To the Editor, THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL.

SIR,—As I was an eye-witness of them, I think it may be of interest to you to have a narrative from myself of the events which led up to what I have no hesitation in calling one of the most gallant rescues in the annals of the Life-boat Service.

The small Greek steamer Pyrin had been observed all night riding out the heavy north-easterly gale in the open roadstead off this town, and when morning broke on the 9th January she appeared to be labouring very heavily at her anchor, up to which she was attempting to steam. Shortly after 11 A.M. she hoisted the International code signal: G.M.—" Am drifting, require assistance." The Life-boat signal was immediately fired, and the crew assembled. By this time it was blowing a strong gale from the N.E. with a, force of at least 9 in the squalls, and a very heavy sea was making home on the beach. The launch was a particularly difficult one owing to the presence of a " low," rising to a shallow bank, over which the carriage had to be taken before deep water could be reached. Thanks, however, to a huge crowd of willing soldiers, many of whom did not hesitate to go into the water up to their waists and even further, this difficulty was surmounted, and the boat was got safely afloat about 11.40 A.M.

Then began a long tussle with the heavy breaking seas, during which the boat was drifted by wind and tide fully a mile to the westward, narrowly missing the end of the pier, a wooden structure running out some 500 feet into the sea a quarter of a mile west of the station.

At last, however, she succeeded in making sufficient offing to set sail, and it was then a comparatively simple matter to beat up for the distressed vessel, which she reached about 2 P.M., and landed the whole crew of sixteen about 3.

It was just as she was reaching the shore that an explosion took place on board the s.s. Fernebo, bursting one of the boilers. The terrific force of it broke the vessel clean in half, and the remarkable spectacle was presented of the two halves of the vessel separating and floating off independently, without either of them listing or even settling at all in the water, a fact which was due to her being loaded high with timber.

The Life-boatmen were much ex- hausted after their long struggle, especially those older members who at the present time form so large a pro- portion of the crew; but messages having been received from the two neighbouring stations, Palling and Sheringham, that neither Life - boat was able to launch, they pluckily determined to make another attempt, and the boat was once more launched.

For half an hour they strove in vain to get beyond the breakers, but were eventually beaten back to the shove.

During this attempt a small boat which had left the Fernebo with six hands on board was capsized in the surf, but all the occupants were safely landed by soldiers and others, one of the former, Private Stewart Holmes of the 2/4 Seaforth Highlanders, behaving in a particularly brave manner, and narrowly escaping with his own life in his efforts at rescue.

By this time the two halves of the vessel had approached the shore, and about 5 P.M. they stranded, the after end with the crew on board abreast of a long wooden groyne which runs some 400 feet into the sea just east of the Coastguard Station, and the foremost end half a mile further east.

The rocket apparatus, which had already been got into place, immediately began to get communication with the after half; but owing to the force of the wind and the comparative smallness of the target, line after line was fired in vain. At this time the operations were much assisted by powerful search- lights sent to the scene by neighbouring military authorities, one being thrown on each half of the vessel.

When the twelfth rocket had been, fired, shortly after 9 o'clock, the Cox- swain consulted me about making another attempt with the Life-Boat.

I gave my consent with some reluctance, as I feared the crew had not sufficiently recovered from their earlier exertions; however, they themselves were eager to make the attempt, and the boat was launched about 9.30 P.M.

For half an hour these splendid men made the most gallant attempt to reach the vessel—over and over again the boat was swept back into the shallow water inshore, but each time they succeeded in keeping her head on to the sea and pulling her out again into the deeper water about halfway between the ship and the shore. Bathed in the brilliant beam of the searchlight, one moment standing on end as she mounted the crest of a huge breaker, at another with her nose buried in the trough of the sea, or completely lost to sight as a sea broke right over her, the Life-boat made a sight which will never be forgotten by the hundreds of spell-bound spectators who lined the beach. I myself would not have believed it possible for even a strong and young crew to do so much with this heavy boat. It was not till five oars had been broken and three more washed ashore, whilst the boat was approaching dangerously near the end of the groyne already mentioned, that the Coxswain gave up, and allowed his boat to come to the shore.

The attempt having failed, more rockets and dry lines were sent for from a neighbouring station, and it was intended to have another try with the apparatus as soon as the tide had receded a little and it became possible to move it further down the beach and nearer to the wreck.

But the Life-boatmen would not wait for this. Nothing daunted, they decided to make another attempt as soon as they had rested » little and spare oars had been procured. Once more the boat was launched, once more the hard struggle began, this time to end in success, and the Life-boat returned to the shore with the crew of eleven men, which it was then stated were the whole complement.

In estimating the merit of this service, it is necessary to bear in mind the age of the men who performed it.

The flower of the Cromer fishermen have gone to serve their country else- where, and with three exceptions the men who formed the crew were all over military age; more than one, indeed, was approaching the age of seventy, and I suppose the average age of the crew was at least fifty.

In conclusion, I am particularly anxious to call your attention to the share borne by the Coxswain of the Life-boat, HENRY BLOGG. More even than is usually the case, it is thanks to him that this fine service was possible.

Without for a moment detracting from the part played by the rest of the crew, I feel bound to say that I believe, and I know the Hon. Secretary believes1, that without him a crew could not have been got to take the boat off during the afternoon and evening of the day in question. It was his own remarkable personality and really great qualities of leadership which magnetised tired and somewhat dispirited men into launching, and when the boat was launched it was the consummate skill with which he managed her and the encouragement he gave his crew which brought their efforts to such a successful conclusion.

Your obedient servant, BASIL HALL, Commander, R.N.