At 2 A.M.

| on 15th November, during a strong S.E.

! gale and very heavy sea, signals of | distress were observed from a vessel I about five miles from Ballycotton. The | alarm was given, and the Life-boat, T. P. Hearne, was immediately launched.

Mr. P. Driscoll, a member of the local committee, and the Rev. E. F. Duncan, the hon. secretary of the branch, going out in her. When some little distance from the land, the Life-boat hailed a steam trawler, which was sheltering in the bay, and she towed the boat toward the vessel. She proved to be the steamer Tadorna, of Cork, a vessel of 2,600 register, bound from Rotterdam to Cork, with a general cargo. On reaching the scene of the wreck it was found impossible to board her, owing to the darkness and the very heavy I breakers on the ledge of rooks to sea- i ward of her. It was only when dawn appeared that anything could be done.

! The boat was then safely taken through i the opening in the reef, after having ] been continually swept by heavy seas.

i The steamer was successfully boarded, j and nine of her crew rescued. She j then made her way back to Ballycotton, j only getting clear of the reef of rocks with the greatest difficulty owing to the dangerous character of the seas which she had to pass through. - The re- mainder of the crew of the vessel, twelve in number, were rescued by the rocket apparatus.

The following letter from the master of the steamer appeared in the local press a few days later :— "SiB,—On behalf of the entire crew of the s.s. Tadorna, it affords me the greatest pleasure to return our heartfelt thanks for the invaluable and prompt action taken both by the Ballycotton Life-boat crew and the Coasfcguardsmen with the rocket apparatus, in rescuing us from our perilous position on Wed- nesday morning last.

"The brave and gallant manner in which they rendered these services under most trying conditions is beyond all praise. The officers and myself would also like to thank Mrs. Pom- phrett, of Ballycrenane, for the great kindness shown to us, and the hospitable manner in which we were treated by her on our arrival on shore.

" Yours truly, " HBNRY H. GREGORY, " Master.

" Sea View Hotel, Ballycotton, " Nov. 17, 1911." The Committee of Management, in appreciation of the excellent services of the boat, bestowed the Institution Silver Medal upon the Coxswain, Richard Harding; to the Rev. Buncan they presented the thanks of the Institution on vellum, and to him and to Mr.

Driscoll gave a binocular glass suitably inscribed. To each of the other mem- bers of the crew they presented an additional pecuniary reward..