ABERSOCH, CAERNARVONSHIRE. — While the wind was blowing, with the force of a whole gale to a storm, from W.N.W. to N.W., with terrific squalls and a very heavy sea, on the 12th Jan. last, signals of distress were exhibited by the schooner Eirion Last, of and for Portmadoc, in ballast from Dongarvan. She was dragging her anchors in St. Tndwall's fioads and was rapidly approaching danger. The Life-boat Oldham started to the rescue at 2 P.M. and reached the vessel when she was about five miles 8.8.W. of the Pwllheli Life-boat house.

Her crew of four men were rescued and the Boat then made for Pwllheli, where they were safely landed. The Life-boat was filled several times by the heavy seas which she encountered.

JOHNSHAVEN, KlNCARDINESHIRE. — On the 12th January, the sea being rough and a strong breeze blowing from the S.E., it was feared that the fishing-boats would encounter difficulty in making the harbour, and it was therefore decided to take out the Life-boat Meanwell of Glen- bervie, so as to be ready to assist any boat requiring help. The Life-boat was accordingly launched at 12.45 P.M. ; but in leaving the harbour she collided with the pier and was stove amidships above the water-line. However, she remained out until the fishermen had entered the har- bour, all being in safety by one o'clock.

NEWBIGGIN BY THE SEA.—Two cobles were in danger, a sudden gale from S.E.

having sprung up while they were working their lines, about two or three miles from the shore, on the morning of the 12th Janu- ary, and the sea becoming very rough the broken, water on the shore would have made it dangerous to land. The Life-boat Robert and Susan was therefore launched at 8 o'clock and accompanied the boats to a place a little to the N. of Newbiggin, where they were able to effect a safe landing.

RAMSEY, Ism or MAN.—In response to signals of distress the Life-boat Mary Itabella was launched at 3.46 P.M. on the 12th January, in a whole gale from W.N.W. and a rough sea. On reaching the vessel, the schooner Twin Sisters, of and from Drummore, laden with turnips, for Liverpool, it was found that she was riding heavily and was slightly dragging her anchors. Her crew of three men being anxious to leave her were taken into the Life-boat and landed at 4.30.

The vessel however was fortunately in a good anchorage and rode out the gale.

"While a whole gale was blowing from S.W. on the 28th March, signals of distress were shown by the brigantine Maxim, of and from Drogheda for Liver- pool, in ballast, which had stranded about three hundred yards south of the harbour. She had lost her anchors and chains and her sails had been blown away. Her crew of four men were taken into the Life-boat and landed at the Queen's pier.

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA., ESSEX.—On the 12th January, while a strong gale was blowing from W. to W. by S., accompanied by a rough sea, notice was received from the pier-head that a vessel was stranded on Shoebury Sands about five miles east.

The Life-boat Theodore and Herbert was manned and put off at 5.30 P.M. An hour later the vessel was reached and found to be the barge Whitwell, of London, on a journey to Margate with a cargo of coal.

She was leaking badly and her rudder was disabled. The master engaged the services of the Life-boat men and they set to work at the pumps, got up the anchors and took her inside the Leigh sand to await the next tide, when she was brought up to Soutbend, arriving there at about 11.30 on the following morning. The Life-boat returned to her moorings at about 1 P.M., her crew having been away about twenty hours, the greater part of the lime being occupied in pumping the vessel. The barge carried a crew of three men.

Signals having been fired by the Nore Light-vessel on the morning of the 12th February, the crew of the same Life- boat were summoned and proceeded to the head of the pier, a distance of about a mile and a half, where the boat is kept moored. Patting off at about 4.15, they proceeded to the Mouse Sand and searched it for some distance, but seeing no vessel in distress they made for the Mouse Light-vessel and found she had on board the master and crew of three men of the schooner Billow, of Inverness, bound from Dover for London, in ballast. The four men were taken into the Life-boat and safely landed at noon. A moderate gale was blowing at the time from W.S.W.

with heavy squalls and a rough sea.' The master of the schooner informed the coxswain that the vessel stranded on the Black Tail spit and floated off, but as she was on her beam ends and half full of water, he and the crew were compelled to abandon her and pull, in their boat, to the Light-vessel, which was not far distant from them. He believed that the schooner afterwards sank in deep water.

DUNGENESS.—It having been reported by the coastguard watchman, on the.

night of the 12th January, that a vessel was showing signals of distress, the Life- boat B.A.O.B. was launched, and found the three-masted s.s. Elaine, of Liverpool, ashore off No. 2 Battery, having sunk after collision with another steamer. The master stated that he would try to stop the leak when the tide fell, and as there was a heavy sea the Life-boat remained by until low water. The steamer was bound from Faversham for Liverpool with a cargo of cement.

LYNMOUTH, NORTH DEVON.—Telegrams were received at about 7 P.M. on the 12th January asking for assistance to a vessel showing signals of distress off Grore Point.

Almost immediately after the messages had been received the wires were blown, down and it was impossible to obtain any further information. A whole gale was blowing from W.N.W., the weather was thick and the sea so heavy as to render it impossible to launch the Life-boat Louisa at Lynmouth. It was therefore decided to take the boat on her carriage by road to Porlock. Those who are unacquainted with the nature of the road between Lynmouth and Porlock can form but little idea of the immense difficulty of the undertaking. The course taken was over two of the steepest hills in England, the road rising 1500 feet in two miles; in parts of the route the Life-boat had to be taken on skids, the carriage being taken through fields, gates and posts having to be pulled down, the road being too narrow for the wheels to pass, and the men were obliged sometimes to haul, and at other times to hold the boat back, so that their strength was greatly taxed. The undertaking even in daylight •would be beset with danger to life or limb, but on a dark and stormy night, when it was difficult for a man even to stand in exposed places, it was only just possible to accomplish the work. However, in the tin certainty as to the danger to the vessel and in the absence of any other means of getting to her, it was decided to make the attempt. Horses were procured and the crew with twenty-eight helpers started with the Life-boat. The journey, which occupied ten and a half hours, ended without casualty, and at six o'clock on the following morning the Life-boat was launched at Porlock and proceeded to the vessel, which proved to be the fall- rigged ship Forrest Hall, of and for Liverpool, from Bristol in ballast, 1900 tons register, with a crew of fifteen men ; she was lying at anchor disabled. It appeared that she had been in tow of a steam-tug, and when westward of Ilfra- combe the hawser parted and the tug collided with her and disabled the steering gear. Shortly after the arrival of the Life-boat two steam-tugs came up and took the ship in tow, the Life-boat men assisting to get the anchors up, and the Life-boat remaining by her, as she was in an unmanageable state owing to the loss of her steering gear, besides which the weather had become very bad. . She was ultimately towed to a safe anchorage outside Barry, and the Life-boat crew, •who bad been, without food for twenty- four hours, landed at Barry Dock to obtain refreshment. On the following day they returned to their station, a steamer kindly giving them a tow part of the way, arriving there at 11.30 A.M. The carriage was brought back by road, having covered a distance of twenty-eight miles.

the afternoon of the 13th January a ketch was seen to anchor off Southsea -Castle and close to broken water, and as she was near to the shore and possibly bumping it, the coxswain of the Life-boat Heyland was informed, the crew were summoned and the vessel was watched. A gale was blowing from W.S.W., the weather was thick, with rain at intervals, and there was a heavy sea. A little while afterwards she sig- nalled for assistance, and at 5.50 the Life-boat was launched, and on reaching the vessel found she was the Queen of the Fleet, of Portsmouth, bound from Plymouth for Leith, with a cargo of china clay. Her sails had been blown away, she had lost her main boom, and she had sustained other damage. She was striking the ground, and as she was leaking badly, the master requested that some of the Life-boat men should board her and assist at the pumps. This was done, a tug was signalled for, and with her help the vessel was taken into the Camber, arriving at 10.45 P.M.

WALTON-ON-THE-NAZE AND MARGATE.

—A message was received at Walton-on- the-Naze by telephone from the Gunfleet Lighthouse, on the morning of the 14th January, stating that a steamer was flying signals of distress 2J miles S,E. of the lighthouse. A fresh breeze was then blowing from W., the sea was moderate, and the weather hazy. At 9 o'clock the Lifeboat Honourable Artillery Company was launched and proceeded under sails and oars to the steamer, which was reached at 10.45. She was the s.s. Amiral Aube, of Havre, laden with coal, coke, etc. The master at first refused any assistance but afterwards engaged the Life-boat men to jettison some of the cargo in order to lighten the vessel. The crew of the private Life-boat True to the Gore, of Walton-on-the-Naze, which had also put off to the vessel, were similarly employed, At 6.32 on the following evening a tele- phone message was received at Margate from the Kentish Knock Light-vessel stating that signals of distress were being shown by the Long Sand Light-vessel.

At 6.53 the Life-boat Civil Service No. 1 was launched, and sailed to the Long Sand, which was examined for a distance of above twelve miles, but no vessel requiring assistance could be found. Lights were then seen to the westward, and the boat at once altered her course, and on arriving at the Amiral Aube the services of that Boat's crew were secured to help in the work of throwing cargo overboard. "With the assistance of several steam-tugs, the vessel was got off the sands on the after- noon of the 17th* January and was towed to Harwich, the Life-boats returning to their respective stations.

CLACTON-ON-SEA.—While a moderate gale was blowing from N.E., accompanied by a heavy sea, on the 24th January, a schooner was observed stranded on the Middle Spit Sands. The Life-boat Albert Edward was launched at 5.15 P.M. and sailed to the vessel, which was found to be the Robert Anderson, of Burghead, bound from London for Fraserburgh with a cargo of cement and whiting. She was striking heavily and was leaking badly.

The Life-boat men having been engaged to try to salve her, the pumps were manned, but in spite of all efforts the water continued to increase. The crew of five men, with their effects, were transferred to the Life-boat, which stood by the vessel for some time longer; but as she was fast settling down, and it was impossible to do anything more, the Life-boat made for home, arriving at 2.30 A.JC. with the five rescued men.

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.R.H. the PRINCE OF WALES.

MARGATE AND CLACTON-ON-SEA.—On the morning of the 26th January, while a strong gale was blowing from N.N.E.

accompanied by a heavy sea, the Margate boatmen observed a large vessel appa- rently in dangerously close proximity to the Long Sand. She was examined through a powerful glass and WAS seen to hoist a signal of distress, and immediately afterwards the Tongue Light-vessel ran up signals denoting that help was required.

At 9.15 the Life-boat Eliza Harriet put off, the launch from the new West Slip- way being witnessed by a large number of people, and sailed in the direction of the Long Sand, encountering tremendous seas which at times completely submerged her, When Hearing the distressed vessel the sails of another Life-boat were seen approaching her from the opposite direc- tion. This was the Clacton-on-Sea Life- boat Albert Edward, which had been launched on receipt of information of the casualty at the same time as the Margate boat, and had also had a very rough time in the heavy seas which continually filled her. Both the boats reached the vessel at about noon and approached her on the starboard side, that side being the more sheltered. She was the full-rigged ship Hawksdale, of Liverpool, bound from Hamburg for Melbourne with a general cargo, and had stranded on the N.W. part of the Long Sand, where she became a total wreck. Her crew had consisted of twenty-eight persons, but three of them had been drowned in an attempt to get one of the ship's boats out before the Life-boats arrived. Eighteen of the sur- vivors were taken into the Clacton Life- boat, the remaining seven persons being rescued by the Margate Life-boat. The Clacton Boat also brought ashore the ship's cat,* which was taken into the Boat by one of the apprentices, who, even in his own time of danger, did not forget his feline companion. Considerable difficulty was experienced in taking the men into the Life-boats owing to the terrific seas.

Watching their opportunities, the men had to catch the masts and slide down the rigging into the boat. Having got all safely on board, the Life-boats parted company, and making for opposite shores, again through heavy seas—the Clacton Boat meeting with even worse seas than she had experienced on her outward journey— both boats safely reached home and landed those whom they had rescued.

Additional rewards were granted to the crews of the Life-boats in recognition of their specially good services on this occa- sion, and grants were made to three of the Clacton crew who received injuries in the performance of the rescue.

HARWICH.—On the 30th January the Kentish Knock Light-vessel telephoned to Ramsgate that the Long Sand Light- ship was flying a distress signal, and a message was at once despatched by tele- graph to Harwich to that effect. On receipt of the message the steam Life-boat City of Glasgow proceeded to the Long Sand Light-ship and found that, having on board two mechanics who were anxious to get ashore, she had signalled to a passing steamer to the effect that she wished to communicate with her. The steamer reported to the Kentish Knock that the Long Sand was signalling, but in the transmission of the message a mis- understanding occurred and the signals were understood to be those of distress.

However, the two men were taken into the Life-boat and landed at Harwich.

HAYLE, CORNWALL.—While the three- masted schooner Miss Beck, of and from Carnarvon for London with slate, was taking the bar on the 5th February in tow of a steam-tug, the tow-rope parted and the vessel was driven ashore on the beach at the eastern side of the bar. In response to signals of distress the Life-boat E. F. Harrison was launched at 12.10 P.M., and being towed by the tug as close to the vessel as it was prudent for the steamer to go the boat soon got alongside and rescued the crew of five men and a pilot. The vessel was then holding together, but a fresh wind was blowing, and as there was a very heavy ground sea it was feared she would become a total wreck.

KINGSTOWN.—The barque Loch Fergus, of Liverpool, bound from Glasgow for Brisbane with a general cargo, stranded in Killiney Bay in thick weather, a moderate gale from S.E. and a rough sea, on the morning of the 6th February. A tug attempted to rescue the crew, some of whom were seen in the rigging, but could not get near enough to do so, and therefore returned to Kingstown to obtain the services of the Life-boat. Afterwards a boat was successfully launched from the vessel and three men endeavoured to reach the shore in her, but the boat was swamped and her occupants with difficulty were rescued by persons on the land who gallantly waded out to their assistance.

On intimation of the casualty being received the Life-boat Dunleary, so called after the ancient name of Kingstown, was launched at 8 o'clock, and succeeded in saving the remainder of the crew of fifteen men and two stowaways. It was not known that the latter were on board until the Life-boat arrived, when they speedily put in an appearance in a con- siderably alarmed condition.

BOULMER, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The 8.S. Cattersty of Middlesbrough, while on a voyage from Skinningrove to Grangemouth with a cargo of pig-iron, stranded opposite the village of Boulmer at about 8.15 p.m., on the 7th February. A moderate 8. wind was then blowing, the sea was moderate, the weather hazy and the night was very dark. As soon as the vessel was seen, the crew of the Life-boat Melitcent were summoned, and with all possible despatch the boat was launched, proceeded to the ship and rescued her crew of twelve men. ' While a gale was blowing from the 8.E., with a cross sea, intense darkness and rain on the 9th March, the s.s.

Malta, of North Shields, went aground on the Boulmer South Rocks. She was on a voyage from Bergen to Shields in ballast.

At 1.20 A.M., the Life-boat was launched and proceeded to the vessel which was lying in a bad position and leaking. Her crew of nineteen men were rescued by the Life-boat and were taken safely to Boulmer at 2.45.

PADSTOW, CORNWALL. — On the 7th April, a strong gale from N.W. was experienced, accompanied by a heavy sea, and by rain squalls at intervals. At about 3.50 P.M., information having been received by means of the telephone, that a vessel was in distress off Tintagel Head, the Steam Life-boat James Stevens, No. 4, left her moorings and proceeded to the rescue. She first steered towards a vessel running for the harbour, but as nothing appeared to be amiss with her, the Life-boat proceeded to Tintagel Head. Those who watched the boat from the shore state that she behaved splendidly in the seas which she encountered, and that admirable skill and ability were shown in the way in which she was managed. Most of the high- breaking seas she gallantly mounted, but one hollow one broke completely over her, and for a few moments almost buried her, even her funnels being hidden from sight; she however emerged, buoyant as before, but losing her light-board and some of her deck fittings. No trace of the vessel being found at the Head, the Life-boat started on her return journey, and on entering the harbour, passed the brig Emilie, of Bedon, in tow of a steam-tug which was unable to make any headway.

The help of the Life-boat being solicited, she took a tow rope and assisted to take the vessel to a safe anchorage at Hawkes' Cove. She had a crew of seven men.

On page 526 will be found a repro- duction of a photograph taken of this Steam Life-boat while proceeding out on the occasion of this her first service.

She is one of the two Steam Life-boats propelled by means of the screw; a full description of this class of boat wasgiven in the " Life-boat Journal" of February last.

On the same day the Life-boat Arab, also stationed at Padstow, was called out for service, by means of the telephone.

She was launched at 4 p.m., and pro- ceeded under oars to the ketch Fair Water, of Jersey, bound from Cardiff with a cargo of coal. The vessel was re- ported to be about four miles N.N.W. from Stepper Point, flying a signal apparently in distress, and running for the harbour.

She succeeded in reaching the mouth of the harbour, but became unmanageable and drifted into the breakers at the back of the Doom Bar. The Life-boat went alongside and rescued the crew of four men, the vessel drifting still further in among the breakers and shortly after- wards stranding in Hell Bay where she became a total wreck. The Life-boat regained her station at 5.20, was housed at 5.30, and at 6.10 was again called out, a mounted messenger having brought intelligence that a vessel was in distress.

The boat proceeded to the entrance of the harbour, but the vessel, the brig Emllie, was taken in tow by the Steam Life-boat, as has been already mentioned, and the Arabs help was therefore not required,.