The four- masted barque Pindos, of Hamburg, carrying a crew of twenty-eight hands, put into Falmouth for orders when homeward bound from Chili with a cargo of nitrate, and shortly after noon on the 10th February again left that port in tow of a tug. Later in the day she was seen off Coverack bearing in a southerly direction. A strong south- east wind was blowing, and, owing to the weather becoming very rough, the vessel and her tug were kept under observation.

Shortly after 9 P.M. it was reported that signals were being made on the barque, and the crew of the Coverack Life-boat were assembled. As those on shore were not quite certain whether the signals made were merely between the tug and the barque, or whether the latter was in distress, it was decided not to launch until a further signal was seen. At about 9.45 P.M. further rockets were observed and the Life- boat Constance Melanie was promptly launched in a very heavy sea. By this time the wind had increased to a whole gale, and within a few minutes the Pindos was driven ashore at Mear Point, to the south-westward of Coverack.

As soon as the alarm was given the rocket apparatus was despatched to the scene of the wreck. The first rocket fired fell over the vessel, but owing to the distance from the shore and to the line fouling, no use could be made of the communication.

As soon as the Life-boat reached the vessel the work of rescue was com- menced. The seas were breaking over the barque and great anxiety was felt for the safety of those on board. Four men were successfully taken off, but the south-easterly gale, which had increased, caused the lines between the wreck and the Life-boat to break, and the Life- boatmen were so hampered in the dark- ness that it was decided to cease the life-saving operations until daylight.

In the meanwhile, however, a powerful new acetylene lamp, recently supplied to the station by the Royal National Life-boat Institution, was carried to the scene of the casualty, and, assisted by the light from the lamp, the Coxswain of the Life-boat renewed his efforts to save the men.

An endless whip was formed by lines and a life-buoy bent on. By this means the remainder of the men on board, twenty-four in number, were transferred in safety to the Life-boat.

The boat, at once made for the shore, where the shipwrecked men were landed, both the rescued and the rescuers being in an exhausted condition, and without loss of time they were provided with food and dry clothing. This rescue, which was a very fine piece of service, was carried out in a whole gale and very heavy sea. The Coxswain handled his boat with con- siderable skill, and it was much to his credit that no one was seriously hurt under the stormy conditions which pre- vailed. The Committee of Manage- ment, in recognition of the gallant con- duct displayed by the Life-boatmen, bestowed the silver medal of the In- stitution on John Corin, the Coxswain, and awarded him and each of the crew an additional monetary reward. The ! German Government also sent a pecuniary reward to each of the men who manned the Life-boat..