During a W.S. W.

gale on the 8th September the coast- guard reported at about 3 A.M. that signals were being made by a vessel in distress. The No. 1 Life-boat E.A.O.B.

was promptly launched, and proceeded alongside. The Coxswain boarded the vessel, and found that she was a fishing lugger named the St. Louise of Boulogne ; she was leaking badly, and had five feet of water in the hold. The master was unable to speak English and the Cox- swain therefore had to communicate by signs, and by his advice the lugger was beached to prevent her sinking in deep water. When this was done the crew of eight hands were taken off in safety.

At high tide the vessel filled, but when the tide ebbed the leaks were stopped and later tugs were able to take her to Folkestone for repair..