The s.s. Taunton, of Liverpool, whilst bound from New- port to Rouen, on the 27th December, with a cargo of stores for the French government, was in danger owing to her anchors not holding. When she was about one mile from Gwythian Beach, information respecting her position reached St. Ives, and the Life-boat James Stevens No. 10 was launched.

This was only accomplished with great difficulty owing to the low state of the tide and a very heavy ground swell.

The proceeded to the steamer, which was found riding to her anchors, but labouring very heavily on a lee shore.

The Coxswain, Thomas Stevens, found | that the seas were far too heavy for him to take the Life-boat alongside the ship, so he decided to anchor and veer down until near her. This was success- fully accomplished after a great deal of trouble, and communication was estab- lished by means of a rope. The crew of nine hands were then taken off, being pulled through the seas to the Life-boat by means of an endless whip and a life- buoy. When the whole of the men had been safely rescued, the boat commenced the task of returning to her station.

But this was a difficult problem, as she was three or four miles dead to leeward in a terrific wind and sea, with a strong flood tide against her. Eventually, after a hard struggle for nearly three and a half hours, the boat got back into harbour, where the steamer's crew were landed at about 7.30 P.M. Three of the rescued men were in a very exhausted condition and had to be carried to the boathouse; afterwards they were re- moved by ambulance to the Queen's Hotel, where they received every atten- tion. Next day it was necessary to take one of the firemen, who had been seriously injured on board the ship, to the Penzance Infirmary for treatment.

The captain of the steamer spoke in the highest terms of the manner in which the Coxswain handled his boat in the fearful seas, and referred also to the difficulty with which the Life-boat cr-ew had to contend in getting the vessel's crew from the ship into the Life-boat.

This case was an unusually good one, and Coxswain Thomas Stevens is re- ported to have managed his boat in a most skilful manner, and in appreciation, of the good work done the Committee of Management awarded him the Silver Medal of the Institution together with an additional monetary reward. They also granted the other members of the crew extra remuneration.

The steamer was left riding to her anchors, and next day, as it was thought that it would be possible with the assist- ance of steam-power to save her, the Padstow tug was telegraphed for, and helped the St. Ives Life-boatmen to save the vessel.