COURTMACSHERRY, CO. CORK. On the j 1st January, 1904, the Life-boat Kezia Gwilt rendered very useful service to the barque Faulconnier, of Dunkirk. ' During a strong breeze from E.S.E. and rough sea, with somewhat hazy weather, • the barque stranded, about 6.30 A.M., ! in a very exposed and rocky position known as the Seven Heads, about four miles by land from Courtmacsherry.

Her lights were seen by the people at the Cove close by, and a messenger was despatched for the Life-boat. In the meantime a yawl manned by six local fishermen put off1 to succour the crew of twenty-six men who had taken to their boats, but owing to the heavy sea breaking were unable to land. The shore-boat made two trips, bringing fifteen of the men ashore, but while returning the second time a heavy sea struck the boat, throwing all her occu- pants into the water; happily they all managed to get ashore, some being badly bruised. Eleven of the ship's company still remained to be saved; the Life-boat was on its way, and they managed to keep the boat end on to the sea until she reached them. Their position was one of great peril; to starboard, within 200 or 300 yards, was a dangerous reef of rocks, while on the port side the ship lay wrecked on another reef. After strenuous efforts and con- siderable risk the Life-boat reached them and took them aboard; she then made for Gourtmacsherry, where the men, who were all French, were duly cared for.

The greatest credit is due to the fishermen who put off in the shore- boat to assist the shipwrecked men, : and they were rewarded by the Insti- tution for their bravery. The Faulcon- nier was a large barque of 1,715 tons, i and was bound from San Francisco toQueenstown, with a cargo of corn, when this disaster overtook her; she eventually became a total wreck.

NEWQUAY, CORNWALL.—Shortly before noon on the 7th January the Coastguard reported that a ketch was in need of assistance off St. Agnes Head. The crew of the Life-boat James Stevens No. 5 were immediately summoned, and the boat proceeded with all possible speed. When the ketch, which was the John Bees, of Plymouth, with three hands aboard, was reached, the captain reported that he had six feet of water in her hold, the pumps were choked and the fore-stay gone. Five of the Life-boatmen were put on board and brought the vessel to anchor in New- quay Bay; they then jettisoned about five tons of her cargo, and as soon as the tide had made sufficiently, took the ketch into harbour. This was only accomplished with great difficulty on account of the strong S.S.W. breeze and very heavy ground sea. As it was dark and a heavy sea was running, it was considered advisable to leave the Life-boat in the harbour for the night, and she was rehoused the next day.

GEEAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK.—While the Life-boat John Burch was out for exercise on the morning of the 9th January, a steamer was observed ap- parently on the Scroby Sands. The boat proceeded to the steamer, which proved to be the Helea, of Copenhagen, which had been aground, but had just floated off. The captain requested that the Life-boat would stand by him, as his position was still one of danger.

The crew then proceeded to jettison a portion of the cargo, and during the afternoon the vessel was got clear of the sands. As the Life-boat was not required any longer, she returned ashore, and was rehoused at 6 P.M.

ILFRACOMBE, DEVONSHIRE.—On the afternoon of the 12th January a message «/ O was received stating that two vessels had been in collision off Bull Point.

The crew of the Life-boat Co-operator No. 2 were promptly assembled and the Life-boat at once proceeded to the position indicated. On the way they fell in with the schooner Hawke, and found that she and the schooner Esther, of Appledore, had been in collision, the latter vessel foundering shortly after.

Happily, the crew of the Esther were able to get on board the Hawlie, and on the arrival of the Life-boat they were transferred to her and landed at Ilfracombe. The weather was cold, sleet falling heavily, and the wind blowing a fresh gale from S.W., with a heavy ground sea.

PALLING, NORFOLK.—At 5.45 A.M. on the 15th January a telephone message was received at Palling that a vessel was showing signals of distress two miles W.S.W. of the North Hasborough Light-vessel. The crew of the No. 2 Life-boat Hearts of Oak were promptly summoned, and the boat launched through a heavy surf and in a heavy W.N.W. gale. On. proceeding in. the direction indicated, the steam-trawler Jules Orlan de Xivry, of Ostend, was found in a disabled condition, having been aground on the sands. She was then afloat, but making water, and the crew gladly accepted the assistance of the Life-boat, which experienced con- siderable difficulty in effecting communi- cation. In conjunction with a steam- tug, which subsequently arrived, the trawler was taken to Yarmouth, and later the Life-boat returned to her station.

During a moderate S.S.W. gale on the 27th January a vessel was observed by the Coastguard stranded on the main about two miles north of Palling. The crew and helpers were speedily called, and the Palling No. 1 Life-boat, 5ith West Norfolk Regiment, having been transported to a suitable launching- place, was launched and made for the vessel, which they found to be the brigantine Sam Wetter, of Brixham, with seven hands aboard. At the request of the master, the Life-boat stood by, and after some hours' work the brigantine was floated, apparently undamaged. The services of the Life- boat being no longer needed, she was taken back to her station and rehoused.

At 10.20 P.M. on the 12th February, during a strong S.S.W. gale and moderately heavy sea, flares wereobserved about one and a half miles from Palling. The crew and helpers were summoned, and the No. 2 Life- boat launched. It was not long before they reached the vessel, which proved to be the ketch Amelia and Ann, of Goole, considerably damaged, one man missing and the master injured, the result of a collision with another vessel. As the assistance of the Life- boat was very necessary to the ketch, a signal was made for the No. 1 Life- boat to launch, in order to search for the other vessel and the missing man.

In the meantime the Life-boatmen assisted to clear away the wreckage on the Ameli-a and Ann, and when this was completed, in conjunction with a steam- tug, they took the vessel to Yarmouth.

When the No. 1 Life-boat arrived on the scene of the disaster the other colliding vessel could not be seen ; she therefore proceeded to cruise about in the vicinity, and eventually fell in with the brigantine Mary Annie, of Folke- stone, damaged, but not so seriously as the ketch had been. The missing man, happily, was found on board. The Life-boat remained with her until day- light, when, finding her services were no longer required, she took the missing seaman aboard and returned to her station.

CULLBECOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND.— The Life-boat Go-operator No. 1 was launched about 8 A.M. on the 16th January to the assistance of five fishing- cobles, which had put to sea in the early morning. Shortly after the boats had gone out the N.N.W. wind increased to a gale and the sea became exceedingly heavy on the bar. On getting outside the bar the Life-boatmen warned the cobles it was impossible for them to get in in safety, and then stood by them while they made for Shields Harbour.

WATCHET, SOMERSETSHIRE. — In a strong N.N.W. gale and very heavy sea on the 16th January, the ketch Annie OJiristian, of Liverpool, got into difficulties off Watchet while bound from Ely with a cargo of coal. The vessel had been at anchor, but in the heavy sea her cable parted, she became unmanageable, and was thrown on to a ledge of rocks known as " Skopart." Her dangerous position was observed, and the Life-boat John Lingard Boss was speedily launched. On arrival, six of the Life-boatmen were placed on board, and after half an hour's hard work the ketch was got clear and taken into Watchet Harbour.

CAISTER, NORFOLK. — On Sunday morning, the 17th January, the Life- boat Coven t Garden arrived at Yar- mouth Harbour, bringing four of the hands of the schooner Jasper, of Fowey, and the body of one of the crew, who had died from exposure while the men were endeavouring to reach safety in their little boat.

The schooner, while bound from Ply- mouth to Hull with a cargo of china clay, ran aground on the Hasborough sands, and her crew in a very short time found it necessary to abandon her.

The weather was very thick and cold, with a strong W.N.W. wind blowing and a heavy sea. The men started to pull for one of the Light-vessels, but the wind and tide prevented them making any progress. Heavy seas con- tinually broke over the boat, and it was only by constant baling she was kept afloat. For several hours they bravely struggled on, drenched to the skin and exposed to the icy wind, until numbness and exhaustion commenced to overtake them, and from this one of them suc- cumbed. Fortunately, the change of the tide helped them, and after nine hours' exposure they succeeded in getting to the Newarp Light-vessel. With the little strength they had left the sur- vivors climbed on board and were kindly tended by the light-keepers, who also transferred the body of the dead man to the lightship. Early next morning signals were made, and in reply the Cooent Garden Life-boat went out. On arrival they took the shipwrecked men on board and, in tow of a tug, made for Yarmouth with all despatch, the Life- boat subsequently returning to her station.

WHITBY and UPGANG, YORKSHIRE.— About 9.45 on the night of the 21st January information reached the Cox- swain at Whitby that a steamer wasashore at Upgang, whereupon the No. 1 Life-boat, Robert and Mary Ellis,"was launched and went to her assistance, She proved to be the s.s. Cayo Bonito, of London, 2,000 tons, bound from the Tyne in ballast. It was a cold, frosty night, and when the lifeboat launched the wind was blowing moderately hard from the N.W., but this gradually fell.

On reaching the vessel the coxswain boarded her, and at the request of the Captain ran out a kedge anchor. The Upgang lifeboat, having also been launched, now came alongside the steamer and by this time the flood- tide was making so strongly that it was impossible for one boat to get out another anchor; both boats were there- fore employed, and about 4 A.M. the next morning the steamer was hove clear of the rocks. Later the Captain decided to return to the Tyne and the Life-boats not being required any longer, returned to their stations.

BOULMEK, NORTHUMBERLAND. — At 10.45 P.M. on the 27th January signals for help were observed from a vessel at Boulmer Head, and within a quarter of an hour the Life-boat Meliscent was on her way to her assistance. She proved to be the steam trawler Glenesk of North Shields, which while homeward bound from the fishing grounds, had gone ashore in the prevailing fog. Both wind and sea were moderate at the time and the trawler was in no imme- diate danger. One of the crew there- fore went ashore in the Life-boat to obtain the assistance of steam-tugs.

Next morning the wind increased, causing a heavy swell, and as no tugs had come to the help of the distressed vessel, the position of those on board became perilous. Shortly after 11 the master signalled for the Lifeboat, the Meliscent therefore again put off and in spite of the sea which was then break- ing right over the trawler succeeded in rescuing the crew of eight hands.

During a heavy snowstorm and very cold weather on the 26th February the same Life-boat was launched to the help of a vessel ashore about half a mile south of Houghton Steel. She was the s.s.

Villalegre of Aviles, a steamer of 2700 tons, bound for Burntisland from Carthagena with a cargo of iron ore.

The vessel was reached at 2.30 A.M.; the crew refused to leave her, but the captain requested that the Life-boat should stand by him. This was done, and at daylight they ran out a kedge anchor and also took a line to a tug which had been sent for. Later on the weather freshened, and the crew finding it impossible to get their vessel off, decided to leave her. Fourteen men were taken into the Life-boat and landed; a second journey was then made and another six were taken into safety.

Six of the men still preferred to remain on board, but at low tide they also had to abandon the vessel.

On the night of the 29th February an attempt was made to salve her; during the first part of the night the weather was fine, but about midnight a strong breeze sprang up from S.E. A fishing boat which was in attendance at once took off as many of the salvage party as possible, but was unable to return owing to the severity of the weather, and at the urgent request of the fishermen the Life-boat again went out and landed the six remaining men.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN.—The Life- boat Mary Isabella was launched at 6 P.M. on the 29th January in a strong S.S.E. gale and heavy sea and succeeded in saving the crew of four hands of the schooner Useful of Barrow-in-Furness from a position of great peril. The vessel was bound from Swansea to Irvine with a cargo of coal; she had been overtaken by tempestuous weather, and when the men were taken into the Lifeboat she was on a lee shore with her anchor dragging.

AKBHOATH, FORFARSHIRE.—On the 29th January at 6 P.M. information was received that the fishing fleet was making for the harbour, and that in the prevailing weather—a strong S.S.E.

gale and very heavy sea—their coming in would be attended with danger; the Life-boat James Stevens No. 13 was accordingly launched and remained in readiness until all the boats were in safety, the last one coming in at 8.15 P.M. Happily the services of theLife-boat were not further required, and she therefore returned ashore.

SUNDEELAND, SOUTH OUTLET, DUE- HAM.—A large Spanish steamer, the Pena Rocias, of Santander, went ashore at Sunderland on the night of the 4th February. She left the Tees during the afternoon in ballast bound for the Wear. At about 9 o'clock, when entering the harbour, there being then a strong N.E. breeze with a heavy sea, she be- came uncontrollable.

The crew of the Life-boat Richard and Nellie Hodges were assembled and the Life-boat prepared for launching, and at the express desire of the captain she put off about 3 A.M. and rendered valuable assistance in taking hawsers to the tugs which also went to the vessel's assistance.

HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY. — During a strong S. gale and heavy sea on the 12th February a vessel was seen trying to make her way into Holyhead Har- bour, but she failed owing to the state of the weather. She then anchored and hoisted a signal, in response to which the steam Life-boat Duke of Northumber- land was at once despatched. She was found to be the schooner Irish Girl, of Dundalk, bound from Waterford to Liverpool with timber. The master having asked that the Life-boatmen would assist him to save his vessel, four of them were put on board. A tug then took the schooner in tow, and by their united efforts the vessel was taken to a safe berth.

MOELFRE, ANGLESEY.—At 1.30 P.M.

on the 12th February the coxswain of the Life-boat observed signals of distress displayed by a schooner at anchor in Moelf re Roads. He mustered his crew, and without delay launched the Star of Hope. It was blowing a strong gale from the south, and the sea was very rough. The vessel proved to be the schooner Emily Warbrick of Fleetwood, bound from Amlwch to Fleetwood, in ballast; the Life-boat went alongside, and the crew of five hands were taken on board. While this was being done the schooner swung round and carried away the mast of the Life-boat, which however happily got clear, and the men were eventually landed in safety at Moelfre.

GIEVAN, AYRSHIRE.—On the 12th February, while the Girvan fishing fleet were off Corsewell, a gale suddenly sprang up from S.E., which afterwards veered to S. and increased in violence.

The boats promptly made for home, and all got in safely with the exception of seven. Shortly afterwards one of these came in and reported he had seen a boat about three miles to seaward with her sails split. The Life-boat James Stevens No. 18 promptly put off and found the Viola, of Girvan, with her sails blown to ribbons, and in danger of foundering ; as soon as communication could be effected she was taken in tow.

The master wished to be taken to Ayr, but as there was another vessel in want of help the Coxswain towed the Viola to Dunure Harbour, and left her at anchor in comparative safety. The Life-boat then stood out to sea again and picked up the Annie Fyfe, which had shipped several seas, and was in grave danger.

On the arrival of the Life-boat an attempt was made to get to Ayr.

Shortly afterwards a tug came up, which took the endangered craft in tow, and Ayr was safely reached. It was however impossible for the Life-boat to beat back that night to Girvan; she was therefore secured for the night at Ayr, and towed back to her station the next day.

LLANDUDNO, CARNARVONSHIRE.—At 4 o'clock in the afternoon on the 12th February, a message was received from the Orme's Head Light House that a schooner was displaying signals of distress about three miles off in a north- westerly direction. In a very short time the Life-boat Theodore Price was launched and on her way to the vessel, which was the schooner Progress, of Wicklow, laden with coal. A gale from S.W. was blowing, with a rough sea; when the Life-boat reached the schooner she found two steamers were standing by, and that the crew in one of the ship's boats had got safely on board one of the vessels bound for Llandulas. The Life-boatmen havingmade an offer to land them, which they declined, then made an effort to salve the vessel; they succeeded in beaching her near Abergele, thus taking her out of the track of vessels going in and out of Liverpool, but they were unable to save her.

NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX.—During a whole gale from south by west, accompanied by a very heavy sea, on the 12th February, a message was received from the Coastguard that a vessel was ashore at the entrance of the harbour, signalling for assistance. The crew were assembled, and the Life-boat Michael Henry was launched; she was taken in tow by a tug, and proceeding to the distressed vessel, found she was the brig Commerce, of Newhaven. Another tug was already trying to tow her off, but at the request of the master the Life-boat remained by him and rendered assist- ance; the vessel was ultimately towed off and taken into Newhaven.

HOWTH, co. DUBLIN.—The Life-boat James Stevens No. 7 succeeded in saving the ketch Ocean Pearl, of Wexford, and her crew of three hands on the 13th February. Shortly after 10 A.M. a message was received by telephone that a vessel was drifting northward showing signals of distress, and in an apparently helpless condition.

With all despatch the Life-boat put off, and on coming up with her found the crew in a pitiable condition. The sails had been blown to ribbons in the strong westerly gale prevailing, both anchors had been lost, and for three days and nights the men had worked incessantly.

In their exhausted condition they were inclined to leave the ketch to her fate, but the Life-boatmen agreed with the master to try to save her. Three of their number were placed on board and the vessel taken in tow, and some two hours later she and her crew were safely brought into Howth Harbour.

PADSTOW, CORNWALL.—The trawler Annie, of Brixham, while attempting to come into Padstow on the 13th February, grounded on the " Doombar." There was a heavy ground sea and strong W.S.W. gale at the time, and she no sooner struck than the seas made a clean breach over her. Within a few minutes of the disaster the No. 1 Life-boat, Arab, put off to the ketch.

The position of the five men on board was one of great danger, but happily before the Life-boat reached them the vessel floated off, and by the time the Arab came alongside they were in com- parative safety ; the master, however, asked for help to take his vessel to Padstow, and three Life-boatmen having been placed on board, the port was safely reached.

RHYL, FLINTSHIRE.—On the morning of the 16th February, the Life-boat Caroline Richardson was called out to the assistance of a small yacht—the Lady Lucy, of Liverpool — in distress ashore outside the bar. She left Liver- pool the previous afternoon bound to Conway, and when night set in a stiff north-westerly breeze sprang up, driving the vessel shorewards; in spite of efforts to get clear, the yacht grounded, and the owner sent his man ashore in the punt to get help. The Coxswain of the Life-boat at once put off in his own boat, but in the darkness he failed to find her, as she had no lights. At dawn it was seen that she was in a very dangerous position. The Life-boat was therefore launched, and succeeded in reaching the yacht, whose owner was in a very exhausted condition.

BALLTWALTER, co. DOWN.—In thick weather, on the 17th February, while the ship Wellgunde, of Hamburg, a new ship of 1766 tons, was being towed from Greenock to Port Talbot, both tug and vessel grounded on the Butterfly rock, off Ballyferris Point. The Life- boat William Wallace was at once de- spatched to the spot, in case her services might be required. The sea was smooth and a moderate off-shore wind blowing.

As the tide made, the tug floated clear, and later by the aid of the tug, the Wellgunde was also got off, the Life- boat standing by until she was seen to be in a safe position.

SEAHAM, DUEHAM.—A reef of rocks about one mile to the south of Seaham Harbour was, on the 18th February,the scene of a shipping disaster which would have probably caused the loss of twelve lives had it not been for the valuable aid rendered by the Life-boat Skynner. The s.s. Lilian, of Newcastle, while bound from Rochester to Seaham in ballast, stranded on the night of the 17th-18th February, and the captain at once came ashore to get the assistance of tugs to get his ship off. Having made his arrangements, he engaged a pilot to put him back on board his steamer, but the northerly wind and the sea had increased so much that they found it impossible to approach the stranded steamer. The harbour tug put off to see what prospect there was of saving the vessel, and met the pilot boat returning with the captain. He then asked for the services of the Life- boat, as the ship was rapidly filling, and was in danger of breaking up. Imme- diately on the return of the tug, the crew of the Life-boat were assembled and the boat was smartly launched.

The tug then towed her as near the wreck as possible, and when the men on board had been rescued, took her back to harbour, where she had to remain, owing to the weather, which had got very much worse. Very shortly afterwards the steamer became a total wreck.

DUNGENESS, KENT, AND WINCHELSEA, SUSSEX.—At 3.30 A.M. on the 19th February, the s.s. Lake Michigan, of Liverpool, collided with a sailing vessel about two miles S.W. of Dungeness.

The steamer, a very large one of 9240 tons register, was on a voyage from St. John's, New Brunswick, to London, with a general cargo and cattle. Im- mediately after the collision the fires were swamped by the inrush of water, and the captain only just managed to run his vessel ashore to prevent her sinking in deep water. Later on a tug arrived and towed her within half a mile of the shore. Information having reached Dungeness, the No. 2 Life-boat, Thomas Simcox, was promptly launched at 5.30 A.M., and stood by the imperilled vessel until the night of the 20th, j when some of the cattlemen and fire men wished to land. Forty-six were accordingly taken into the Life-boat and transferred to a tug, which, in her turn, transferred them to the Dunge- ness No. 1 Life-boat, B.A.O.B., as it was too rough for the tug to land them. In the meanwhile the No. 2 Life-boat had returned to the LaJce Michigan, and remained alongside until the evening of the 21st February, when, the men being exhausted, she proceeded home, the Winchelsea Life-boat being alongside the steamer. The next morning she again returned, and stood by her until successfully floated off on the 25th February. The Life-boat R.A.O.B., in response to an urgent message, was also despatched to the steamer on the morn- ing of the 19th, but as the captain stated he did not require the assistance of both boats, she returned ashore, and was only launched again on the 20th to land the forty-six persons referred to above. When the Lalce Michigan was first beached the weather was moderate, with a north-west breeze and moderate sea, but it gradually got worse, causing very grave fears for the prospect of salving the valuable ship and cargo.

On the evening of the 20th a message was sent by telephone to Winchelsea, asking that that Life-boat should be sent to the vessel with all despatch.

The request was at once attended to, and the Winchelsea Life-boat, John William Dudley, arrived alongside the steamer on the 20th at 9.15 A.M. ; she remained with the vessel until the 25th, when the vessel was towed off, only then returning to her station after having been on duty for a period extending over five days and nights. Fortunately, both the ship and cargo were ultimately saved through the action of tugs, the value at stake amounting to no less than £142,000.

GOUKDON, KlNCARDINESHIKE. —• One of the fishing boats of this port, while attempting to enter the harbour during a strong S.S.W. breeze with a rough sea, on the 24th February incurred con- siderable risk, and the Local Committee, knowing she was in danger owing to the condition of the sea, ordered the Life-boat TJieophilm Sidney Eschalaz to be launched. This was done about 9.30 A.M., and she stood by the fishing boat until she safely made the harbour.WEYMOOTH, DORSET.—During rough weather, the wind blowing dead on shore with a heavy sea, on the 26th February a message was received from the Coastguard stating that a large foreign ship, which afterwards proved to be the Alauda, of Hamburg, had just signalled, " Send Life-boat to save crew." This was at 6.5 P.M., and within ten minutes the Life-boat Friern Watclt was on her way to the vessel. On reaching her it was found that no less than four steamers were rendering assistance, and the master stated he did not require further help, but he wished the Life-boat to remain in attendance until the ship was in safety.

This was done, and subsequently the Coxswain boarded the vessel, when the master said, " You came very quickly when I made signal for Life-boat. I was afraid the tugs would not get me clear. I wanted to save my daughter and crew.".