HAVING referred elsewhere to the very practical help rendered by the Military in assisting in the launch of the Formby Life-boat, we are very glad to be able to record that the Senior Service has not been behind in rendering help when help is wanted. The incident recorded below shows the anxiety of our brave blue- jackets to take their share in the humane work of life-saving.

On the 28th February, the Norwegian barque Auder, of Brevik, was wrecked in Blyth Bay. The vessel, which was laden with a cargo of pit props, was bound to West Hartlepool, and after being carried out of her course by the severity of the storm, was driven almost helplessly before the E.S.E. gale. A very heavy sea was running, with tremendous breakers on the beach, while the weather, although clear, was very cold. The vessel was observed at about 6.30 A.M. driving before the storm, and in response to the assembly signal the crew of the Blyth Life-boat Dash were quickly assembled under Coxswain Bushel, and the men of the Life-saving Apparatus also turned out. The Rocket Apparatus was taken to the beach, but by that time the barque, with her decks awash, had grounded in Blyth Bay, and heavy seas began to break over her. Several rockets were fired, but the barque lay too far from the shore for them to reach her, and it was found impossible to establish communication.

In the meantime the Life-boat was launched. Great difficulty was experi- enced in the boiling surf, and one of the crew was washed out of theboat,but he was subsequently rescued without mishap.

Although no time was being lost the crew of the vessel, realising that the rocket lines could not reach them, became anxious, and five of the men lowered the ship's boat and, at very great risk, commenced to pull for the shore. Fortunately the Life-boat had got clear by this time, and met them soon after they started on their perilous journey. She picked up the men and at once conveyed them to the shore. Owing to their strenuous struggle the Life- boatmen were exhausted, and although they knew that their fellow-beings were in jeopardy, they were unable to put off again to reach the wrecked vessel.

Shortly after the five men had been saved by the Life-boat, another member of the crew of the Auder determined to try and reach the shore by means of swimming. He therefore jumped into the water, and, after a very greatstruggle, succeeded in reaching the beach in an exhausted condition. He was immediately conveyed to hospital for attention. Another of the crew, observing the success of his comrade, also determined to try and get ashore, and he too, very fortunately, succeeded in his enterprise. There were, however, three men still on board, consisting of the captain, an able seaman and a boy. They were sheltering in the deck-house, and it was felt that efforts must be made to save them, but the Life-boatmen were too ex- hausted ; and it was then that several men belonging to the Naval vessels, which were in Blyth Harbour at the time, came for- ward and volunteered to do what they could. The plucky blue-j ackets could make very little progress, however, in spite of strenuous efforts, and eventually the boat was driven back, and the attempt had to be given up.

Undaunted by the non-success of their comrades, other blue-jackets made i up a crew, and the boat put off a third time. Every nerve was strained to reach the vessel, but it was found impossible.

The fate of the three men on board thus , became a matter of doubt. The barque | was almost entirely smashed up, but for- tunately the deck-house remained intact on the top of the wreckage. Seas swept i over the wreck continually, and the beach ; became littered with timber. By this time the Life-boatmen, who had been obliged to rest, had recovered somewhat, and the Coxswain determined to put off a fourth time, and make a further effort I to rescue the men. j Coxswain Bushel again took his place j in the boat, and with practically the j same crew as on the original journey, she started on her errand of mercy.

According to a local report, in response j to a call for assistance to launch the ! boat again, hundreds of sailors, soldiers, and civilians rushed into the sea, waist deep, and hauled the boat into deep I water. After battling with the ! tremendous seas, the boat was then manoeuvred into a suitable position for being veered down to the remains of the ship. An attempt to throw a line on board succeeded on the second occasion, and the Life-boat was ulti- ! mately secured to the wreck. It was i the work of a few minutes to get the j J three men on board the boat, and then ! the journey shorewards was commenced.

As the Life-boat approached the beach, willing helpers rushed into the sea to drag her ashore, and the shipwrecked 1 seamen, who were more or less in a state j of collapse from exhaustion, were carried : from the boat and given every care.

! The persevering efforts exhibited on this occasion, which eventually met with success, are deserving of very great credit, and the Committee of Management passed a special vote of thanks to the Coxswain—who went out in the boat on three out of the four occasions—and granted to him and to each of the regular members of the crew an additional monetary reward.

Although the Institution was ready to reward all the men who had so gallantly attempted to rescue their fellow-beings, the officers and men of the Navy who had assisted, with characteristic public spirit, desired no recognition of their humane efforts. The Committee, however, felt that their services should be acknowledged, and therefore sent to each man a letter cordially thanking him for his courageous conduct, which was so unselfishly given without any hope of reward.

There is one very interesting feature about this service which will not escape]the attention of experts in Life-boat matters.

It will be noted that on t wooccasions crews of blue-j ackets, inspired by the most splen- did good will, and assuredly not lacking in thews and sinews, entirely failed to get near the wreck, and that eventually the original Life-boat crew, though utterly exhausted by their first effort, were able, after a good rest, to carry out the rescue of the men remaining on the wreck.

There could be no better proof of the value of the careful training of the Life- boat crews, which is secured by the fre- quent exercises carried out under the Regulations laid down by the Committee of Management. It is a fairly common fallacy that, given a number of men pull- ing a good oar and, of course, the courage to face any risk, it is easy enough to form a successful Life-boat crew. Nothing could be more erroneous, and the present case proves it, though it does not diminish by one jot or tittle the splendid conduct of the blue-jackets who volunteered to man the Life-boat..