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 Liverpool, 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 Lifeboat was immediately launched and, manned by the mate and four ableseamen, 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..