The barque Jacob Rauers, of Gothenburg, whilst bound from that port to Grangemouth with a cargo of spars and pit-props, stranded on the rocks near the " Needle Eye," at Marshall Meadows, on the 29th March.

Information of the casualty reached Berwick-on-Tweed at about 9 P.M., and steps were promptly taken to despatch the Life-boat Matthew Simpson to the assistance of those on board. The night was pitch dark, and a very rough sea was running, the result of a severe N.E. gale on the previous day.

The rocket apparatus was also des- patched to the assistance of those on board, and they attempted to establish communication with the wreck by means of a rocket line, but by the time this was accomplished the Life-boat was nearing the scene of the casualty, and the line having caught in one of the sails the crew were unable to make use of it. The crew of the Life-boat had a long pull to reach the wreck, and on arrival found that there was too much sea for the Life-boat to go alongside.

Heavy seas were washing over the doomed vessel, and the rocks on to which she had run constituted a grave danger to the Life-boatmen. The Life- boat was pulled clear, her anchor dropped and the boat veered down among the rocks until she was within about twenty yards of the vessel.

Communication was then effected by means of a life-buoy, and the whole of the crew, eleven in number, were dragged through the water to the Life- boat. Great skill was displayed by the Coxswain of the Life-boat, Robert Burgon, in manoeuvring his boat, and the work of rescue was rendered most hazardous on account of the cargo washing out of the vessel. The Life- boat was swept by heavy seas again and again, and the rescued Swedes were loud in their praise of her grand behaviour in the broken water. As soon as the men were safely on board the boat she returned to Berwick, where she arrived at two o'clock the next morning, and all the men were well cared for.

The Committee of Management con- sidered the rescue of the crew of this vessel a gallant piece of work, skilfully carried out, and in appreciation of the crew's efforts they awarded the Silver Medal of the Institution, and an additional monetary reward to the Coxswain, together with the " Thanks " of the Institution inscribed on Vellum.

They also gave an additional monetary reward to each member of the crew.

When the Life-boat was being launched on the above occasion she stuck, temporarily, owing to the water being rather shallow, and although the Honorary Secretary, Dr. Fraser, went into the water with several helpers to move her, she could not be got into deep water. Hundreds of people were standing looking on, but no one came forward in response to Dr. Fraser's appeal except five soldiers, and with their assistance the boat was successfully floated. It is worthy of record that two of these men, when rewarded by the Institution, returned the money as a donation towards its funds, stat- ing that they considered the assistance they had given a public duty, and they did it without any thought of fee or reward. The Honorary Secretary of the Branch, who at all times takes such a deep interest in the Life-boat cause, was cordially thanked by the Committee for his zeal and active assistance on this occasion.

This fine rescue was brought to the notice of the Swedish Government by the Swedish "Vice-Consul at Berwick, who happens to be the Mayor of Berwick, Alderman Logan, and the Swedish Government acted very promptly in recognizing the gallant conduct of the Coxswain, Robert Burgon, the Second Coxswain, James Jamieson, and the crew on this occa- sion. Nor were the townspeople of Berwick slow to recognize the honour conferred upon the town, both by the fine service of the Life-boat crew and by the mark of thanks which had been bestowed upon them by a foreign Government. On the 30th September a public presentation of the awards took place in the Town Hall, Berwick, Captain Norman, R.N., J.P., the Chairman of the Branch, presiding over a large audience. Among' others present were the Mayor, the Sheriff, Dr. Fraser, the Honorary Secretary of the Berwick Branch, Mrs. and Miss Eraser, Mr. John Barr, the Honorary Treasurer of the Branch, and many others, while the crew were seated in front facing the Chairman.

Captain Norman, who is over eighty years of age, delivered a most interest- ing and stirring address, and the Medals awarded to Robert Burgon and James Jamieson were handed to them, as well as the sum of £2 to each of them and to the other members of the crew. The Mayor, who distributed the awards, took occasion to appeal to the citizens of Berwick on behalf of the work of the Institution, and pointed out that the example set by the Swedish Government in rewarding the men for the work was one which ought to inspire all friends of the Life-boat cause to maintain it in a flourishing condition.

The meeting was in every way most successful, and has served not only to give additional honour to Coxswain Burgon and his fine crew, but to bring them into closer touch with their fellow-citizens, who, in these busy days, perhaps need to be reminded of the services of the Life-boat, which are so often carried out in the darkness of a winter's night, and which are therefore less apt to obtain the support to which they are entitled than those other charit- able movements whose activities are more easily brought under the public eye.