HOLYHEAD.—While a strong gale was blowing from N.W., accompanied by a heavy sea and rain, on the evening of the 6th Aug., 1900, the Coxswain of the Life-boat observed a barque dragging her anchors and driving towards the Nimrod rocks. He summoned the crew of the Life-boat Joseph Whitworth and at 7.10 the Boat was launched. On reach- ing the vessel, which was the Islamount, of Dundee, bound from Limerick for Liverpool, in ballast, it was found that her anchors had caught on the rocky bottom, but it was feared this was merely a temporary holding and that she would soon be again adrift; there- fore the master, his wife, the crew of fourteen men, and a passenger got into the Life-boat and at 8.30 were safely on land. At midnight the Life-boat took back the master, at his request, some of the Life-boatmen remained on board with him during the night, and at day- light the Boat took the crew off to the barque, some of the Life-boatmen after- wards helping to get her to a safer anchorage.

CRESSWELL, NORTHUMBERLAND.— A message by telephone was received by the Coxswain of the Life-boat, stating that a vessel was ashore S. of the Coast- guard house, on the morning of the 15th August. A moderate breeze was then blowing from S.E., the sea was moderate and the weather very foggy. At 3 P.M.

the wind increased, and as it was known that the crew were still on board the vessel, it was considered desirable that the Life-boat Ellen and Eliza should be launched and proceed to their assistance.

This was done, and the vessel was found to be the French fishing lugger Arago.

She had stranded on the Headigy Rocks, had about nine feet of water in her, and would probably be a total wreck. Ten of her crew desired to leave her and were landed by the Life-boat, but the other eleven men decided to remain on board the lugger.

PALLING, NORFOLK.—The Coastguard on duty having observed a small boat about a mile N. of the station, with a signal of distress flying, on the morning of the 26th August, informed the Coxswain of the Life-boat. He at once summoned the crew of the Life-boat placed here while a new boat was being built for the station, and at 7 o'clock she was launched. A moderate to fresh breeze was then blowing from N.N.E.

and there was a heavy sea. The dis- tressed boat was found to contain the crew of the fishing lugger Masterpiece, of Great Yarmouth, which had stranded on the Happisburgh Sands on the previous night and at once commenced to break up. The nine men were taken into the Life-bo/it and were landed at Horsey, four miles S. of Palling, the direction of the wind and tide preventing the Boat from being beached at her station.

While a strong gale was blowing from W.N.W., accompanied by a heavy sea and heavy rain at intervals, on the 27th October, the Coxswain of the Life- boat and Officer of Coastguard on the look-out observed a light from a vesselstranded on the main at Eccles. The crsw of the Reserve Life-boat tem- porarily placed on the station were summoned and horses were sent for.

Meanwhile two men were sent for- ward with life-lines. With as little delay as possible the Boat was taken on her transporting carriage along the coast to the scene of the casualty.

She was launched and with the aid of the rocket apparatus line succeeded in reaching the vessel which was the ketch Oban, of Goole, bound from London for Boston with guano. One of the crew jumped into the Life-boat, but before the other two men could do so the heavy seas carried her away from the vessel.

With the help of the rocket apparatus line two ropes were got on board the vessel, and the two men, having fastened them round their bodies, were hauled into the Boat in a greatly exhausted condition, and safely landed at 9 A.M.

FOLKESTONE.—The fishing boat Jessie, of Folkestone, left the port on the after- noon of Sunday, 26th August, and after a rough night at sea was observed on the following morning brought up off Seabrook. At 11.20 the Life-boat /. McOonnel Hussey was launched, a strong E.N.E. gale blowing at the time accompanied by a heavy sea and found the Jessie riding heavily and shipping large quantities of water ; she had lost all her sails and her rudder was damaged. The crew of three men, who were exhausted by exposure and want of food, were taken into the Life-boat, and three of the Life-boatmen took their places in the fishing boat which was then brought safely into- the harbour.

SUNDERLAND, SOUTH PIER.—On Sun- day morning, 2nd September, ' three young men put off in a small boat from Sunder land for a pleasure trip. When they started the wind was blowing from the N.W. and the sea was choppy, but afterwards the wind increased to a moderate gale from N.E., and the sea became so heavy that the little boat was unable to face it and return to the har- bour. The Coxswain of the Life-boat Junius, seeing that the boat was being driven in the direction of the rocks, where she would probably be dashed to pieces, summoned the crew, and at 11.15 the Life-boat was launched and rescued the three men, their boat becoming a wreck 15 minutes after they had been taken out of her.

SUNDERLAND, NORTH DOCK.—While a strong N.N.E. gale was blowing, accompanied by a very rough sea and torrents of sleet and rain, on the 26th October, the ketch Emma Walker, of Sunderland, laden with coal for Wick, attempted to enter the harbour, but got too far southwards, became nnma.nit.m- able, and stranded between the old south pier and the new south break- water. Communication was effected by means of the rocket apparatus, but the crew of two men and a boy were unable to make use of it and called for the Life-boat. The Life-boat George Woofindin was launched at 11.45 P.M., Commander THOMAS HOLMES, R.N., Inspector of Life-boats in the Eastern District, who was on a visit of in- spection at the station, going out in the Boat. In consequence of the darkness of the night and no lights being shown by the vessel, the Life-boat had great difficulty in finding her. After rowing about for nearly two hours, the Life-boat crew suc- ceeded in rescuing the men, but were too much exhausted to return ashore against the heavy seas. The Boat therefore anchored, and rode until about 3.30 A.M., when there was suffi- cient depth of water for a tug to approach her and take her in tow.

She returned home at about 3.45.

Only the good seamanship of the Coxswain and his crew saved the Life- boat from being totally wrecked, as the current was very strong. Indeed, so great was the danger that a body of the life-brigade stood on the breakwater with life-lines, expecting every minute to see the Boat dashed to pieces against the masonry. In recognition of their good service on the occasion of this, the first service of this Life-boat, which had only recently been placed at the station, an extra reward was granted to the crew, and the Committee of Manage- ment expressed their thanks to Com- mander HOLMES for his services in going out in the Boat. NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The s.s. Klondike, of Laurvig, in ballast from Hartlepool for Blyth, stranded in Gambols Bay while a moderate breeze was blowing from S.S.W., with a moderate sea, on the night of the 15th September. The weather was so thick that she could not be seen, and as the condition of the sea outside Newbiggin Bay was uncertain, and there are dangerous rocks in the locality it was considered expedient to launch the Life-boat Robert and Susan.

At 1.30 A.M. the boat put off and stood by the steamer until the tide rose and she got afloat again.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN.—Flares having been shown by a vessel at anchor in the bay while a moderate gale was blowing from S.E., accompanied by a heavy sea and thick weather, on the 4th October, the Life-boat Mary Isabella was launched at 5.50 A.M., and found the barque Topdal, of Mandal, bound from Apala- chicola for Whitehaven with a cargo of pitchpine, dragging her anchors and in danger of being driven ashore. Her crew of eight men were rescued by the Life-boat and safely landed at 8.30.

They stated that the vessel had driven a mile shoreward during the night.

CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE. — The brigantine Anna Sarah, of Ipswich, while on her way from Ardrossan to a French port, with a cargo of coal, was overtaken by a gale from the S.S.E., when off the Maidens, on the coast of Ireland, and her sails were carried away. She tried to make for Lamlash, Isle of Arran, but failed to do so, and eventually anchored in Saddell Bay on the 4th October.

Fearing the gale and sea would increase, and that the vessel w*uld, in that case, drive ashore, the master hoisted signals of distress. A telegram was at once despatched from Saddell to Campbel- town summoning the Life-boat, and at 1.30 P.M. the Life-boat James Stevens No. 2 was launched, and, proceeding under sail through a very wild and confused sea in which the boat be- haved splendidly, reached the vessel and rescued the crew of six men. Had the direction of the wind changed, nothing could have saved the vessel; but fortunately the gale abated, her anchors held and on the following day she was towed into the harbour by a steam-tug.

CLOVELLY, NORTH DEVON.—While a moderate to strong gale was blowing on the 4th October, accompanied by a heavy sea, a vessel was seen by the Coastguard at the Watch Tower Station, and although she had no signal of distress flying she appeared to be in difficulties and was therefore kept under observation. The crew of the Life-boat Elinor Soget were summoned; the Boat was launched at 4.20 P.M., and at 5.30 reached- the vessel, which had anchored off Westward Ho. She was the brigan- tine Charles P. Knight, of Newport, laden with coal, and had a crew of seven men. The master asked for assistance, but the Coxswain of the Life-boat was unable to allow any of bin men to board the vessel as she was in such a dangerous position close to the S.W. tail of the Bar, on a lee shore; darkness was coming on, and there was no prospect of the vessel getting out of danger unless the direction of the wind changed. All that could be done was to save the lives of her crew, who got into the Life-boat, the vessel afterwards stranding at Westward Ho. The Life-boat took six hours to beat back to her station and during the whole of the time the weather was very bad and cold, with rain, hail- storms and lightning. At 11.45, how- ever, she arrived, and her crew and those whom they had rescued safely landed.

The Life-boat Elinor Soget was launched at 3 A.M., on the 7th November, while a moderate to strong gale was blowing from N.W., accom- panied by a heavy sea, and saved the crew of four men from the Ijetch H. F. Bolt, of Appledore, coal-laden, which had signalled for assistance while lying at anchor off Clovelly Quay.

PORT ST. MARY, ISLE OF MAN.—A severe storm was experienced here on the 4th October, the wind blowing from the S.E. with almost hurricane force, with a very heavy sea and heavy rain.

The storm continued throughout the day, and in the evening the wind de-creased to a strong breeze, but there was still a heavy sea and rolling surf.

At 8.30 the s.s. FootaJi, of Barrow, burnt flash lights and blew her whistle. She was about half-a-mile outside the Break- water, and as she appeared to be in danger of stranding, the Life-boat James Stevens No. 1 was launched at 8.40 and proceeded to her assistance. It was ascertained that her pumps were choked and as she was in a very perilous position the Assistant-Coxswain of the Life-boat boarded the steamer and piloted her into the harbour. She was bound from Barrow-in-Furness for Ard- rossan with a cargo of iron ore.

RAMSGATE.—The schooner Alnwick, of Beaumaris, bound from London for Workington with cement, ran for the harbour from the Downs for shelter while a strong W.S.W. wind was blow- ing, on the evening of the 5th October, but missed the entrance and was carried by the strong tide to the back of the East pier, where she stranded, bumping heavily in the rough sea. As she was in much danger, the steam-tug Tare and Life-boat Bradford proceeded to her assistance at 7 P.M., and the small surf-boat from the East pier also put off to the rescue. The Life-boat anchored near the vessel, veered down to her and put some men on board to assist her crew, a line was taken to the steam-tug, which got a hawser on board and towed the schooner into the harbour at 9.15.

She was leaking badly.

MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND. — On the evening of the 6th October the Coxswain of the Life-boat Civil Service No. 5 received a telegram from Whitehaven warning him to watch for a barque coming up the Solway Firth. A strong gale was blowing from S.W. at the time and there was a very heavy sea. He at once went on the " look-out," but the thick weather, wind and rain rendered it impossible for him to see anything. At 9 o'clock the weather cleared, the wind abated, and the Harbour Master observing signals of distress, apparently a burning tar barrel, at once summoned the crew of the Life-boat. At 9.30 the boat was launched and on Hearing the vessel, which was the barque Topdal, of Mandal, timber laden, from Apalachicola for Whitehaven, stranded on the Robin Rigg where she became a total wreck, a quantity of timber was fallen in with rendering it dangerous to approach her.

Meanwhile the s.s. KittiwaTce,of Glasgow, was proceeding from Silloth for Liver- pool, and when about half a mile W.S.W.

of the Solway Light-vessel cries for help were heard but nothing could be seen.

The master, however, headed the steamer in the direction from which the sounds came and ultimately sighted the wrecked vessel; her mizen lower mast alone standing and a portion of the poop deck awash, to which the crew were clinging. The steamer's starboard Life- boat was immediately launched and, manned by the mate and four able- seamen, succeeded, with considerable difficulty and danger, in rescuing the eight shipwrecked men, transferring them to the Maryport Life-boat which came up just as the men had been taken off the wreck.

WALMER AND KINGSDOWNE.—On the morning of the 9th October the South Sand Head Light Vessel fired signals indicating that a vessel was in distress, and the Coastguard on duty at Walmer at.once reported the fact to the Coxswain of the Life-boat Civil Service No. 4.

He summoned his crew, and the boat was launched at 1.30. The signals were also seen and heard at Kingsdowne, and, the Coastguard there having called up the Coxswain, and the crew having assembled, the life-boat Charlet Har- grave was also launched. Both boats were on their way to the Goodwin Sands at 1.45, and on arriving there found the s.s. Carlotta, of Spezzia, a large vessel of about 1,800 tons, bound from Taganrog for Antwerp, stranded.

She had a cargo of barley and rape seed and a crew of twenty-five persons on board. The Life-boatmen, assisted by the crews of several boats which came off from the shore, jettisoned some of the cargo with the object of lightening the steamer, and the services of steam- tugs were secured to try to tow the vessel; anchors were also laid out, but although the efforts were continued for a long time, they were unsuccessful.While the men were still at work the vessel suddenly parted amidships and those on board signalled for the Life- boats to come alongside to take them off. Fifty-eight persons were in the vessel, this number including the men from the boats, their boats having been compelled to return to the shore in con- sequence of the state of the weather.

As soon as possible the Life-boats approached the ship, rescued all of those on board, and brought them safely to land, the Walmer Life-boat reaching the shore at about 11 P.M., and the Kings- downe boat at 9.15. Of the lives saved, 35 were rescued by the "Walmer Life- boat, and 23 by the Kingsdowne Life- boat.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—On the evening of the 13th October, a vessel, which proved to be the trawler Corsair, of Calais, was seen stranded on the Caister shoal. The Life-boat Beauchamp was launched at 7.45 and proceeded to the spot. In rounding the bow of the vessel, the boat struck the ground several times and heavy seas broke over her, but having anchored she veered down to the vessel and stood by her until she floated off and proceeded on her journey.

WINCHELSEA, SUSSEX.—On the morn- ing of the 25th October, the coastguard watchman reported to the Coxswain that rockets were being sent up east- ward of the Life-boat house, and as the Coxswain left his house he saw another rocket discharged. He at once sum- moned the crew, and at 4.30 the Life- boat John William Dudley was launched, and proceeded to the vessel which had fired the signals, having stranded three- quarters of a mile W. of Rye harbour.

She was the Helicon, of Hamburg, a large full-rigged ship, bound from Ham- burg for Port Talbot in ballast. At the master's request the Life-boatmen laid out an anchor and cable, by means of which the vessel was got off when the tide flowed.

HILBRE ISLAND.—A fisherman, ob- serving a large steamer stranded on the East Hoyle Bank, on the morning of the 27th October, reported the cir- cumstance, and at 8.24 the Life-boat Admiral Biggs was launched. A moderate gale was blowing from N.W.

by W., the sea was rough, and the weather squally. On reaching the bank, the vessel—the Olveaga, of Bilbao, in ballast from Workington for Garston— was so high on it that the boat had to wait, two hours before there was suffi- cient water to enable her to get along- side. The Life-boat stood by the vessel -which, however, did not get off the sand—and afterwards landed the master and steward.

NEWQUAY, CARDIGANSHIRE.—On the morning of the 7th November, while a whole gale was blowing from the N,, the dandy Ann and Elizabeth, of Cardigan, homeward bound in ballast, was seen drifting towards the beach. Efforts were made to save the crew by means of the rocket apparatus but they were unsuccessful, and the vessel then drifting away from the shore the Life-boat was launched at 5 o'clock and saved the crew consisting of two men and a boy. The vessel afterwards stranded and became a total wreck.

CARDIGAN.—Having received infor- mation that a vessel was in distress in Cardigan Bay, while a strong N.W.

gale was blowing, on the 7th November, the Coxswain of the Life-boat Lizzie and Charles Leigh Clare summoned the crew, and at about 5 A.M. the Boat was launched. The vessel, which was the schooner Mouse, of Cardigan, bound from Chester River for Fishguard, had stranded on the Popit Sands and her crew had taken, refuge in the rigging.

Repeated attempts were made to reach her but the tremendous seas washing over her rendered all the efforts futile.

After a hard struggle, however, the Boat succeeded in approaching within fifteen yards of the ship, a heaving cane was thrown to the men in the rigging, and by means of lines, a block and life-buoy, the crew numbering three men were hauled through the surf and were taken safely into the Life-boat.

The Officer of H.M. Coastguard at St. Dogmael's, who was an eye-witness of the service, highly commended the conduct of the Coxswain and crew of the Life-boat on this occasion.