STAITHES.—A sudden gale of wind from E.S.E. arose on the morning of the 14th March, 1896, and a heavy sea sprung up, endangering the safety of the fishing- cobles, which had proceeded to sea at daybreak. The Life-boat Jonathan Stott put off at 10 o'clock to assist the boats, and stood by them until the danger was over.

LLANDUDNO.—On Sunday, the 12th April, a message was received by tele- phone from Colwyn Bay, at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, stating that a brigantine was showing signals of distress. She was lying at anchor about two and a half miles distant from the shore, and her crew were working hard at the pumps.

The wind was then blowing a gale from N., and a very heavy sea was running.

The crew and launchers of the Life-boat, Sunlight No. 1, were summoned, and the boat was got out of her house and was about to be launched, but owing to one of the horses jibbing, the wheel-plate eanght the chain trace and pulled the horse down, the wheel coming on to, but fortunately not injuring, the animal. The accident however delayed the launch, -but, once afloat, the boat, after being rowed some little distance from the shore to allow of sail being hoisted, sped towards the wreck, being three times completely buried by the heavy seas which broke over her, reached the vessel, rescued her crew of four men, and safely landed them at Colwyn Bay.

She was the Waree, of and for Dundalk from Liverpool, coal laden, and was in a sinking state in consequence of having sprung a leak and of the stress of weather, and a report was afterwards received that she had gone down.

ALDEBURGH.— A message by telephone was received from the Ship wash Light- vessel, on the evening of the 12th April, reporting that a vessel was stranded on the Shipwash Sands. A strong N.W. breeze was blowing, accompanied by squalls of snow, and the sea was rough.

The Life-boat Aldeburgh was launched at 4.58, eight minutes after the message arrived, and found the ship MacMillan, of Glasgow, in ballast from London for Frederickstadt, stranded near the middle of the sands, with her ensign flying, union down, in the mizen rigging. The master of the vessel gave up charge to the Life- boat men, with the view of their getting the ship off the sands, and at high water this having been accomplished she returned to Gxavesend.

BLACKPOOL.—At about 6 o'clock on the morning of the 13th April, while the wind was blowing strongly from the N.N.W. and a heavy sea was running, the fishing-smack Harriet, of Marshside, was observed in difficulties off Blackpool.

After watching her course for a while, it was evident that she had become un- manageable, and therefore the Life-boat Samuel Fletcher was launched and went to her assistance. Proceeding in a southerly direction, the fishing - boat struck the Crusader Bank, two miles south of Blackpool, before the Life-boat could bear down on her, and rolled over on her starboard side. Her crew of four men, who were in a very exhausted con- dition, were taken into the Life-boat, and the vessel, which was not damaged, was afterwards taken to Lytham in charge of three of the Life-boat men.

WEXFORD.—While a moderate gale from W.S.W. to N.W. was blowing, accom- panied by a rough sea, on the morning of the 16th April, signals of distress were seen flying on a fishing-smack. The Life-boat .Andrew Pickard was launched at 9.45, sailed over the bar, and on reaching the fishing-boat—the Prairie Flower—found that all her sails had been blown away, and she had on board only one man, who stated that his father had fallen overboard and had been drowned before the signals of distress were hoisted.

The man was almost distracted, and, being entirely unable to help himself in any way, his boat was simply drifting out ta sea. Two of the Life-boat crew got on board the vessel and, having made ropes fast to her, towed her into Wexford Harbour, which was reached at 2.30 P.M.

BROADSTAIRS.—The brig Flamingo, of Farsund, laden with pit-props from Christiansand for Cardiff, having been observed running in the direction of the north end of the Goodwin Sands, the crew of the Broadstairs Life-boat were summoned. Soon afterwards signal-guns were fired by the light-vessel, and the Life-boat was at once launched and pro- ceeded to the brig, which had stranded on the sands. Some of the Life-boat men boarded the vessel, stowed the sails and let go the port anchor. The Ramsgate tug then arrived and her help was accepted. After towing about three hours, the vessel floated and was taken to Ramsgate Harbour, where she arrived at about 8 P.M.

GORLESTON.—The Life-boat Mark Lane was launched at about 4 A.M. on the 13th May and proceeded to the assistance of the steam trawler Chanticleer, of Lowestoft, which had stranded on the South Scroby Sand, on which a rough sea was breaking.

It was found that the water had risen in the hold and had extinguished the engine fires. The crew at once transferred their effects to the Life-boat. An anchor had already been laid out by the vessel's crew; the Life-boat men got a spring on it, and with the flood tide the vessel swung off into deep water, being then taken in tow by the steam-tug United Service, which succeeded in getting her into the harbour before she sunk, her decks being level with the water when she was placed on the hard.

PALLING.—Soon after midnight on the 28th May, while a strong N.N.E. wind was blowing and a heavy sea running, a vessel was reported to have stranded on the beach at Waxham, two and a half miles southward of the Falling Life-boat station. The No. 1 Life-boat Good Hope was promptly got ready, horses were procured, and the boat was taken along the beach towards the scene of the wreck, the coxswain sending two men forward to find out the most available place for launching. Meanwhile a boat, containing the master's wife and two of the crew, put off from the vessel, but was unable to reach the shore, as a rope by which the boat was attached to the vessel was not of sufficient length. The boat was seen by the two men who* were going along the beach, and having ascertained that those on board were unable to cut the rope, they, with a third man, waded out at some risk, severed the rope, and the boat then drifted ashore safely. But for the prompt aid thus afforded there is little doubt that the boat would have been capsized in the breakers. On the arrival of the Life- boat she was successfully launched and duly rescued the two seamen left on board the vessel, which proved to be the ketch Rival of and for Eye from Goole, laden with coal.

CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN.—A small yacht, the Lu/ra, of Douglas, was reported to be in distress and quite unmanageable off Santon Head while a whole gale was blowing from N.E. with a very heavy sea, on the 29th May. The Life-boat Hope. was launched at 2.42 P.M. and rescued the sole occupant of the vessel. She was engaged over seven hours in rendering this service, and did not regain her station until 10 o'clock at night.

FRASERBURGH.—On the 6th June the coxswain of the Life-boat observed a vessel—the schooner Nolle, of Banff, laden with coal from Sunderland—driving towards the rocks. A heavy sea was running at the time, and it was deemed advisable to have the Life-boat Anna Maria Lee launched to her assistance. When the Life-boat reached the vessel she was just entering the broken water.

Some of the Life-boat men boarded her, a kedge was run out, after which she was warped out seawards and then taken into the harbour.

NEW BRIGHTON.—A telephone message having been received from the lightkeeper at Bidston lighthouse on the llth June, reporting that a ship was on fire in Fonnby Channel and was showing signals of distress, the steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland proceeded to her assist- ance at 3.20 P.M., and found she was the ship Marshal Suchet, of London, bound from Liverpool for Calcutta with a cargo of salt. She was taken possession of by the Dock Board tenders, which were provided with pumps, the Life - boat remaining at hand until the crew were out of danger.

NEWQUAY, CORNWALL.—On the morning of the 15th July a telephone message was received by the coastguard that a vessel was drifting to the westward with a signal of distress flying, and asking for the assistance of the Newquay Life-boat.

It was then blowing a moderate gale of wind from the N.N.E., accompanied by rather a heavy sea. No horses being available the boat was taken by hand to the slipway at Towan Head and quickly launched. She reached the vessel in about two and a half hours' time and found she was the pilot-boat Polly of Barry; she was in a dismasted condition and had brought up about half a mile from the shore. When the Life-boat arrived alongside the men wished to be taken into her, as they were quite ex- hausted ; at the same time they were naturally desirous that the vessel should be extricated from her perilous position. Accordingly four of the Life- boat men boarded her with some difficulty and proceeded with the aid of the main gaff to rig a jury mast, after which she was, with the assistance of the Life-boat, taken to St. Ives where they arrived about 7.30 P.M., the whole of the men being drenched to the skin. It was found impracticable for the Life-boat to return to her station that night, but she did so safely the next day against a stiff breeze after a passage of twelve hours' duration.

WHITBY.—Two fishing-cobles belonging to this port, the Star of Peace and the Mary Ann, were observed to be making for the harbour on the evening of the 27th July. On account of the heavy sea and the ebb tide running out it was seen that there was considerable risk that they would not safely cross the bar. Accord- ingly the John Fielden Life-boat was launched, and proceeding out she escorted the boats safely over the bar, their crews being greatly encouraged by the presence of the Life-boat.

The same Life-boat was launched five days later in conjunction with her consort, the Robert and Mary Ellis, to the help of the s.s. Lady Grey of West Hartlepool, which had stranded on Whitby Rocks about half a mile from the West Pier head. Her captain had come ashore in the ship's Life-boat in order to communi- cate with the owners, but with the rising tide a very strong sea came in from the N.E., which prevented the return of the ship's boat and made it too dangerous for cobles to approach the stranded vessel.

Accordingly the aid of the Whitby Life- boats was solicited, and they took out the master and about 150 shoremen to throw the cargo of coal overboard. After many hours' work the steamer was got off, with the aid of five powerful steam-tugs, and taken to Hartlepool in a very damaged condition.

On the 3rd September and 16th No- vember the John Fielden Life-boat also proceeded out to the bar and remained there until the fishing-cobles, which had been overtaken by stormy weather, were all got safely into harbour.

HOYLAKE AND NEW BRIGHTON.—On the afternoon of the 29th July the s.s. Flying Falcon, of Liverpool, bound there from Mostyn with a large number of passengers, stranded on the East Hoyle Sandbank near Spencer's Spit.

The weather was moderate, but as the steamer was crowded with passengers it was thought advisable to launch the Hoylake Life-boat Goard William Squarey, and also to take the Steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland to the spot from New Brighton. The former boat was the first to arrive there, and after communi- cating with the captain it was arranged to transfer seventy-six of the passengers to the Steam Life-boat, which was done by the Hoylake boat, after which they were taken to Liverpool. The remainder of those on board the stranded steamer decided to stay by her until the flood tide made, when she floated and was enabled to resume her voyage.

The Hoylake Life-boat was again afloat on service on the 25th September on the occasion of the flat Catharine, of Liver-pool, going ashore about a mile from the Life-boat Station daring a whole gale from the north and a very heavy sea.

When she arrived at the scene of the wreck she found that the crew of two men had been compelled to take to the rigging as the seas were making a com- plete breach over the vessel; with difficulty they were extricated from their perilous position and brought safely ashore in the Life-boat.

The Duke of Northumberland Steam Life-boat was also called out on the night of the 9th November by a telephone message from the Chief Officer of H.M. Coastguard at Waterloo, stating that a vessel was making signals of distress on Crosby Beach. On arriving there it was found that the brigantine Emma Ives, of Dublin, had stranded, and that the cap- tain wanted the assistance of a pilot and a steam-tug. The Life-boat remained in attendance until the vessel was taken in tow by a steamer, after which she returned to her station.

SUNDERLAND.—The brig Prince Consort, of Faversham, was being towed to Sun- derland in ballast when, on the 2nd September, the steam-tug ran ashore in a thick fog and was followed by the brig.

Signals of distress were exhibited and the Life-boat Richard and Nellie Hodges was at once launched through a heavy sea; the steam-tug Earl of Glamorgan also pro- ceeded to the spot. At the request of the master the Life-boat remained in attendance and passed the tow rope to the steamer and eventually the vessels were extricated from their perilous position.

PORT ERIN, ISLE OF MAN.—On the 14th September the William Sugden Life-boat was despatched to the assistance of two fishing-boats which had been overtaken when on the lee side of Calf Island by a gale from the north-west and a heavy sea, causing great anxiety to be felt for the safety of the fishermen. The Life-boat having come up with the boats escorted them safely into harbour, to the great relief of all on shore.

WHITEHAVEN.—On the evening of the 17th September about 5 o'clock, at about half tide, there was a strong south- westerly wind and a heavy sea. The schooner Kate, of Peel, 122 tons register, was coming into Whitehaven Harbour light, for coal. She failed to get close enough round the West Pier, and shot beyond the North Wall, threatening to run ashore on the rocks at Redness Point.

Her anchor was dropped, and she was brought up in just sufficient water to keep her off the bottom and there she tossed helplessly, slowly dragging her anchor, in no immediate danger, but gradually going ashore. After some time the steam-tug Florence went out and endeavoured to obtain communication by line, but without success, as in such a sea she was in danger of being dashed against the schooner. Then a couple of rockets were discharged from the neighbourhood of the Life-boat house, and soon there was a crowd down there cheering lustily as the Life-boat was launched through the surf. It was hard work getting clear of the heavy breakers, but the Life-boat succeeded in passing a line from the vessel to the tug; a cable was then hauled on board and the Life-boat made fast astern. The anchor was slipped, and vessel and Life- boat were towed into the harbour just as darkness was setting in.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN. — What was reported locally as " a most admirable service, quickly and gallantly rendered," was that performed by the new Life-boat on this station—the Mary Isabella—on the 16th September. On the afternoon of that day the smack Grace Darling, of Ramsey, was seen to be flying a signal of distress about two-and-a-half miles north- east of the harbour. It was blowing a whole gale from the S.W.,and a very heavy sea was running at the time. The smack had lost her sails, and one anchor had parted, while the remaining anchor was dragging. The Life - boat was soon launched, but before she could reach the distressed vessel she had drifted some distance; great difficulty was experienced in getting near enough to save those on board, but after a prolonged struggle the three men were taken off and safely landed.

The same Life-boat was also called out in very bad weather on the 8th October, a dismasted vessel having been observed about three miles east of the harbour. The boat reached her in about an hour's time and found she was the barque Giovanni,of Lillesand, bound in ballast from Fleet- wood to Savannah. The crew of thirteen men having been taken into the Life-boat she had to anchor close by for some three or four hours owing to the fury of the gale and the strong ebb spring tide.

When the force of the tide had somewhat abated the boat cast off and made for the harbour, and after two hours' further battling against the storm she landed the rescued men at the Queen's Pier. They were very much exhausted by their long exposure, and the Life-boat-men had a hard time of it; the latter were cheered again and again by the great crowds which had assembled to welcome their return.

CAISTER, NORFOLK, and GORLESTON, SUFFOLK.— On the afternoon of the 7th November, during hazy weather, signal guns were heard from the St. Nicholas Lightship off the coast of Norfolk, in response to which the Gorleston Life-boat Mark Lane was launched and proceeded to the Lightship, when it was ascertained that guns had been heard to the eastward.

At once the Life-boat was taken in that direction, and proceeding over the Scroby Sands she found on the outside of the Sand a full-rigged ship, named the Soudan, of Liverpool, 1659 tons, bound from Leith to Bio de Janeiro with a cargo of coal, and having a crew of twenty-seven men and a pilot on board. By request of the master the Life-boat returned for the assistance of steam-tugs, and every effort without effect was made to save the ship. The weather then got much worse, the wind ultimately increasing to a whole gale, accompanied by a very heavy sea, and at 6.45 on the morning of the 8th November nineteen of the ship's crew were taken into the Life-boat along with eight of her own crew who had gone on board to help in throwing cargo over- board so as to lighten the vessel; the captain had previously gone ashore to consult with Lloyd's agent as to the steps to be taken to try to save the ship. The Life-boat then remained at anchor close by for a time, after which she again bore down on the wreck and endeavoured to take off the remaining eight men, but could not manage it, as every rope broke, owing to the severity of the gale.

Fortunately the Caister No. 2 Life-boat, the Seauchamp, had been launched in reply to signals a few hours previously after very hard work, some of the heaviest seas ever remembered being shipped,which thoroughly drenched the men, who ex- perienced similar treatment in crossing the Barber Sands. They found that the only way to fetch the wreck was through half-a-mile of heavy broken water on the Scroby Sands, through which they pro- ceeded, all hands lashing themselves in the boat. They arrived there about 7 o'clock, and the Mark Lane Life-boat, which was there waiting at anchor a little way from the wreck, sailed for harbour, her coxswain and crew having by that time been afloat in the boat for about nineteen hours.

With the help of a steam-tug and the use of her own sails the Caister Life-boat after some time was enabled to approach the wreck, but could not get alongside, the heavy seas knocking her away time after time, until lines had been passed to her by the aid of Life-buoys thrown from the ship. The crew were then enabled to haul her up to the stern, when she was swept under the lee quarter amongst the wreckage and the eight men jumped into her amidships. Having accomplished her mission the Life-boat made for harbour under sail and safely landed the rescued men at Gorleston. The latter part of this service taking place in daylight, thousands of persons watched it from the beach at Great Yarmouth, and as the boat made the harbour both piers were thronged with spectators, who cheered lustily. The sum of 125Z. was granted by the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION in rewards to the Life-boat crews and helpers for their services on the occasion of this shipwreck, which, thanks to the determined and brave efforts of the Life-boat men, was happily unattended by any loss of life. A relative of one of those saved by the Mark Lane Life-boat voluntarily forwarded the crew of that boat 51. " as a small recog- nition of gallant services, with heartfelt thanks.".