CLACTON.—On the morning of the 4th January, while a whole gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea, the coxswain of the Life-boat saw a vessel stranded on the Baxey Sand. The crew of the Lifeboat Albert Edward were summoned and the boat put off to the assistance of the vessel, the masts of which had already fallen over her side. The boat steered for the wreck, and, on nearing her, the crew could be seen clinging to the deck house and other portions of the vessel, the heavy seas breaking over them. The boat kept to windward, let go her anchor, and slacked away until she came to tha end of her cable, but could not get near the vessel. It was then decided to lift the anchor and drop down again, but it was discovered the anchor had fouled something in the sand and could not be raised. The cable was therefore cut and sail was made, but on getting to the lee side of the ship her masts and gear, which were lying alongside, rendered it impossible to get near her in the heavy sea. Signs were made to the ship's crew to attach to a rope something which would float, and slack away until it reached the Life-boat, but this attempt to obtain communication was frustrated, for the object veered by the men fouled some of the wreckage. The boat then sailed to windward and again making for the vessel, threw the grapnel into the rigging. Three of the crew then crawled out on the mast, and a rope was thrown to them to make fast; un-fortunately the first man instead of doing so clung to the boat and was dragged into her. The grapnel becoming unhooked, the boat was again driven away, and the other two men crawled back to the ship.

Once more the Life-boat men strove to get to the vessel, and having thrown the grapnel on board, were enabled to haul the boat between the spars to the wreck, thereby enabling five men to jump into her. The master being too much exhausted to do so, a rope was thrown to him and he fastened it round his body; but, as the coxswain was about to lift him into the boat, a heavy sea came and, there being so much ice in the boat, he missed his foothold aiid was thrown overboard between the wreck and the boat. Fortunately he had hold of one end of the rope attached to the captain, and was hauled into the boat; he, however, received a severe blow and cut over one of his eyes. The captain was dragged through the surf by means of the rope and was also taken into the boat. The whole of the wrecked crew— seven men in all—having thns been rescued, sail was made, and at 2.30 P.M.

the Life-boat arrived at Clacton pier after a fearful journey, the boat and those on board her being covered with ice. The wrecked vessel was the brigantine St. Alexei, of Copenhagen, bound from Valberg for Stanraer with a cargo of wood.

In recognition of the gallant conduct of the Life-boat crew an extra reward was granted to them by the Institution.

His Majesty the King of Denmark graciously awarded a silver medal to Mr.

W. SCHOPIKLD, Coxswain of the Life-boat, and the sum of 101. to the crew of the boat in acknowledgmeut of their brave services on this occasion. These rewards were publicly presented to the Life-boat men by the COUNTESS OF WABWICK, who at the same time presented silver medals granted by the Institution to the Coxswain in recognition of his general gallant services, and to MAUBICB NICHOLLS, ROBERT OSBOBNE and JOHN GBIBB, who had been members of the Life-boat crew for many years and had been out in the boat on very many occasions of service. Other medals presented by public subscription were also handed to the Life-boat crew together with a pecuniary reward generously given by the MAYOBESS of COLCHESTBE..