THE splendid services carried out by the crew of the Tynemouth Motor Life-boat Henry Vernon, on the occasion of the wreck of the hospital ship Rohilla off Whitby, in 1914, are probably still fresh in the memory of our readers, and the fine achievement during the gales of the 18th-21st November has added further lustre to the record of these brave men.

On the 18th November a fierce easterly gale sprang up, causing an ex- ceedingly rough sea, while hail, sleet, and rain added to the wintry conditions.

Between 8 and 9 A.M., on the 19th, the Norwegian mail steamer BessJieim, of Ghristiania, left the Tyne with passen- gers and general cargo, bound for Norway. She carried seventy - eight passengers and a crew of thirty-three, including seven stewardesses. When passingv between the piers, tremendous seas struck her, and the vessel became unmanageable. Seeing that disaster was impending the signal for the Life- boat was fired, and the Motor Life-boat Henry Vernon at once put off, the local Shields boats also going out to render assistance.

In the meantime the Bessheim had drifted on to the rocks and remained fast, but the Henry Vernon was on the spot by the time the vessel struck.

Threading her way between the rocks, she went alongside the ship and brought off forty-eight persons, all passengers and stewardesses. A second trip was then made, and a further thirty-four persons were saved. On returning from the first trip the boat touched the rocks two or three times, but fortunately she was not seriously damaged. As soon as the second batch of rescued people had been landed, the boat returned a third time and took off a further thirty- six, including all the remaining ship's crew. The whole of this time -the gale was raging, and it is owing to the fine seamanship and skilful handling of the boat that the whole of the 118 were saved without mishap.

In the meantime tragic occurrences were taking place at Blyth. The s.s. Muristan, a steel steamer belonging to Swansea, while bound from the Tyne to Rouen, ran ashore in Blyth Bay.

On the night of the 18th her steering- gear had been rendered useless, with the result that the vessel was driving helplessly before the gale, and fin»]]y became firmly embedded in the sand, head to sea. Big seas constantly swept the decks, and when day broke only the stem, the funnel, and the after-mast ivere occasionallv visible. The vessel appeared doomed from the outset.

Almost immediately after she struck, the captain and another member of the crew, supposed to be the chief officer, were washed overboard.

At daybreak several of the crew attempted to swim ashore, aided by life-belts, and three men were saved by the brave exertions of men who went into the boiling surf to save them. In the meanwhile every effort was made to render assistance to the unfortunate men still on board the vessel, but in the conditions of weather it was quite impossible for the pulling and sailing Life-boat stationed at Blyth to render assistance.

At 7.30 A.M. on the morning of Monday, the 20th November, the crew of the Tynemouth Motor Life-boat were assembled, as information of the wreck had reached the Coxswain, Robert Smith, and assistance had been asked for from JBlyth. The sea, however, was BO high at the time that nothing could be done. A little later further urgent messages were received, and shortly after 9 A.M. the Coxswain decided to make an attempt.

When the Motor boat arrived the Murislan was found lying head to sea, with only part of the bridge and the chart-house above water. The boat was taken close to the remains of the wreck, but no sign of life could be seen on board; it was afterwards ascertained that the remainder of the ship's crew were confined to the* chart-house, and that any attempt on their part to go outside would inevitably have proved fatal. In any case, it would have been impossible for the Life-boat to effect any rescue, as the remains of the wreck were being swept by the broken water, with a large quantity of wreckage on her port side and stern. The services of the Life-boat in proceeding to Blyth appearing useless, the Coxswain decided to return to the Tyne, but after making out about half-a-mile into the open sea the boat was struck by a tremendous sea, and the engine stopped suddenly.

The Coxswain at once anchored and set sail. With difficulty the engine •was started, but stopped again, and he then decided to make for Blyth.

Meanwhile the engine was started again, and Blyth Harbour was made at noon, after a very severe buffeting.

At about 3.15 P.M., when the tide had fallen somewhat, the Coastguard re- ported having seen signs of life on board, but the sea was too heavy and the risk too great for the Life-boat to make another attempt to reach the vessel, considering the amount of day- light left, and it was decided to postpone further operations until next morning.

The attempt which had already been made required great pluck and skill to avoid disaster, as the sea was very wild, and the wreck, with the exception of the deck-house, was entirely submerged.

In this connection, the manner in which the motor man and his assistant helped with the stoppage of the engine deserves high praise, and, throughout, they displayed the greatest coolness. With the assistance of. the Naval Authorities the engine of the boat was overhauled, and the Life-boatmen were well looked after for the night, being given food, shelter and dry clothing, and they thus obtained a thorough and much-needed rest.

At daybreak on Tuesday, the 21st November, the boat was manned again, and although a nasty sea was still running, she reached the Muristan without mishap. Waves were still breaking over the remains of the wreck, but the boat proceeded to the port side of the ship and rescued the whole of the survivors, sixteen in number, whom they brought into Blyth. The boat shortly afterwards left for her station, where she arrived at 10.30 A.M.

The sufferings of the shipwrecked men had been intense, but all of them, with the exception of one man, were in very fair condition, considering their plight since 1 A.M. on the previous Sunday morning. They had had nothing to drink since the Saturday, and the only food which they managed to get hold of was three bags of biscuits.

Luckily there was a small store behind the chart-house, in which they got shelter, and in which they found some carrots, turnips, and potatoes, and by lying on the latter they were able to keep themselves just above water level, but they were all soaked through and through and badly chilled.

The work achieved by the motor boat was splendid, and it is reported that she was handled " magnificently," as there was not more than three boats' lengths between the foremast of the Muristan, which had " gone by the board " on the port side, and the wreckage, in which to manreuvre the Life-boat.

The Committee of the Institution, in appreciation of these fine services, bestowed the Silver Second Service Clasp on Coxswain Smith, and on Second Coxswain Brownlee, and voted them the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum and framed, and gave all the men concerned additional monetary rewards..