A DEPLORABLE accident, which resulted in the loss of two lives, occurred at; Fraserburgh, on the 28th April. The Admiralty drifter Eminent, which left Buryhead the previous night, bound for j Fraserburgh to be " demobilised," had an engine breakdown when Hearing its j destination. On entering the Bay j shortly after 9 A.M., she signalled for j assistance, and the Motor Life-boat' Lady Rothes was manned and launched about 10 A.M. The wind was blow- ing a full gale from the N.N.E., with a tremendous sea from the same direction.

When the Life-boat had passed through the entrance of the harbour and had nearly reached the centre of the Bay, she got into very heavy water, and before she reached the distressed vessel a heavy sea steuck her on. the port bow.

This was followed by another sea, and the boat was thrown on her beam-ends and submerged, and all the crew, with the exception of three, were washed out of her. The boat righted herself imme- diately, and four of the crew managed to get back on board, and two hung on to the outside life-lines. The boat and men, however, were helplessly swept towards the beach, on which they were cast up. Unfortunately, the Coxswain, Andrew Noble, and the Second Cox- swain, Andrew Farquhar, were unable to regain the Life-boat, and although alive when picked up on the beach, they were so injured and exhausted that , they died almost immediately, in spite j of medical attention. Meanwhile the j vessel in distress had been driving shorewards, and, at about 11.30, she j ran aground. Communication was ! effected by means of the life-saving I apparatus, and the men on board were saved, Andrew Noble, who thus lost his life in the performance of Ms duty, had been Coxswain of the Life-boat since 1887, Andrew Farquhar was only acting as ' Second Coxswain on this occasion. Both men left widows and children, and the i Institution has granted them pensions in accordance with the new Pensions Scheme adopted by the Institution last year, for the dependants of men who lose their lives in the Life-boat Service.