On the 18th September Caister supplied another stir- ring story of the sea, and while there is unfortunately some loss of life to record, the Life-boatmen, the men who " never turn back," have performed a fine rescue of half-a-dozen men under circumstances of the greatest danger and difficulty.

The disaster was one of a kind which has happily become unfamiliar ; the hapless men having to struggle for their lives almost the moment their vessel touched the fatal sands.

The ship was the Russian barque Anna Precht, of Mariehainn, carrying a crew of twelve hands, under the command of Capt. Jansson, and bound to Yarmouth from Borga, in Finland, with a cargo of wood used for box and case-making.

In an east-north-east gale and very heavy sea the vessel was running for an anchorage, when under the stress of the wind and strong tide she became un- manageable, and drove on to the Cockle Sands. Before a distress signal could be made the labouring vessel went to pieces.

There was no time to issue orders and every man had to look out for himself.

Three men got into the email boat—a feeble craft in a rough sea—and without oars trusted themselves to the mercy of the waves.

With the rain coming down in sheets, the Coastguard at Caister had not seen the disaster, but when they observed a small boat in the vicinity of the sands they at once aroused Coxswain Haylett, who mustered" his crew, and the No. 2 Life-boat Nancy Lucy was launched.

Meanwhile the little boat was thrown up on the beach, and the three men were secured by the Coastguardmen, who took charge of them, gave them warm drink and food, and a change of clothes. The Life-boatmen then learnt that there were still nine men on the wreckage. Day was breaking and the Life-boat soon found her way to the wreck on which the captain alone re- mained. Having rescued him they proceeded to search, and on the wreckage they found a boy whom they unlashed and hauled to the Life-boat. Sailing on, j another piece of the vessel with four men ] clinging to it was found and they were also picked up. The boat then sailed about again but could not find any more.

Another of the men saved was picked up from a piece of wreckage which was ! seen by the crew of a steamer who j promptly rescued him and afterwards transferred him to the Life-boat to land.

I All the men were practically unconscious ! through the effects of cold, wet and exposure. The Life-boatmen adminis- tered restoratives always carried in the boat, and. the Nancy Lucy then made for | Yarmouth, where on landing the four j men who had not recovered were con- veyed to the hospital, together with i another who had had his head cut open. The remainder were sent to the Sailor's j Home where they were well cared for.

Two of the crew were missing having been swept a way when the vessel broke up.

The Lifeboat was left after the service in Yarmouth Harbour, as the crew j when launching in the heavy surf were drenched to the skin and it was necessary for them to go home for dry clothing. The Coxswain afterwards stated that the wreckage on which the men had taken refuge was in the midst of spars and wood and it was with great risk and difficulty that the Life- boat was sailed through it to a position close enough to get to the distressed seamen, while in some cases part of the crew were obliged to get on to the wreckage to rescue the men.

The Committee of Management at their next meeting following, decided to mark their appreciation of the excellent seamanship displayed by the Coxswain Superintendent Mr. JOHN HASXETT, and 1 the gallantry shown by him and the crew during this service, by conferring j the Silver Medal of the Institution upon ! him and granting the whole crew an additional pecuniary award.

The conspicuous gallantry of Mr. JOHN PLUMMER (Assistant Coxswain), } Mr. SOLOMON BROWN, and Mr. WALTER HAYLETT was also rewarded by the Silver Medal, they having very courage- ously leaped from the Life-boat on to the wreckage to save some of the men, who were benumbed and helpless..