At about 12.30 P.M. on the 10th of October, a schooner was seen driving dangerously near the outer end of Teignmouth bar. A strong S.S.W.

gale had been blowing all night, but it had then moderated somewhat; the seas however were very heavy: Shortly afterwards the vessel anchored, and it was seen that she was quickly dragging into dangerous broken water. She then hoisted a distress signal, and the Teign- mouth Life-boat Alfred Staniforth was about to be launched when a telephone message was received stating that the Exmouth Life-boat had already been launched. Repeated and meritorious attempts were made by this boat to get to the schooner, but about an hour later another message was received stat- ing that the Exmouth Life-boat, being to leeward, could not get near the vessel, which by that time had been driven ashore on the outer part of the Pole Sands. The crew of the Teign- mouth Life-boat were immediately re- assembled and the Life-boat promptly launched. It was then nearly low water, and the seas on the bar and for a half a mile seaward were very bad; nothing but a smother of broken water was to be seen. There was no hesita- tion however, and the boat made for it.

The boat behaved splendidly, but at times the sea was so heavy that she was completely enveloped. On one occasion a heavy sea broke right over her, putting her completely out of sight, and every man of the crew was knocked over, and every oar went overboard, the boat being driven towards the harbour. Undaunted, they started afresh, and after strenuous efforts and hard work the task of crossing the bar was accomplished. Once outside the breakers sail was made, and the Alfred Staniforth, .with all speed made for the wreck, a heavy sea being encountered all the way. On nearing the wreck the crew could be seen in the fore- rigging, as the ship was full of water and every sea was making a clean breach over her. The deck cargo of timber was washing out of the wreck, and the sea for a considerable distance was covered with timber and wreckage, which made the work of rescue both difficult and hazardous. Sails on the Life-boat were taken in, and the anchor let go; with great skill she was then -veered down as near to the vessel as possible. Communication was obtained by ropes, and by this means the crew of eight men were dragged through the breaking seas to the Life-boat. This rescue, so skilfully carried out, was most opportune, as a quarter of an hour after it had been accomplished the three masts went by the board, and all that remained was wreckage. The prevailing weather precluded any at- tempt being made by the Life-boat to regain her station, and the crew were both wet and tired; she therefore crossed the Exmouth bar, and landed at Exmouth. Here the boat was left until next day, when, the weather having moderated, she was towed home.

The wrecked vessel was the schooner, Tehwija, of Riga, bound at the time of the disaster from Lappvik, in Fin- land, to Exmouth, with a full cargo.

Happily the whole of the crew were saved, although they unfortunately lost all their belongings. A dog belonging to the captain resisted all attempts at rescue, and had to be left to its fate; but it was eventually washed ashore in the deck house—this portion of the wreck coming ashore intact.

During this service the Honorary Secretary of the Teignmouth branch, Mr, W. J. BURDEN, was on board the Life-boat, and materially assisted in the success of her mission—both by encour- aging the men and personally assisting in the management of the boat. During the critical tune when crossing the Teign- mouth bar he steered the Life-boat, which enabled the Coxswain and Bow- man to assist in double-banking the oars. The Committee of Management, in addition to cordially thanking Mr.

Burden for his gallant and valuable assistance, awarded him and the Cox- swain-Superintendent, GEORGE RICE, the Silver Medal of the Institution, accom- panied by a framed copy of the vote engrossed on vellum, as a special token of appreciation.

An additional pecuniary reward was also made to each of the Life-boatmen who took part in the rescue, and the whole of the awards were publicly presented at Teignmouth before an enthusiastic audience..