EASTBOURNE AND NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX.

—The P. & O. liner Oceana, which left London on the 15th March, with a large number of passengers, for Bombay, collided when off Beachy Head in the early morning of the 16th March with the German barque Pisagua.

The liner suffered severely and signals of distress were at once made. In response the Life-boats James Stevens No. 6, from Eastbourne, and the Michael Henry, from Newhaven, proceeded with all speed to the help of those on board.

When near Beachy Head the crew of the Eastbourne boat fell in with one of the ship's boats heavily laden, and apparently in a sinking condition, her occupants being busily engaged in. baling out the water with caps and boots. The Coxswain hailed the boat and asked if they required assistance; in reply the officer, who was in charge, said:—" Yes, we are sinking and thankful that you have come to the rescue." Without loss of time the imperilled people, twenty-one in number, were taken into the Life- boat and the ship's boat cut adrift.

Sail was made and the Life-boat re- turned to Eastbourne where the rescued people were landed. Steps were promptly taken to have them well cared for, some of them being in pitiable and exhausted condition, having escaped from the Oceana in nothing but their night clothing and blankets. As soon as the passengers were landed, the Life- boat again proceeded with all despatch to the scene of the disaster. In the meanwhile the Newhaven boat had reached the endangered liner, and a cross-channel steamer named the Sussex had also come to her help.

The Newhaven boat went alongside, took off forty-two persons and assisted to save twenty others. The captain o! the Oceana then asked the Coxswain to take the ship's carpenter (who was badly injured) and the ship's doctor to East- bourne. He accordingly did so and returned to the vessel and stood by her until she subsequently foundered. The boat then returned to Newhaven, con- veying the ship's doctor and one o£ the officers. Previous to this all those on board had been transferred to the Sussex.

There was an accident in connexion with this disaster which is much to be deplored, namely, the loss of seven- teen lives through the lowering of one of the ship's boats while the vessel was still under way. The boat capsized, and only part of her occupants were recovered. This accident occurred shortly after the collision and before the Life-boats had reached the steamer.

A few days after the loss of the Oceana the Captain sent the following letter to the Institution : " Newlyn," Cole Park, Twickenham.

March 20th, 1912.

THE SECRETARY, N. L.-B. INSTITUTION.

DEAR SIR, I should like to bring to your notice the valuable assistance rendered to me by the Newhaven Life-boat on the occasion of collision of the s.s. Oceana and Pisagua off Newhaven. The Cox- swain of the boat did everything that I asked him to do and transferred many people to the s.s. Sussex, and also took our disabled carpenter ashore to East- bourne. I have thanked him personally, but a few words of recognition from yourself will be great praise to a man who, with many other men, rendered us poor sailors when in trouble such help as nobody else can do.

Pray accept the thanks of my officers, crew and passengers to whom service was rendered, and allow me to tender mine to the honourable Institution whom you represent.

I have the honour to remain, Dear Sir, Yours sincerely and gratefully, (Signed) THOMAS H. HIDE, Commander of Oceana.

NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX.—At 3.15 P.M. on the 18th March a French cargo steamer, named the St. Malo, and belonging to St. Nazaire, struck the bar when leaving the harbour, and knocked round broad- side to the sea. The Life-boat Michael Henry was sent to her assistance, but the Master stated that he did not want any help. As, however, the vessel's anchor was dragging and there was a very nasty sea running, the Life-boat stood by until the vessel was successfully floated. A pilot was then put on board, and the boat accompanied the steamer into harbour.

FILEY, YORKSHIRE.—At 4 A.M. on the 21st March all the cobles put to tha for the purpose of hauling their crab pots.

At 7 A.M. the wind freshened, and it was considered advisable to launch the Life-boat Hollon the Third to their assistance. The boats ran for shelter as quickly as possible, but before they could regain safety the sea had become very rough. On reaching the boats the Life-boat stood by them while they were being beached, and this was fortunately accomplished without accident.

NEW BIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.— During a strong S.E. gale with a very heavy sea on the 21st March, the Life- boat Ada Lewis was launched to the assistance of twelve fishing cobles of New biggin, which had been overtaken while at sea by the gale. Two of the cobles were almost swamped when rounding Newbiggin Point, and it was necessary for the Life-boat to stand by the boats until all had reached safety.

The Coxswain reported that the Life- boat was put to a severe test, and that her behaviour was all that could be desired.

HOPE COVE, SOUTH DEVON.—-The Schooner Sidney Smith, of Portmadoc, whilst bound from Spain to Bristol with a cargo of iron ore, stranded at the mouth of Bantham Harbour, in foggy weather, early in the morning of the 25th March. Information of the disaster was conveyed to the Coxswain of the Life-boat Alexandra by the Coastguard at 2.45 A.M., and, as quickly as possible, the Life-boat was sent to the vessel's assistance. A strong W.S.W. wind was blowing with a heavy sea and when the Life-boat reached the schooner the seas were breaking right over her.

Only two men were then on board, four others having been rescued by the life- saving apparatus shortly before the arrival of the boat. The two men were taken off and the boat returned to her station.

ST. ABBS, BERWICKSHIRE.—In answer to signals of distress, and a message from the Lighthouse, the. Life-boat Helen Smitten was launched shortly after 6 P.M. on the 26th March. The Ketch Colonel Moir, in a dismasted state, was found drifting helplessly about three miles from St. Abbs, and the Life-boat stood by her until a motor fishing-boat arrived and took the dis- abled vessel in tow. There were two men in the ketch at the time of the accident and she was laden with pota- toes from the Moray Firth.

CULLERCOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND.— At 11 A.M on the 27th March the Cox- swain of the Life-boat Co-operator No. 1 received a report stating that a fishing coble had had her rudder broken about one mile south of the harbour. It was blowing a whole gale from the West at the time. The boat was launched; she proceeded to the coble and towed her into harbour. The coble was the Hannah Taylor belonging to Cullercoats with three men on board. It appeared that she was coming round from the Tyne and was struck by a squall after clearing the North Pier; fortunately the mast carried away, otherwise the boat would have been capsized, and the men, in all probability, would have been drowned. When the Life-boat took the coble in tow the men on board were in a position of considerable danger.

SEATON CAKEW, DUBHAM, AND TEES- MOUTH, YORKSHIRE.—On the morning of the 1st April a Greek steamer of about 1,500 tons, named the Mikelis, and belonging to Argostoii, attempted to enter the Tees, bound for Middles- brough in ballast. Her steering gear broke down and she was driven by the strong N.N.E. gale on to the " North Gare." The Seaton Carew Life-boat Francis Whitbourn and the Teesmouth motor Life-boat were sent to the assistance of the men on board and reached the steamer shortly after 9 A.M. She was in no immediate danger and the tide was beginning to flow. At the request of the Captain the Life-boats stood by the steamer until 3.30 P.M. By that time the vessel had drifted up the river and again grounded.

As the engine-room was filling with water the fires were drawn, and the majority of the crew decided to go ashore. Eight men were placed in each boat and landed. During this service the Life-boatmen suffered considerably from exposure and the Committee granted them an additional reward.

For several hours they were obliged to remain in the boats without any pro- tection; the weather was bitterly cold with sleet showers and a strong N.N.E.

gale prevailed.

NORTH SUNDERLAND, NORTHUMBER- LAND.—The fishing cobles of North Sunderland and Beadnell were over- taken by bad weather when at sea on the 6th April. The W.N.W. wind increased during the day, and one boat made North Sunderland Harbour with great difficulty. Shortly after noon a tele- gram was received from Beadnell stating that two boats were off that place, and that the Life-boat was required. With- out loss of time the Foster Fawsett was launched. She first attended the coble Good Samaritan, which made Beadnell Harbour safely. She then proceeded to the Thanksgiving, and accompanied her to North Sunderland, but it was impossible for either of them to get in, therefore the fishing boat and Life-boat returned to Beadnell Harbour, and the Life-boat was subsequently taken back to her station by road.

BEHWICK-ON-TWEED, NORTHUMBER- LAND.—Four cobles of Spittal and Berwick went out during the forenoon on the 6th April to recover their gear, which they had been obliged to abandon three days previously owing to heavy winds. They proceeded to Goswick Bay, and had hardly commenced to haul their lines when the wind freshened into a gale, and none of the boats could set any sail except with the utmost care.

Soon after noon it was considered ad- visable to launch the Life-boat Mattfreto Simpson, and she proceeded with a tug to the mouth of the harbour and accom- panied the boats into safety.

KINGSTOWN, Co. DUBLIN.—The Life- boat Dunleary was launched at 11 A.M.

on the 8th April, to the assistance of the Schooner Perseverance, of Wexford, which had been anchored, but broke adrift, owing to her cables having carried away. The Life-boat stood by the vessel until the crew were able to set some canvas and get their vessel under way. She remained with the schooner until the captain signalled that he did not require any further assist- ance. The boat then returned to her station, arriving at 4.30 P.M. During the service a whole gale was blowing from the W.N.W., and the sea was very heavy.

NORTH SUNDERLAND, NORTHUMBER- LAND. —On the 8th April the Ketch Resolute of Newcastle-on-Tyne with four men on board stranded while attempt- ing to enter North Sunderland Harbour during a violent N.W. gale. When the vessel struck, a local coble proceeded to her assistance with a view of render- ing salvage services. The coble's crew of four men boarded the vessel, but as the tide made and the wind increased, both the crew and the would-be salvors were in great danger. The Life-boat Foster Fawsett was launched at 3 P.M., and the men, eight in number, were saved. The vessel, which was bound from Middlesbrough to Stirling with a cargo of salt, became a total wreck.

MONTHOSK, FORFAUSHIRE. At 3.45 P.M. on the 8th April information was received that two salmon cobles were in great danger owing to the wind having shifted from W. to N., and increased to a hurricane, causing the sea to break right over them. The No. 1 Life-boat, Sarah Jane Turner, was promptly launched, but before she could reach the boats, one of them had been hauled ashore by means of a rope with a buoy attached, which had been floated to her by people on shore. The boat therefore went to the other coble, and with some difficulty rescued the four men on board. Owing to the severity of both wind and sea the Life-boat had a severe struggle to get back to the harbour.

MABLETHORPE, LINCOLNSHIRE.— The sprit-sail barge Cecilia, of London, whilst bound from Orford Haven to Grimsby, with a cargo of shingle, had her sails blown away when off Saltfleet on the 8th April. Signals of distress were hoisted, and the Life-boat John Bowson Lingard was sent to her assistance. She found the vessel at anchor, and the crew of three hands were anxious to be landed as they were afraid their craft might break up or sink in the prevailing gale.

The men were accordingly taken off by the Life-boat which landed them. The boat was left on the beach in readiness to go off to save the vessel the next day; but the sea became worse and it was not possible to do so.

HARTLEPOOL, DURHAM. — At about 11 A.M. on the 9th April, during a strong N.N.E. gale and very heavy sea, the schooner Fanny Grosfield of Bai'row- in-Furness was seen drifting helplessly with her canvas all blown away, and a little later, when the vessel was just on the edge of the Longscar rocks, the master let go her anchor. As it was apparent from the extreme danger in which the vessel then was that no time must be lost, the No. 2 Life-boat Charles Ingleby and the No. 3 boat Horatio Brand were despatched to her. Before the boats reached the vessel the steam trawler Loch Ness proceeded to her and ultimately succeeded in getting a rope on board. The schooner then slipped her anchor and the trawler commenced to tow her across the bay. The Life- boats remained in close attendance as the trawler and vessel were constantly swept by heavy waves, and if the tow- rope had carried away the vessel must have at once gone on to the rocks.

Fortunately the rope held, and the schooner was got into safety. Her crew were in a very exhausted con- dition, having been constantly at work and not having tasted food from the Monday morning until two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, when they were brought into harbour. As the Life- boats were towed past the old pier and jetty ends they were greeted by the cheers of hundreds of people who had assembled there to give them a welcome home after witnessing their splendid and successful efforts to reach the distressed vessel.

SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE.—A small coble, named the Lionel, of Scarborough, was overtaken when at sea by a strong N. by E. gale on the llth April, and as the men on board were in considerable danger the Life-boat Queensbury was sent to their assistance. On reaching the coble the two men forming the crew were taken aboard, and the coble was secured. As the wind and tide were against the boats a steam trawler, which was making for harbour, was asked to tow them, and consented. Steaming very slowly they reached Scarborough three quarters of an hour later.

WALTON-ON-NAZE, ESSEX.—The Life- boat James Stevens No. 14 left her moorings at 6.45 P.M. on the 27th April to go to the assistance of the barge Dorothea of Harwich, which was in difficulties about 1| mile from the Naze. Her sails had all been blown to pieces, her sprit had carried away, and she was rolling very heavily. On reaching the barge the Life-boatmen were engaged to save her, and they succeeded in getting the barge and her crew of two hands safely into the Colne. A strong E. by N. breeze was blowing at the time and the sea was rough.

ILFRACOMBE, NORTH DEVON. — The steamer Priestfield of Newcastle, a vessel of upwards of 4000 tons gross tonnage, stranded to the S.W. of Morthoe Point in a thick fog on the night of the 7th—8th May. She was bound from Antwerp to Barry in ballast, and had a crew on board of thirty-two hands.

Information of the casualty was sent to the Coxswain of the Life-boat Co-operator No. 2 by the Coastguard just after 1 A.M., and without loss of time the Life-boat proceeded to the steamer, the men being very smart in getting the boat away. Owing to the weather being excessively thick the Life-boatmen had great difficulty in finding the steamer, and it was nearly 5 A.M. when they reached her. The Captain would not allow anyone to leave the vessel, but asked the Coxswain to stand by until he could procure a tug. Later in the day a small steamer obtained communication with the Priestfield and, no further help being required from the Life-boat, she returned to her station.

GOUHDON, KINCARDINESHIRE. — Be- tween 7 and 8 A.M. on the llth May, when the fishing-boats were at sea, the wind began to freshen and the sea made very rapidly. As it was dangerous for the boats to attempt to take the harbour the Life-boat Theophilus Sidney Eclialaz was launched to render them assistance should they require it. She stood by the boats until all were in safety and then returned ashore.

HAUXLEY, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The sailing yacht Fiona, of Glasgow, when | out cruising near Coquet Island on the llth May, missed stays and stranded on the ' Coquet Steel.' A strong W. gale was blowing and the Life-boat Mary Andrew was launched to assist her. The crew of four hands had landed on the rocks and the Captain asked the Coxswain to run out an anchor ; he accordingly did so and by this means, when the tide flowed, the vessel was floated clear of the rocks. She was then left riding at anchor and later, when the weather moderated, a tug towed her into Wark- worth Harbour.

WALTON-ON-NAZE, ESSEX.—At 1.10 P.M. on the 12th May, a report was received from the Coastguard that a barge was ashore on the Gunfleet Sands.

The Life-boat James Stevens No. 14 was sent to her assistance and found that she was in a very dangerous position and near some stumps of an old wreck.

The Life-boat stood by the barge until 5.15 P.M., when she floated off the sands after bumping heavily. The boat re- mained with the barge until she was out of danger and then returned to her station. The barge was the Dorothy, of Harwich, bound from Felixstowe to the Thames.

LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.—The trawler Gladiolus, of Lowestoft, stranded on the North Pier Extension when inward bound on the 16th May. In answer to her signals of distress the No. 2 Life- boat Stock Exchange was launched and proceeded to her. On arrival the Captain stated that he did not require any immediate help. As the trawler was rolling very heavily, the Coxswain thought it advisable to stand by the vessel until a tug came and towed her off. There was a gusty breeze and a heavy sea at the time.

EASTBOURNE, SUSSEX.—At 11.40 A.M.

on the 17th May, the Coastguard reported that the Royal Sovereign light-vessel was making signals of distress, and the No. 1 Life-boat Olive was launched without loss of time. Shortly before reaching the light-vessel she sighted the steam trawler Gamesttr, of Lowestoft, with a distress flying and other boats in attendance. The Life-boat made for the trawler and the Master stated that he was going to beach his vessel as she was on fire. The boat stood by the trawler until this had been accomplished, and then some of the Life-boatmen went aboard and helped to extinguish the fire.

No further help being required the boat returned to her station.

GORLESTON, SUFFOLK.—The steam drifter Brothers, of Lowestoft, stranded on the north part of Corton Sands when bound for the fishing grounds on the £0th May. A fresh breeze was blowing from S.E. with a moderate sea and the weather was hazy. The Coastguard reported the casualty at 3.30 P.M., and within a few minutes the No. 1 Life- boat Mark Lane was launched. She found the vessel had ten persons on board, and the Master requested the Coxswain to stand by as his vessel was bumping heavily. The Life-boat re- mained until 7.10 P.M., when the drifter refloated without assistance, and, as she was only making a little water, she proceeded to the fishing grounds. The Life-boat was towed back to harbour and was ready for service again shortly before 9 P.M.

STAITHF.S, YORKSHIRE.—At 3.15 A.M.

on the morning of the 5th June a coble was seen off the station unable to come in on account of the heavy sea running, and as other boats belonging to the fleet had gone to sea during the night, it was considered advisable to launch the Life-boat James Gowland. A strong E.N.E. wind was blowing with heavy rain. With the assistance of the Life- boat the cobles were able to beach safely.

HARTLEPOOL, DDRHAM.—On the 5th June, during a dense fog with a rough N.E. sea running and a moderate N.E.

breeze, a full-rigged ship ran ashore on the rocks opposite the end of the head- land sea wall. As quickly as possible the crew of the No. 2 Life-boat Charles Inglely were summoned and the boat launched. Fortunately a tug on her way to the wreck was passing the boat- house at the time, and towed the boat to the wreck, which was reached in half an hour. When they arrived the Life-boatmen found that eight of the crew had left their vessel in one of the ship's boats and had been picked up by a deep-sea tug, which had previously been towing the ship.

Seven other men were still on board, and they shouted for the Life-boat which proceeded alongside. Consider- able difficulty was experienced in doing this owing to the seas breaking right along the vessel, and the boat was damaged. The men on the vessel, equipped in life-belts, were all ready to be taken off and promptly got into the boat. The Captain was the last man to leave the ship. The boat was then towed back to harbour.

In addition to the Life-boat being launched, the life-saving apparatus also turned out. The Brigade fired four rockets towards the vessel, but she was beyond their range.

The ship was an iron one of nearly 2,000 tons, named the Otra, and belong- ing to Christiansand; at the time of the disaster she was bound from Libau to West Hartlepool with a cargo of pit props.

Nine days later a party of five men were put on the wreck to make an attempt to get her afloat during the afternoon of the 15th June. During the night, however, the weather became bad with a strong N.E. breeze and rough sea. About 3 o'clock in the morning the men, fearing to remain longer on board, wished to leave, but the sea was too high to enable the attendant tug and pilot boat to approach the Otra. The tug, therefore, came to the harbour for assistance, and in the meantime signals of distress were made by the salvage party. The No. 3 Life- boat Horatio Brand was launched and, in tow of a tug, went to the ship. She took off the five men successfully and landed them at 5.25 A.M.

BERWICK - ON - TWEED, NORTHUMBER- LAND.—A strong N.E. gale raised a nasty sea on the 2nd July, and about mid-day it increased so much that it was extremely dangerous to some of the herring-boats, which were waiting to come in on the flood tide. The life- saving apparatus was turned out, and the Life-boat Matthew Simpson was launched. Four of the boats succeeded in making harbour, but incurred great risk of being wrecked, the escape of the fourth boat being described as little short of miraculous. The five remaining boats held away to sea and ran south for shelter.

NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The steam trawler Lord Ridley, of Blyth, when homeward bound on the 7th July, stranded to the north of Newbiggin Point in a very thick fog, and the Life- boat Ada Lewis was launched. She found the vessel lying in a very dangerous position, and at the request of the Master stood by until about 5 P.M., when the vessel re-floated on the flowing tide. There was a moderate N.E. wind at the time and the sea was moderate.

FILEY, YORKSHIRE.—During a dense fog on the 15th July the pleasure steamer Cambria, of Scarborough, went ashore between Scarborough and Filey with a large number of passengers on board. The weather was fine .and smooth when she started for an after- noon trip to Filey, but when returning she was caught in the fog and stranded two and a half miles north of the Brigg.

The Life-boats from Scarborough and Filey were both sent out, and the Hollon the Third landed twenty women, three children and ten male passengers.

Others were landed by fishing-boats, but the crew remained on board to help to get the steamer off.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN.— Shortly after 1 A.M. on the 17th July signals of distress were seen about half a mile to the north of the harbour, and in response the Life-boat Mary Isabella was launched. She found the schooner Jessie Sinclair of Port St. Mary, with four men on board, riding to her anchor in about ten feet of water. A very heavy swell running caused the vessel to labour heavily. The crew of the schooner declined to leave her and engaged the Life-boatmen to run out a kedge anchor. Others boarded the schooner and after two hours' hard work the vessel was taken into safety.

TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND. — Several of the fishing cobles were overtaken by a heavy northerly wind and sea on the 18th July and were unable to make harbour. As the weather continued very bad the whole of the next day it was considered advisable to send the Life-boat to assist the men.

The boat was launched at 5 P.M. on the 19th July and brought five boats and the fifteen men, forming the crews, into safety. One of the boats—the Gem— belonged to Sunderland, and the others, named the Fisher Lass, Bock of Safety, Wings of the Morning, and George, fished from Cullercoats.

SEATON CAREW, DURHAM. — In a strong N. wind on the 18th July the hull of a new steamer—the Time, built for Melbourne—was being towed from the shipbuilder's yard to West Hartlepool in order to have her engines fitted. The hawsers carried away and the Time was driven by the wind close to the Long Scar Rocks. Her anchor was let go and signals of distress were made. In response one of the Life-boats from Hartlepool and the Francis Whitbourn, from Seaton Carew, were launched. The Hartlepool No. 2 boat could not reach the vessel, but the Seaton Carew boat succeeded and rescued the sixteen men on board. As the flood tide made very rapidly the Time broke adrift and drove high up on to the beach to the south of the village. .

CRESSWELL, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The ' Life-boat Martha was launched at | 5.30 P.M. to assist the salmon coble, The [ Four Brothers, which was in distress j opposite the village. The boat carried | three hands, who belonged to the Life-! boat crew. When the coble put to sea earlier in the day tho weather was fair, ; but a rough sea from the east increased during the day and the coble was in grave danger of being capsized. The Life-boat brought both the coble and her crew into safety, thereby averting a disaster as the sea was far too heavy for the boat to have attempted to come in without help..