GORLESTON, SUFFOLK.

AT about 12.5 a.m., on the 30th September, 1899, the Coastguard on duty reported to the Coxswain of the Life-boat that a vessel was showing signals of distress off Great Yarmouth.

At the time a whole gale was blowing from S.E., the sea was very heavy, the weather was thick and rain was falling. The crew of the Life-boat Marie Lane, belonging to the ROYAL, NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, were summoned, and a message tn a steam-tug was despatched by telephone; but it was ascertained that one could not be obtained until daylight. The boat then attempted to sail out, but was driven back, and therefore made for Yarmouth. Having succeeded in there obtaining the services of a tug she proceeded in tow to the vessel, and found her to be the schooner Lorne, of Aberystwyth, bound from Yarmouth for London, in ballast. She was riding very heavily, dragging her anchors, and her windlass was broken. She had left Yarmouth two days previously, but had been compelled to put back through stress of weather. Her crew of four men were taken into the Life-boat, which was then towed to a windward position to enable her to sail back to her station. The Life-boat men stated that the sea on the bar and for half-a-mile out was the heaviest they had ever experienced. In returning, with the drogue out, the sails furled down to a goose-wing, and the forward ballast-tanks empty, one terrible sea pooped the boat; every man on board was under water and it was estimated that the boat—the behaviour of which they warmly praised—was carried by that sea a distance of at least two hundred yards.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.

Os the 8th November, the Life-boat Beauchamp, which also belongs to the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, saved, in circumstances of considerable difficulty and danger, the crew of eight men from the lugger Palestine, of Banff, which, while making for Lowestoft from the fishing-ground, stranded on the Cockle Sand in a strong gale from SSW. and a very heavy sea. At 4 a.m., the watchmen at Caister observed signals of distress in the direction of the Sand, followed by signals from the Gotkle Light-vessel. The Life-boat was launched as soon as possible, and, proceeding under storm canvas across the Barber Sand, bore away for the Cockle Sand. By this time the flares had disappeared, but the shipwrecked men had hoisted a small lantern on Che mast; this light guided the Life-boat men to the scene of the casualty and on Hearing it the cries of the men shouting for help were distinctly heard. The Life-boat anchored and veered down towards the vessel, intending to pass a rope to her, bat the after part of the boat touching the ground put her nearly out of control, and being struck on the port bow by an enormous sea, she was carried directly on to the deck of the wreck which was sunk on the sand, only the fore part being above the water, and to this portion her crew were clinging, being con- tinually drenched by the enormous seas which washed over them. The Life-boat had her bow smashed and received other injuries; but having been got clear of the wreck, a rope was passed to the men, and the boat approached near enough to rescue them. They were in a thoroughly exhausted condition and the master and a boy had a narrow escape, as in jumping from the vessel they missed the boat and fell into the water; but they were grasped by the Life-boat men, and safely taken into the boat. During all these operations, mountainous seas continually broke over the Life-boat. The lugger entirely disappeared ten minutes after the men had been taken off, and it is a fortunate circumstance that they took the precaution to hoist the lantern when the flares went out, as this light, although a small one, was the means of directing the Life-boat went to their assistance, thus avoiding loss of time in searching for them in the intense darkness which prevailed at the time.

Having got all on board, the Life-boat anchored until daylight, when the steam-tug Gleaner was signalled for and towed her to Caister, where the men were safely landed. On beaching the boat, it was found that the collision with the wreck had seriously damaged her, and she was therefore taken to a shipbuilder's yard at Great Yarmouth, where the necessary repairs were executed.

In recognition of their specially good services on this occasion, an extra reward was granted to the crew of the Life-boat, by the Committee of Management of the Institution, and the men had the gratification of receiving from those whom they had rescued, a letter, of which the following is a copy:— "M«. JAMES H. HAYLETT, Caister-on-Sea, Coxswain of the Life-boat Beachamp, " DEAR SIR,—We, the undersigned, being the crew of the Scotch boat Palestine, which was wrecked on the Cockle Sand during the night of Tuesday last, gratefully and sincerely lender to you and your brave crew our thanks for the courageous way in which yon came to our rescue, and after many dangerous attempts succeeded eventually in saving one and all of us from a watery grave.

We further beg to assure you that we shall remember your heroic services as long as we are spared, and would be much obliged if you would give publicity to this, our thanks, in the Yarmouth Independent.

" We are, gratefully yours, (Signed) GEORGE MAIR, WILLIAM MAIR, For ourselves and remainder of crew.".