In the very early morning of the llth February the schooner Elise, of Hernosand, outward bound from Shields with a cargo of coal, collided with a steamer when off Staithes. The steamer stood by the schooner until daybreak. A N.E.

gale was blowing, which increased so much that about 8 A.M. she was driven on to the rocks known as the South Steel, and almost immediately went to pieces. Before this happened the vessel had been observed from the shore, and the Staithes Life-boat John Gowland was launched; the ship was then close to the breakers and too near to the reef of rocks for the boat to get on her lee side. As soon as the ship struck the mast went by the board, unfor- tunately killing two of the crew, and the seas commenced to break over her. As it was impossible on account of the rocks for the Life-boat to get to the vessel, she lay in the best position possible to pick up the crew, who were compelled to jump overboard. Four of the men drifted towards the boat and were hauled on board in a very exhausted condition.

Another man was seen near the rocks, and the boat pulled towards him, but caught the ground and was un- able to reach him. Seeing that he was in great danger and likely to be drowned, M. Verrill the bowman of the Life-boat, jumped overboard, and by swimming brought him within the reach of other men who had gone into the surf from the shore to save him.

Another man was also rescued by the gallant conduct of one of the men be- longing to the Life Saving Apparatus, who went into the surf and at great personal risk saved him.

Both the action of the Life-boat and the men who went into the sea to save the shipwrecked men was greatly extolled, and the Committee of Manage- ment of the Institution made a special monetary reward to each member of the Life-boat crew, the Board of Trade awarding a medal to M. Verrill and to the Rocket Apparatus man who had shown conspicuous bravery..