A Fine Northumbrian Rescue.

THE fierce gales which are experienced j on the Northumbrian coast from time to i time cause a large number of casualties, ! and the brave Life-boatmen at Holy i Island have a fine list of rescues | standing to their credit. j Among them, one which was per- I formed as recently as the 19th November, 1916, deserves special mention, more particularly on account of the persevering efforts made in face of great danger, and the skilful seamanship displayed, which resulted in fourteen sailors being saved. They belonged to the Norwegian barque Jolani, of Gothenburg, which was wrecked on the Sunday afternoon.

She was observed at about 1.30 P.M.

drifting dangerously near to Emmanuel Head, and the crew of the No. 1 Lifeboat were assembled in readiness in case the vessel struck. The vessel, however, weathered this point, and the Coastguard in the neighbourhood of Goswick were advised that the barque I might drive ashore at that place. At2.40 the call came for the No. 2 Lifeboat Edward and Eliza, and the men and horses necessary to launch the boat proceeded to the boathouse two and a half miles away. The Life-boat and men then proceeded to the wreck, the boat being transported on her carriage over sands churned up by the violence of the waves, a distance of five or six miles, during four milea of which all the men had to wade through water two and a half feet deep. Eventually they reached the vicinity of the wreck, which by this time had broken up, leaving only the stern out of the water, on which the crew of fourteen men had gathered.

The Life-boat was launched abreast of the wreck, which was drifting northward in a tremendous breaking sea, as an E.S.E. hurricane prevailed at the time. Again and again the Life-boat was flung ashore by the violence of the waves, but the crew and helpers persevered until the boat was got afloat.

When this was accomplished, it was found that she was in the midst of dangerous floating wreckage, and the men were exhausted. She got sufficiently near the wreck, however, to enable the Coxswain, GEORGE CEOMARTY, to assure the distressed seamen that a further attempt would be made to save them after the crew had had some rest and the tide had turned. After- an hour's rest, a further attempt was made to take off the unfortunate men, but owing to the quantity of wreckage it was impossible for the Life-boat to get alongside.

The Coxswain, however, succeeded in getting communication by means of the heaving cane and line, and by means of a lifebuoy attached to a rope the whole ! of the crew, fourteen in number, were | saved. It was nearly midnight before the Life-boat got to the wreck, the night was very dark, a hurricane was blowing, the sea was extremely violent, and the whole operation was attended by great personal risk, the crew of the Boat being utterly exhausted by the .time the rescue was effected. As soon as the men were saved, the Lifeboat was beached, and the military authorities took charge of the shipwrecked men, while the Life-boatmen were given rest and refreshment at the Goswick Golf Club House. At daylight carts were borrowed, and the men were conveyed home to obtain change of clothing, etc. At mid-day on the Monday the crew and helpers returned to Cheswick, where the Life-boat had been beached, and the boat was taken back to her Station and made ready for further service should her help be required..