PENMON.—On the 6th January, 1897, the schooner Volunteer, of Dublin, laden with cement and matches, from London for Whitehaven, was observed aground on the rocks off Penmon, having dragged her anchors. A strong gale was blowing from the S.E., accompanied by a rough sea and thick weather. At 11 A.M. the Life-boat Christopher Brown was launched, proceeded under sail to the vessel and rescued her crew, consisting of four men.

About an hour after the men had been taken off, the schooner sunk.

BULL BAY.—Signals of distress were shown by a vessel lying between the East Mouse and Amlwch port, on the evening of the 12th January. They were re- peated in quick succession, and the Life- boat Curling was promptly launched, four minutes only elapsing from the time the order was given to the time the boat was afloat, and proceeded to the vessel, which was ascertained to be the ship Bralloch, of Glasgow, with a cargo of grain from San Francisco for Liverpool. She had stranded about two hundred yards E.S.E. of the East Mouse in the thick weather which then prevailed. At the request of the master the Life-boat remained by the vessel until she floated and was taken in tow by a coasting steamer for Holyhead.

CLACTON.—Two telegrams having been received, one from the coxswain of the Southend Life-boat and the other from Maplin Lighthouse, reporting a vessel on the sands and showing signals of distress, on the 16th January, the Life-boat Albert Edward was launched at 11 A.M., and found the vessel was the brigantine Patho, of and for London, coal laden from Hull. The crews of two fishing smacks were assisting her, and at the request of the master the Life-boat remained by until high water, when, no further help being required, she returned to her station, arriving at 7.30 on the following morning. The wind was blowing half a gale from N.E., accompanied by a heavy sea, snow and thick weather.

The Albert Edward is one of two Life- boats presented to the Institution by the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England in commemoration of the safe return from India of the most Worshipful Grand Master, H.E.H. the Prince of Wales.

DONNA NOOK, LINCOLNSHIRE. — The Life-boat Richard was launched at 4.30 A.M., on the 19th January, a telephone message having been received from Salt- fleet reporting a vessel in distress. On reaching the spot it was ascertained that a steamer had been ashore, bat had got off again, and, the coxswain of the Life- boat having indicated to the captain his position, he got under weigh, and the Life-boat started for her station. On her way back, the four-masted ship Altair, of Bremen, laden with wheat, from San Francisco for Hull, was seen ashore, and the boat was at once steered in her direc- tion. On reaching her, the captain requested the Life-boat men to remain by until high water. They did so, and after throwing part of the cargo overboard, the ship was got off with the aid of four steam- tugs, and was towed to the Humber.

Intelligence having been received that a vessel was showing flares on the north side of the Haile Sand in hazy weather on the 23rd February, the Life-boat was launched at 2.45 A.M., and found the smack Mayfield, of Grimsby, stranded on the sand. At the request of the master the Life-boat remained by the vessel until she drove over the sand with the flowing tide.

GREAT YARMOUTH. — The Life-boat John Burch was launched at 10 A.M. on the 22nd January, and put on board the s.s. Ardle, of Dundee, some men by whose aid the vessel, which had been stranded on the beach about two months, was got afloat, and taken to an anchorage in Yarmouth Roads, the Life-boat remaining by until this was safely accomplished.

A strong gale was blowing from N.N.E. at the time, there was a very heavy sea, and the weather was exceedingly cold, with snow.

ARBROATH.—While a strong gale was blowing from E.N.E., with a very heavy sea and snow, on the 22nd January, twelve of the fishing yawls were return- ing, but it was feared they would be unable to enter the harbour. The Life- boat William Souter was launched at about 10.15 A.M., and stood by in readi- ness to render any help that might be needed. She remained in attendance until 3.30 P.M., by which time all the boats had succeeded in reaching the harbour.

ABERSOCH.—At 1.30 A.M. on the 23rd January the Life - boat Oldham was launched, signal - rockets having been fired from the direction of St. TudwelFs Island. The wind was blowing a mode- rate gale from E.N.E., with snow squalls and very cold weather, and there was a rough sea. After a long search the three-masted schooner Bispham, of Fleet- wood, bound from Charlestown for Bun- corn with china clay, was found stranded on a sandbank, bumping heavily and leaking. Her crew of five men were rescued by the Life-boat and safely landed at 10.30 A.M.

WINTERTON (NORFOLK).—During thick and bitterly cold weather on the morning of the 23rd January, the wind blowing a strong gale from E.N.E., with a very heavy sea and snow squalls, flares were shown by a vessel which ran aground about a mile N. of the village of Winter- ton. The Life-boat Edward Birkbeck was taken along the beach until opposite the vessel, and at about 7 o'clock she was launched, but was driven back three times by the heavy seas. At last how- ever, with the help of the whip of the rocket apparatus, which had been made fast to the vessel, the boat succeeded in reaching her and, with considerable difficulty, rescued two of her crew. Two others unhappily were washed out of the rigging and lost before the Life-boat could reach them. The wrecked vessel was the ketch Isabella,, of and for Harwich, from Hartlepool, laden with coal. Ten minutes after leaving her both her masts fell.

HARWICH. — The schooner Sancho Panza, of Faversham, coal-laden from Sander land for Ramsgate, broke adrift from her anchors in a whole gale from N.E. and a very heavy sea, and stranded on the Fye Sands on the morning of the 23rd January. She hoisted a signal of distress, and at 9.30 the Life-boat Spring- well proceeded to her assistance and rescued her crew, consisting of six men.

The Life-boat also picked up a smack's boat, with five men on board, who had attempted to rescue the schooner's crew; the wind and sea however were too much for the little boat, and her occupants were in great danger. The Life-boat returned to her station at 1 P.M., her crew having had a very trying time, the weather being intensely cold with blind-ing snow' squalls. The schooner became a total wreck.

POOLE.—On the 23rd January intelli- gence was received that the steam-launch Zulu, of Poole, anchored in Studland Bay, was signalling for assistance, and that if the wind freshened she would probably be driven ashore. At 1.15 P.M. the reserve Life-boat, temporarily placed at Poole in the absence of the station's boat, was launched and brought ashore the two men who were on board the vessel.

PORT LOGAN.—A message by telephone was received from the coastguard at Drummore on the 25th January, re- porting that a vessel was flying a signal of distress. The wind was blowing a moderate to a strong gale, the sea was heavy, and the weather very cold, with snow showers. At 12.30 P.M. the Life- boat Frederick Allen was launched in Scratby Bay, three-and-a-half miles from Drummore, and reached the vessel, which proved to be the brigantine Prospect, of Belfast, coal laden, from Maryport for Portaferry. As she was dragging her anchors, her crew of four men were taken into the Life-boat and landed at 6 P.M. at Drummore, where the boat was left for the night, it being impossible then to return her to her station, the roads being blocked with snow. On the following day the crew and helpers went back for her, and with great difficulty succeeded in getting her home.

On the 13th March the Life-boat was again called out, a mounted messenger arriving at SAO P.M. and reporting a schooner in danger of running aground on the rocks. The Life-boat proceeded to her assistance and found she was the Jessie Say, of Belfast, in ballast from Portaferry, bound for Maryport. She was anchored in a very dangerous position, and would inevitably have been carried on to the rocks if the wind increased, as there was a strong tide and ground swell, and that would probably have resulted in the loss of the vessel and her crew of three men. Accordingly three of the Life-boat men went on board, pointed out the danger, and assisted to get up her anchors, after which she was towed for two miles into a channel out of danger.

CULLERCOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The coble Mary Ellen, of Cullercoats, when returning to port from the fishing - grounds, was seen to be in difficulties at the back of the bar, on which a heavy sea was breaking, on the 25th January.

A strong gale was blowing from N.E. at the time, and the weather was very cold, with snow. The Life-boat Co-operator No. 1, proceeded to the boat's assistance; the crew of three men were taken into the Life-boat, and the coble was towed into the harbour.

On the 3rd June an alarm was given that there was a vessel ashore on Whitley Sands. At 4.20 A.M. the Life-boat was launched, proceeded to the vessel through a rough sea, the wind blowing a moderate breeze from N.E., and rescued her crew of six men. The vessel, which was the schooner Luna, bound from Denmark for the Tyne, went ashore in foggy weather, and was in danger of becoming a total wreck.

MONTROSE.—At about half-past six o'clock on the 27th January all the fishing-boats put out to sea in a moderate N.N.E. breeze. At about eight o'clock the wind became very strong and squally, with snow showers and a very heavy sea, compelling most of the boats to return to the harbour without shooting their lines. These boats got in safely, but the remaining twenty-seven boats which had shot their lines were on that account longer in arriving off the entrance of the harbour, and by that time not only was a very heavy sea breaking on the bar, but there was also a gully caused by the ebb tide which rendered it very unsafe for any of the boats to attempt to enter. The lighthouse keeper at Senrdy- ness telephoned to the coxswain of the Life-boat informing him of this and re- questing him to have the Life-boat launched. The No. 1 Life-boat Robert Henderson put off at 9.45, went over the bar and advised the crews of a number of the boats not to attempt to enter until low water, after which she remained inside the bar until 2 o'clock, when all the boats managed to get safely into the harbour.

On the 4th March the morning was comparatively fine, and all the boats started for the fishing-grounds at about 6 o'clock. At about 10, however, a gale from S.E. suddenly rose accompanied by a heavy sea, compelling them to abandon their lines and ran for the harbour. An hour later the sea increased and blinding showers of snow and sleet came on. A message was received from the lighthouse keeper that it was advisable to have the Life-boat Robert Henderson launched.

An attempt was made to row her down the river, but the flood tide and the force of the wind prevented her from making any headway. With the assistance of men on shore, aided by many women from the village, the boat was tracked some distance when the steam trawler Rosa arrived and towed her to the bar, where she remained afloat until the whole of the fleet, consisting of about fifty boats with about 250 men on board, had got into the harbour, which they fortunately did without any casualty.

On the 26th March about forty-five of the boats were again overtaken by a gale and a very heavy sea, and the lighthouse keeper signalled for the Life-boat. Ten of the boats returned without shooting their lines; the others, which had shot their lines, would evidently incur con- siderable danger in crossing the bar, and accordingly the Life-boat Robert Henderson put off and attended each of the boats as they came in over the bar.

On the 12th May the ketch Acacia, of London, bound from Grimsby for Faro for the fisheries, was seen in the bay, evidently making for the harbour, in a moderate N.N.E. breeze and a rough sea, and a telephone message was received from the lightkeeper at Scurdyness stating that she would in all probability run on the Annat Bank. Soon afterwards it was seen that she had stranded there, and at 11 A.M. the Life-boat Robert Henderson proceeded to her assistance, and found her rolling heavily and the seas continu- ally breaking over her. In crossing the bank the Life-boat shipped two heavy seas, one of which dashed her against the vessel's side, and an oar was broken.

Some difficulty was experienced in taking off the crew, consisting of seven men, but this was at last safely accomplished, and the Life-boat arrived at her station with the rescued men at about 12 noon.

PORT EYNON, SOUTH WALES.—On the 2nd February, during a thick fog, it was reported that a steamer's whistle had been heard in the direction of Helwick Sands. The Life-boat A Daughter's Offering was launched at 12.35 P.M., and on reaching the sands found that the s.s. Imbros, of and for Hull, from Kus- teudji, Black Sea, with a cargo of barley, was lying close to the East Helwick buoy.

Her engines were disabled and she was leaking. The Life-boat returned ashore, and a telegram was despatched to Swansea for two steam-tugs. She then returned to the vessel and remained by her until she drove over the bank into deep water and anchored. Shortly afterwards the disabled vessel was taken in tow by a coasting steamer, and was beached at the Mumbles in a sinking condition, having then eight feet of water in her. The Life-boat accompanied her as far as Oxwich Point and then returned to her station, which was reached at 5 P.M.

GORLESTON.—Signal-guns having been fired by the light-vessels, the Life-boat Mark Lane put off at 6.35 A.M. on the 7th February, in a rough sea and a strong N. by E. breeze, and found the brigantine Argo, of Marstal, bound from Fowey for Granton, laden with china clay, aground on the Middle Gross Sand, where she became a total wreck. Her crew, con- sisting of six men, were rescued by the Life-boat and safely landed at 8.45 A.M.

On the 3rd March flares were seen on the North Sand and signals were fired by the light-vessel. The Life-boat Mark Lane was launched at 2.35 A.M. in a very heavy sea, the wind blowing a terrific gale from S.S.W., and found the dandy Rainbow, of Lowestoft, aground on the outer edge of the sand, where she had struck while returning home from the fishing-grounds. Considerable difficulty and danger were incurred by the Life- boat men in approaching the vessel, owing to the shallowness of the water and the heavy seas which were breaking over the sand, but eventually the rescue of her crew of five men was accomplished, the fishing-boat becoming a total wreck.

Four of the Life-boat's oars were broken, her rudder was damaged, and other injuries were received by her in rendering this service.

On the 29th March the Life-boat Mark Lane was again called out, a small lugger, the Emily, of Gorleston, with two men on board, being observed with her mast and sail over the side. It was evident that she was not under control, her rudder, it was subsequently ascertained, having been carried away. Shortly after- wards the two men on board stood up and waved their hats, and then put up a piece of canvas on an oar as a signal of distress. The Life-boat took the boat and her crew safely into the harbour.

There can be little doubt that in the absence of this help the boat would have been swamped and her crew would have lost their lives, as a strong gale of wind was blowing from N.N.W. and there was a heavy sea.

NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA, NORTHUMBER- LAND.—The steam-trawler John Smart, of Shields, on her return journey from fishing, stranded in Cambois Bay in thick weather early on the morning of the 8th February. In response to her signals of distress the Life-boat Robert and Susan was launched at 3.30, and on arriving at the vessel found that heavy seas were breaking over her. She had a crew of eight men, who were taken into the Life- boat and landed at Newbiggin at 6.45 A.M. The Life-boat was damaged in effecting the rescue, being thrown by a broken sea apparently on the submerged portion of the vessel's deck.

On the 4th March between twenty and thirty fishing cobles belonging to New- biggin, carrying crews of about eighty men and boys, were placed in jeopardy by the sudden springing up of a gale of wind from S. by E. with a rough sea.

The Life-boat Robert and Susan put off at 11.30 A.M. and stood by the boats, all of which succeeded in safely reaching the shore.

On the 13th April the coble Try Again, returning from fishing in a strong breeze from S.E. and a rough sea, was in very great danger, and the Life-boat put off to assist her. She was the last boat of the fleet to return, and after the Life-boat reached her she was struck by a breaker and was very nearly swamped; she, how- ever, succeeded in getting safely in, the Life-boat remaining by her until she was out of danger.

HOLYHEAD, CEMAES and CEMLYN.— During a dense fog on the 9th February a large four-masted steamer, the Angloman, of and for Liverpool, with a general cargo and cattle, stranded on the West Flatters rocks. Fortunately the sea was smooth at the time and the wind was blowing only a moderate breeze from the S.W., but a very strong tide was running and there was a danger of the vessel slipping off the rocks, and possibly in that event she would have foundered. She fired rockets in rapid succession, and in re- sponse the Holyhead Nos. 1 and 2 Life- boats, Thomas Fielden and Joseph Whitworfh, the Cemaes Life-boat, George Evans, and the Cemlyn Life-boat, B. J.

Nicholson, put off to the rescue. Thirty- eight of the crew were taken off the vessel by the Holyhead No. 1 Life-boat and were placed on board a steam-tug; the Holyhead No. 2 Life-boat landed twenty-one men on the Skerries, returned to the vessel and landed ten more; the Cemaes Life-boat took one of the officers on board, and at the desire of the captain remained by, eventually taking off four officers, three of whom were placed on board a tug, the other being landed at Cemaes, and the Cemlyn Life-boat at the request of the captain remained in attendance until the crew had been taken off.

HOLYHEAD.—On the 22nd March, a steamer was reported to be on the rocks in the vicinity of the South Stack, and the Life-boat Thomas Fielden proceeded at 3 A.M. to her assistance, in tow of a steam- tug. A very thick fog prevailed at the time, the sea was moderate and the wind a strong breeze from S.W. The steamer was found to be in a very perilous posi- tion, and likely to break in two; in fact she ultimately did so. She was abandoned but no trace could be found of either the crew or boats, and the Life-boat therefore returned to Holyhead, and remained alongside the slipway, the fog continuing very thick. At about 6.15 A.M. a tele- graphic message was received, stating that the vessel's boats, containing her crew, were off the Stack, and were in need of assistance. The Life-boat immediately went off again, in tow of the tug, and found the boats cruising about, their occupants, who were much fatigued, not knowing which way to proceed. The twenty-seven persons on board the boats w«re taken into the Life-boat and landed at Holyhead, the boats, which were half full of water, being taken in tow. The wrecked vessel was the s.e. Editor, of and for Liverpool from Maceio, Brazil, with a cargo of cotton seeds, cotton and sugar.

KINGSDOWNE, KENT.—A thick fog was experienced here on the 9th February, and when it cleared a little a barquen- tine was discerned riding at anchor in a dangerous position close to the S.W. part of the Goodwin Sands. The Life-boat Charles Hargrave was launched at 11 A.M.

in a heavy sea, and a strong W.S.W.

wind, and found the vessel to be the Hoganas, of Hoganas, bound from St. Ubes for Helmstad, with a cargo of salt.

She had been on the Brake Sand, but floated off and steered into fresh danger.

At the request of the master, the Life- boat men got the vessel clear of the Good- wins, and proceeded with her to Barns- gate.

WALTON-ON-THE-NAZE.—A message was received from the Gunfleet Lighthouse, on the 18th February, stating that a vessel was ashore. A moderate S.W. breeze was then blowing; the sea was smooth, and the weather thick and cold.

At 1.58 P.M. the Life-boat Honourable Artillery Company was launched, pro- ceeded under oars as near as possible to the vessel, and when there was a sufficient depth of water, went alongside and remained by her until high tide, when she floated. She was the s.s. Paris, of and from Hull, bound for London, with a general cargo. : On the 24th February, it having been reported that a vessel was ashore, the Life-boat put off at 8.30 A.M., and pro- ceeded under sails and oars to the Long Sand, on the N.E. part of which the brig Green Olive, of Littlehampton, coal- laden from Sunderland for Shoreham, was found to have run aground in a fog. The captain had engaged the crew of a pilot cutter to jettison part of the cargo in hopes of getting the vessel off, and he requested that the Life-boat might remain by. A steam-tug afterwards arrived, and an effort was made to get the vessel off the sands, but without success; she ultimately began to settle down by the stern, and the crew of eight men then got into the Life-boat, and were landed at Walton pier at 5.30 on the following morning.

ATHERFIELD, ISLE OF WIGHT.—On the 19th February, in a temporary break of an intensely thick fog, the coxswain of the Life-boat saw a large ship strike on Atherfleld ledge. He at once called the crew together and at about 7 P.M. the Life-boat Catherine Swift was launched.

The captain of the vessel, the full-rigged ship Alcester, of Liverpool, laden with jute from Calcutta for Hamburg, stated that he did not need any assistance then, and arranged to signal if he should require help. The Life-boat, therefore, returned ashore. On the following morning the fog had cleared, but there was an exceptionally heavy ground swell.

The ship signalled for the Life-boat, which at 1.30 P.M. was launched, proceeded to her and in two trips brought ashore twenty men and their clothes, and other belongings, amongst which were two monkeys, a dog and a cat. The captain and mate declined to leave the vessel.

Daring the night the wind increased to half a gale with a very heavy sea which at high water swept over the vessel com- pelling them to take refuge in the rigging.

The Life-boat, as soon as practicable, pro- ceeded to their rescue and safely landed them. The vessel afterwards parted amidships and ultimately fell to pieces.