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 overboard 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, butcould 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 experienced 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 proceeded, 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 recognition of gallant services, with heartfelt thanks.".