Two days later—Sunday—a violent northerly gale, with blinding showers of snow and sleet prevailed, and at about 3 P.M. a barque was observed off Skate- raw, displaying signals of distress. The Life-boat William Arthur Milhvard was at once despatched and within an hour arrived alongside the distressed vessel.

She proved to be the barque Ugunjeems, of Riga, bound from Burntisland to Riga, with a cargo of coal and had been driven by the fury of the gale danger- ously near to the rocks. Her anchors were then holding, but there was great risk of their dragging at any minute; the Master notwithstanding declined the help of the Life-boat, and desired that the Coxswain would send for the assistance of tugs. Accordingly the Life - boat returned to Dunbar ; but about 7 P.M. the same evening the j weather became worse, and she was | again launched and stood by the barque | throughout the night. At 5 o'clock the i next morning the vessel was still hold- j ing to her anchors and the crew declined j to leave her, hoping that tugs would '• come to their help; the Life-boat men j by this time were suffering severely j from the cold and want of food; sail [ was therefore made to return home.

The boat was seen off Dunbar about 8 A.M., and signals were at once made to warn the crew from attempting to come in, as the breakers were much too heavy for her to cross the harbour entrance in safety. The signals were observed and the Life-boat put to sea again. After beating about the Firth of Forth all the morning, they made for Cockenzie, and shortly after 2 P.M. that port was reached in safety. The crew were in a very ex- hausted condition, having suffered much from the heavy seas which continually broke over their boat, leaving them in a wet and pitiable condition. They were immediately cared for and received great kindness at the hands of the inhabitants.

As there was no abatement in the storm the men remained at Cockenzie for the night and returned home with the Life- boat next day.

The Committee of Management at their meeting next following decided, as a special mark of their appreciation of these splendid and gallant services — more particularly that to the S.S.

King Ja Ja—to confer the Silver Medal of the Institution, accompanied by a framed copy of the vote, inscribed on vellum, upon the Coxswain Superinten- dent, Mr. Walter Fairbaim, and granted him and each member of the crew an additional pecuniary reward.

The Honorary Secretary, Mr. W.

Bertram, was indefatigable during these four days, and his valuable services were also suitably recognised by the Committee of Management..