THE Gorleston Life-boat, the Marie Lane, which has such a magnificent record of fine work, added another page to her illustrious annals by the service rendered in connexion with the wreck of the schooner Dart, of Jersey, on the 29th March last.

The night will long be remembered for the almost unparalleled violence of the gale which swept over England, leaving a track of ruin and devastation such as is rarely seen in our temperate climate. In Gorleston itself the wind increased with the darkness to a hurricane force, with blinding snow which blotted out everything, while the wind shook houses to their foundations, damaged roofs, smashed telegraph and telephone wires and poles, and levelled hoardings.

On such a night the hearts of those ashore go out to the mariners who are fighting their desperate battle for sheer life against the fury of the elements which, on this occasion,appeared to have allied themselves with destruction of British life.

But it is precisely in such circumstances of extreme danger and emergency that the Life-boatman is in his element, and never, perhaps, have our our foes for the gallant crews rendered finer service than that performed by the Marie Lane in the pitchy darkness of this terrible night.

At 1.30 A.M. a large flare was observed off Gorton, while another vessel was seen to be burning flares and drifting north of the St. Nicholas Light-vessel.

Coxswain Harris at once took steps to secure the services of a tug. This done he launched the Life-boat at 2.50 A.M.

and proceeded to the vessel flaring near the St. Nicholas Light-vessel. He found that she had lost both anchorsbut was under her own powerful steam and required no assistance. He then proceeded to Hopton and found the schooner Dart sunk. Only her masts could be seen just above the water, with her crew of four men lashed to the rigging. The Coxswain let go the anchor and veered down to the vessel, the Life-boat actually passing over the wreck, an incident always attended with the gravest danger.

The crew then hauled the boat back into position again and after some difficulty got close to the spars of the wreck. They found two men in the main rigging and two in the fore rigging, their legs being rove in between the ratlines.

The problem was, how to release these men and get them into the Life-boat.

One of the crew, Edward Bensley, at once jumped into the main rigging and succeeded in getting the master and mate into the Life-boat, though these men werequite helpless, having been exposed to the bitter cold and driving sleet for twelve hours. Bensley could not get on to the foremast, so he returned to the Life-boat, and Coxswain Harris then manoeuvred the boat into the position for the fore rigging. Bensley then jumped on to the rigging again and bent a rope on to Charles Samuel Kent, a man of over eighty-one years of age, and assisted him into the Life-boat. He then tried to get a line on to the other man in the fore rigging, but the poor fellow fell backwards on being released from the lashings and Bensley then called on William Newson, another member of the crew, to jump on board the rigging and help him. With Newson's assistance the fourth man was then got intothe Life-boat. All four men were unconscious, having been exposed to the hard frost, driving sleet, and icy wind for many hours. The coxswain at once hauled away from the wreck, and the men were well rubbed and brandy was given to them. Two of them came round, including the wonderful old man of eightyone, while the other two remained unconscious.

On arrival at the quay a doctor was sent for. He found that one of the men was dead, but there was still a possibility of saving the other man's life, and this was fortunately achieved.

The service was rendered in a N.N.E. gale, force eight, with a heavy sea, in a thick snow and heavy frost.

The Committee of Management were of opinion that the whole service was a magnificent one, and they marked their appreciation by awarding to Coxswain Harris the Fifth Service Clasp. This is probably a record, being, of course, equivalent to the award of five Silver Medals; it is another tribute to the wonderful courageandseamanship of a man who was selected by the Committee of Management for recommendation to the American Board of Honour, two years ago, for the award of the American Cross of Honour, a distinction accorded only every two years to some individual recommended by the Institution for special and distinguished bravery in saving life.

The Committee of Management also marked their appreciation of Bensley's gallant conduct and prompt initiative by awarding him the Silver Medal. It was undoubtedly due to his courage and tenacity that the men were actually got off the rigging so promptly, their lives probably being saved thereby.

At the inquest held on the death of the one man who unfortunately succumbed to exposure, the jury expresseda wish to see Charles Samuel Kent, the uncle of the master. The old man, a well-built and sturdy old fellow, the very type of the hardy seaman of the north-east coast, with snow-white hair and beard, stepped forward, and the coroner said to him, " We are very pleased to see you, and hope you are feeling better. I suppose you must go to sea, but won't want to go again now ?" To which the old man replied with a twinkle, " I go to sea for the benefit of my health." (Laughter.) " But I don't want to go again." Asked whether he did not suffer from the cold, he said, " Well, my hands were numbed, but I had my sea boots full of water and this helped to keep my feet warm." (Laughter.) " I mean it, and am not joking, because I have often found that sea water in my boots keeps the feet warmer than rain or fresh water would do." It may be added that this is a common experience, and that in bitterly cold weather Life-boatmen often dip their gloves in the sea water and use thewet gloves as a their hands from Bensley said he means of keeping getting frost-bitten, had never seen such a man in his life as old Kent. He was perfectly calm and never once called out to him to come and help him when he was lashed to the rigging, but simply waited for his turn.

All the incidents connected with this splendid service, and perhaps not least the grand conduct of this old man, are typical of the spirit which animates the Life-boat crews of Britain, in War and Peace alike. While the deep humanity and generosity of their conduct is consoling to us in the welter of this great War, the courage and endurance displayed are of good augury for the triumph of our cause and the permanent good of our race..