At daybreak on the 16th December a schooner was observed in distress be- tween one and two miles off Stonehaven Bay. The weather for three days had been very stormy, with high seas running, and it was feared that she would become a total wreck. Shortly before 9 A.M.

it was observed that the crew of the Life-boat Alexander Slack was at once sent to their assistance. Before the Life-boat could reach the boat the vessel sank, but the Life-boatmen managed to attract the attention of the crew of four men in the ship's boat and in spite of the heavy sea they managed to keep their boat afloat until the Life- boat reached them. The four men were promptly transferred to the Life-boat, but the captain was in such an exhausted condition that it was necessary for two of the Life-boat's crew to get into the small boat and assist him. As soon as the men were rescued the boat was left to her fate, and the Life-boat returned to harbour. The vessel was the schooner Hukilina, of Westerhaven, and was bound from Granton to Germany with a cargo of coal.

vessel had taken to their boat, and the.