On the 14th May the first of six fishing-cobles re- turned to harbour, in a strong N.N.E.

breeze, at 11.30 A.M. Four boats came in safely, and although everything was in readiness it was not considered neces- sary to launch the Life-boat. The fifth boat to come in -was the William and Tom, with three persons on board.

When on the bar she encountered some nasty seas, and one washed over her stern, nearly filling her; she then ran on top of the wave, turned and was filled by a second sea and sank. The coble Thankful, which had just pre- viously come into harbour, manned by THOMAS LANGLANDS—Coxswain Super- intendent of the Whitby Life-boats— and two other men, immediately put off to the help of the men who were in the water. In the meantime a buoy at- tached to a line had been thrown from the pier, and to it two of the men clung ; the third man was keeping him- self afloat in the water and was the first to be rescued by the men in the coble. The task of saving the other two men was one of very great danger, but LANGLANDS displayed great courage and coolness. He could not get close to them, or his coble would have been stov? against the pier, and it was therefore absolutely necessary to keep his coble head to sea—a difficult task, owing to the ebb-tide running round the pier- head and setting her athwart. On the first opportunity he approached them as near as possible and threw them a line, but they were unable to get hold of it. He then had to move off and await another favourable chance.

The second attempt was more successful, the men securing the line and being dragged through the heavy seas to the coble. During this time two of the oars had been washed from the coble, but she was handed in a masterful way, and as soon as the men were on board was pulled clear of the broken water.

"When the coble, William and Tom, capsized, orders were given for the launch of the No. 1 Life-boat, Robert and Mary Ellis, and she proceeded to Langland's coble, and took the rescued men on board and landed them at Whitby, Langlands in the meantime running to Runswick, which was reached in safety. The Life-boat, having landed the three men, put to sea again to assist the coble Jane and Mary. Having warned the crew, three in number, of what had occurred, they abandoned their boat and the Life-boat took them into safety.

The Committee of Management at their meeting next following decided, as a special mark of their appreciation of the conspicuous gallantry and skilful seamanship, to decorate Mr. THOMAS LANGLANDS with the Silver Medal of the Institution, and in addition to grant him and the two men who were with him a pecuniary award..