merrimac, of Ipswich. This service, which was rendered under difficult and dangerous conditions in a heavy gale from the E. and high seas, occupied over 14 hours, the boat not returning to its station until 5 P.M.

The following gratifying letter appeared in the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette of the 13th November:— E,—I shall be glad if you will allow me, through your valuable paper, to tender my own and my crew's heartfelt thanks to the coxswain and crew of the Harwich Life-boat, and also to Captain Tovee, of the tug Merrimac, for the brave and gallant manner in which they rescued us from the barque St. Olof, of Mariehamn, wrecked on the Long Sand during a heavy gale of wind from the E.N.E., on the 10th November, 1893.—I am, dear Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) " E. J. KAHLSSON.

" Master of barque St. Olof, of Mariehamn." ECNSWICK.—While a gale of wind was blowing from the N.E., with a heavy sea, on the 5th November, the schooner Jane and Ellen, of and for Whitby, from Seaham, with a cargo of coal, lost her sails and became unmanageable. She showed signals of distress, and at 6.40 P.M. the Life-boat Cape of Good Hope put off to her assist- ance, and brought safely ashore her crew of two men. The vessel became a total wreck.

On the 18th November, while a furious gale was blowing from the N.E., accom- panied by such a sea as has seldom been seen here, the brig Oarula, of and from Wyborg, bound for Middlesbrough with a cargo of pit props, was seen entering the bay. She was driven on the beach, only a short distance from the Life-boat house, and on taking the ground broached to.

The Life-boat Cape of Good Hope had been promptly launched at 2 P.M., immediately the vessel was seen, but with the tremen- dous seas running and the rocking of the brig it was very dangerous to go near her. By skilful manoeuvring, however, the boat was taken alongside and rescued six men who were on board. She was then run ashore on the beach and hauled into a safe position in a small creek. There she had to be left for a time, the opening of the creek soon being filled with wreckage. The vessel completely broke up during the night.

This was an extremely dangerous and difficult service and is reported by the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, who was an eye-witness, to be one of the most creditable deeds accomplished by the Life-boat crew. In recognition of their special services, double payment was awarded to the coxswain and crew of the Life-boat and the Silver Medal of the Institution was presented to Mr. GEORGE TOSE, the coxswain, in acknowledgment of his long and gallant services in the Life-boat.

GORLESTON.—On the 15th November at 2 A.M., while a fresh and increasing breeze was blowing from the N.N.E., with a rough sea and foggy weather, flares were seen in the direction of the North Sand.

The crew of the Gorleston No. 2 Life-boat Leicester were summoned, the boat was aunched and proceeded in tow of a steam • ;ug to the vessel, which was the dandy Hiram, of Lowestoft, returning from, a fishing voyage. A tow rope was taken to the tug, which tried for some time to move the vessel but failed to do so. As the tide was falling, nothing further could be done until daylight, when an anchor was laid out and, at the flood tide, the smack was got off the sand and was towed into the harbour.

On the 19th November, the No. 1 Life- boat Mark Lane was called out on service at 10 A.M., by signals shown by the dandy M. A. Watkin, of Grimsby, which, having lost all her canvas in the storm of the previous night, had been compelled to run under bare poles to Yarmouth Eoads where she had anchored. The wind was still blowing a perfect storm from the N.N.E., and the sea was very heavy, rendering it perilous for the crew, five in number, to remain on board their vessel, and they were therefore taken into the Life-boat and brought safely ashore.

On the 21st November the services of the Marie Lane were again called into requisition, signals having been fired by the light vessels. The boat went out at 12.45 A.M., in tow of a steam-tug, and fell in with the derelict barque Alpha, of Moss, Norway, drifting near the Scroby Sand.

She was taken in tow and was brought into the harbour at 11 o'clock.

GOUBDON, KlNOABDINESHIBE. The fish- ing lugger Dauntless, of Gourdon, was returning to port with her catch of fish on the afternoon of the 16th November.

The wind was blowing from the S.S.E.

and the sea, which had sprung up sud- denly, was breaking so heavily near the bar as to render it dangerous for the boat to cross. The Life-boat Theophilus Sydney EcTialaz was therefore launched at 1.40, and remained by the lugger until she was in safety.

WITHEBNSEA.—A vessel having been reported ashore about a mile S. of With- ernsea, the Life-boat Admiral Horn was launched at about 1.10 A.M. on the 17th November, in a heavy sea, the wind blowing half a gale from the S.E., and saved the crew of four men and two boys from the dandy Harry Sinclair, of Grimsby. The smack had lost her mast and was much encumbered with wreckage.

PEEL, ISLE OF MAN.—Signals of distress having been shown by the schooner Talacre, of Beaumaris, bound from Conway for Larne with a cargo of slates, the Life- boat John Monk put off at 8.15 A.M., in a strong W. breeze and a heavy sea, on the 17th November, and safely landed tier crew, consisting of two men. The vessel had lost her sails and spars and ultimately drove ashore.

FLEETWOOD.—The schooner Theda, of Carnarvon, bound from Hamburg for Glasson Dock, stranded on the North edge of Sundeiland Bank during hazy weather on the 17th November, and at 11.45 A.M. showed signals of distress.

The Life-boat Edith promptly went to her assistance and found her full-of water. Her crew of seven men and a pilot were taken into the Life-boat and landed at 3.30 P.M.

PORT EYNON.—The Life-boat A Daugh- ter's Offering put off at 12.45 P.M. on the 17th November, while a moderate gale was blowing from the W.N.W., and saved a man from the boat belonging to the ketch Favourite, of Milford. In returning to the shore the Life-boat shipped a heavy sea which knocked all the oars out of the men's hands; two of the oars were lost and one was broken and the crew were completely drenched. The rescued man on arriving at his home at Ilfracombe, wrote to the Honorary Secretary of the Port Eynon Branch of the Institution, who went out in the Life-boat, thank- ing him and the remainder of the crew, amongst whom were two other volunteers, for the service they had rendered to him.

He was in a greatly exhausted condition when picked up by the Life-boat men.

The master and only other man of the Favourite's crew had been taken off by a schooner.

ST. IVES, CORNWALL. — On the 17th November, while a strong gale was blow- ing from the N.W. and a heavy sea was running, the Life-boat temporarily placed heie during the absence of the station's boat which was being altered and im- proved, was launched soon after 9 P.M., it having been reported that three gigs, fishing on the east side of the bay, were in great danger, the wind having suddenly increased. One of the gigs, however, returned to the harbour, and her crew, who were much exhausted, stated that the other two boats were riding at anchor in a very perilous position. The Life-boat proceeded to these two boats, the Boy Philip and the Bessie Jane, and rescued the crew of four men from each boat.

The gigs were afterwards driven on shore very much damaged, everything having been washed out of them.

GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE.—While a gale was blowing from the N.W., with a very rough sea on the morning of the 17th November, the smack Prosperity, of Carnarvon, was seen in the offing labouring against the wind, and shortly afterwards she showed a signal of distress. At 9.45 the Life- boat, Sir Home Popham, was launched, crossed the bar, on which a heavy swell was encountered, and reached the vessel which was then embayed in Ardmillan Bay, about three miles south of Girvan, and had lost part of her sails. The master requested the Life-boat to stand by until his vessel had got a sufficient distance from the shore to enable him to weather Turnberry Point. This accord- ingly was done, the boat remaining by the smack for more than an hour.

BROUGHTY FERRY.—At one o'clock on the morning of the 18th November, the pilot-cutter No. 2 of Dundee, dragged its anchor and stranded on Abertay Sands.

Heeling over until it lay broadside to the gale, the vessel encountered the full force of wind and sea. The tide was ebbing at the time. Huge sheets of water swept the decks, the spray blew clean over the mastheads, and the crew were in immi- nent danger of being washed overboard.

Rockets were sent up at intervals and coloured signals were burned, but the blinding fury of the seas, precluded these from being witnessed from the shore. The crew took to the rigging, the hold beginning to fill with water; and as the hours slipped away the position of the men became desperate in the extreme.

About daybreak, one of the distress rockets was fortunately descried from Broughty Ferry. The Life-boat Samuel Shawcross was promptly launched and manned, and about half-past eight left Broughty Pier. With sail set the Life- boat sped rapidly down the river, and in about half an hour had reached the sands. As the boat approached them the sail was furled and the oars were brought into requisition. The furious sea, how- ever, preventing the Life-boat from getting within 20 yards of the cutter, a line was hove to the vessel, and one by one the shipwrecked crew, numbering seven men, were dragged through the surf and taken safely on board the Life-boat. This work occupied about half an hour. The steam- tug Excelsior, which had been despatched from Dundee on news of the disaster being received there, then took the Life- boat in tow, and in three-quarters of an hour they were abreast of Bronghty Pier.

Hundreds of people collected on the pier, and when the Life-boat drew near and it was seen that it had been success- ful in its mission a ringing cheer was raised.

ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.—On the 20th November, whilst one of the most violent storms that has visited this coast for many years past was raging, the hull of a vessel was seen off Aldeburgh at about 6.30 A.M. ; she appeared to be waterlogged, her masts were gone, and occasionally she was almost hidden from view by the terrific seas which broke over her. The crew of the Life-boat Aldeburgh were at once summoned, the boat was successfully launched and mounting the seas in grand style made her way to the wreck, which was fast drifting on the outer shoals and already breaking up. Being skilfully handled, the boat was quickly got under the lee of the vessel and in a few minutes had taken off the shipwrecked men, fourteen in number. That the rescue was indeed a timely one may be gathered from the fact that in ten minutes after the men had been taken into the Life- boat, the vessel struck on the outer shoals and went to pieces. She was a Eussian barque named the Venscapen. As the sea on the shoals was so heavy the coxswain decided that the most prudent course would be to run for Harwich and the boat was therefore steered in that direc- tion. While on the way, she fell in with the pilot cutter Fox, of Hull, with seven men on board, which was in need of assis- ance, having lost her sails, boat and anchors and having a quantity of water in her which could not be got rid of, the pumps being disabled. Two of the Life- boat men went on board, and the vessel was taken to Harwich. During the after- noon intelligence was received that another vessel was in distress between the Ship-wash and Bawdsey Sands, and shortly afterwards the Shipwash light-vessel fired signal rockets, and a vessel lying eastward of the light-ship also sent np rockets.

The Aldeburgh put off from Harwich at 5 P.M., beat to windward in the height of the gale and against the tide to the Ship- wash, examined the Sands, also searched the Eough Sands, but found no vessel although a large quantity of wreckage was seen. The boat therefore again made for Harwich, arriving there at midnight, and on the following day returned to her station, which was reached at 1 P.M.

In recognition of his continued gallant services in saving life from shipwreck, the Silver Second Service Clasp of the Insti- tution was awarded to Mr. JAMES CABLE, the coxswain of the Life-boat. The Insti- tution's Silver Medal was presented to him for gallantry in December, 1891.

CLACTON-ON-SEA.—The gale of the 20th November was severely felt here, the wind blowing from the E.N.E. with a very heavy sea. At 8 o'clock in the morning the Life-boat Albert Edward was launched, a three-masted schooner, which proved to be the Nora, of Mandal, bound from Nantes for Leith with a cargo of wooden hoops, having been seen drifting towards the Gunfleet Sands. The Life- boat proceeded under sail, but while on her way a sudden squall broke her fore- mast which smashed the foreyard as it fell. Using the longest piece of the mast and lashing two of the oars, a jury-mast was rigged up, and with close-reefed sails the boat was able to make the vessel which had then only about one foot of water under her; her sails had been blown away and she was otherwise dis- abled. The master having requested the Life-boat men to try to save the ship, they rigged a foresail, slipped the anchor, the other having parted, and ultimately got her into deep water. As Sheerness was the nearest port it was decided to take her there, and on the way a barque was observed on the Barrow Sands to windward of the Life-boat. It being impossible, under the circumstances, to proceed to her then, the journey to Sheer- ness was continued, and at 3 P.M. the Nora was left in Queenborough Swale.

The Life-boat coxswain then applied to the dockyard authorities for the assist- ance of a steamer to tow the boat to the Barrow Sand and, the request being readily and kindly complied with, a start was made at 5.30. On reaching the Swin light-vessel, the Life-boat was cast off, went in search of the stranded vessel and, after beating about for an hour, found her, but nobody was on board.

It was subsequently ascertained that her crew had been rescued by the Walton-on- the-Naze Life-boat of the Institution.

The boat then made for Clacton, and in passing the Whittaker Spit found another stranded barque with her topmast and gear hanging over her side. The boat sailed round her several times and hailed her, but got no answer, and it was evident that she was abandoned. Clacton was reached at 3.30 A.M. by the Life-boat crew, who were cold, wet and tired. At 5 o'clock, signal rockets having been fired by the Swin Middle Light-vessel, the crew again went out in the Life-boat, and found the barque Harold Haarfager stranded about half-a-mile S.W. of the Whittaker Beacon; she was full of water, and was fast breaking up. With consid- erable difficulty the boat got alongside, being somewhat damaged while doing so, and rescued the shipwrecked crew of eleven men. On arriving in the Swin Channel the s.s. Alerdour, of Aberdeen, was fallen in with, and kindly towed the boat as far as the Gunfleet Spit buoy.

Once more Clacton was regained at 1.30 P.M.

At 1.45 on the following afternoon the barque Anna, of Copenhagen, having stranded on the West Gunfleet Sands, the Life-boat was once again taken out, and proceeded to her assistance. It was decided to remain by her until the tide flowed, in the hope that she would then float, but at 8 o'clock, the tide being at that time half flood, she had twelve feet of water in her hold. Her crew of ten men were therefore taken into the boat, which was towed back to the station by the steam-tug Merrimac, of Ipswich. She arrived at 9 o'clock, landed the rescued men, and half-an-hour afterwards again went out in response to rockets fired by the Swin Middle light-vessel, and found a large steamer anchored in the Whittaker Channel. The Life-boat men asked those on board whether or no the vessel had been ashore, but received no reply. No other vessel could be seen, and it was concluded that the steamer had stranded but had got off without assistance. The Life-boat men gladly reached home again at about 3.30 the next morning, all of them being worn out by their long-con- tinued exertions, the same men having manned the boat on each of these occasions.

The Silver Medal of the Institution was awarded to Mr. JAMES SCHOFIELD, coxswain of the Life-boat, in special recognition of his zeal and activity.

TENET.—The trawler Elizabeth, of Tenby, which was lying at anchor while a whole gale was blowing from the N.N.B., with a very heavy sea, on the 18th November, hoisted a signal of distress as her anchor was dragging. At 11 A.M., the Life-boat placed here temporarily during the absence of the station's boat for altera- tion and improvement, was launched, pro- ceeded to the cutter, and brought safely ashore her crew of three men and a boy.