WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.—On the evening of the 15th April one of the most exciting scenes ever remembered was witnessed at Whitby. The fishing fleet had left port early in the morning, the weather then being generally favourable.

During the afternoon a heavy swell began to get up, and the sea on the bar made very quickly. Before 5 P.M.

several of the fishing boats returned, but experienced great difficulty and risk, and as the remainder of the boats would be later in reaching the harbour and the weather became worse every minute, the crew of the Life-boat Robert and Mary Ellis was mustered under the Coxswain of the TJpgang Life-boat, her own Coxswain being at sea. Shortly afterwards the coble Lady Morris hove in sight. The Life-boat at once proceeded alongside and warned the skipper about the state of the bar, and then escorted her for the harbour, but just as the coble was crossing the bar a heavy cross sea struck her, capsizing her, and throwing her three occupants into the sea. The Life-boat promptly made for the spot, but the set of tide washed the men close to the West Pier, and the Life-boat had great difficulty in saving them. Owing to the strong easterly sea continually breaking over the Life-boat and setting her dangerously towards the West Pier, there wasconsiderable risk of crushing the drowning men between the boat and the pier, or of smashing the boat to pieces. Lifebuoys were thrown the men from the pier, but they were too exhausted and knocked about to help themselves.

Eventually, however, the Life-boatmen succeeded in picking them up and took them safely ashore. The Life-boat then again proceeded to sea and convoyed three more cobles safely over the bar; she then made a third journey and escorted another coble in. For the fourth time she put out, and having taken a man from one of the cobles, convoyed two more into safety and landed her passenger.

By this time the state of the weather rendered it quite unsafe for any more cobles to attempt to return ; the Lifeboat therefore for the fifth and last time, again put to sea and warned the remaining boats to make for Runswick, which they did. During these services the crew had most arduous work and great difficulties to contend with.

At times the seas dashed right over the boat, completely filling her, but every time she freed herself well and the work was successfully accomplished without damage to the Life-boat..