LAST February was one of the stormiest Februaries on record. During the month there were over fifty launches on service, and nearly forty lives were saved. The two services, however, which most deserve to be recorded are two, both by Motor Lifeboats, which did not result in any rescues. Both showed the splendid courage and endurance of the Lifeboatmen, and one drew a notable tribute from the Captain of a German vessel.

Just after 5 o'clock on the evening of 9th February, the Lizard Motor Lifeboat was called out by rocket from Lloyd's Signal Station to the help of the German five-masted sailing ship Adolf Vinnen, which had run ashore under the Signal Station. A whole gale from the south was blowing at the time with heavy rain and a very heavy sea. From Stag Rocks to Lizard Head the waves were breaking in one continuous, line half a mile from the shore. It took the Life-boat half an hour to reach the wreck, which was enveloped in breaking seas. She anchored, veered down, and got a grapnel on board, but her own position was very perilous with the strong tide which was running, and twice she was nearly flung on to the deck of the vessel. In spite of this the Life-boat persevered for more than an hour, and then, as the Life Saving Apparatus had been got to work from the shore, the German Captain called to the Life-boat to give up her attempt. She then made for Falmouth, which she reached just before midnight, after what the Coxswain reported to be the worst experience he had ever been through. Twice in the pitch darkness the boat was filled with heavy seas, and the roll of the men was called. Next morning the boat was again called out as there were still men in the rigging of the Adolf Vinnen, but before the Life-boat reached her, these men also were taken off by the Rocket Apparatus, the whole crew of twenty four being rescued in this way.

When he came ashore the German Captain paid a warm tribute to the skill and gallantry of the crew of the Lifeboat.

" Your Life-boat," he said, " was handled in a masterly manner, and I was afraid she would be dropped on our deck or smashed against our side, so I ordered her off. I did not wish the brave fellows to further imperil their lives." In recognition of the courage shown by the Coxswain and Crew in repeatedly placing themselves in a perilous position, and of their long exposure, the Committee of Management granted them extra monetary rewards.

The Adolf Vinnen, a vessel of 1,525 tons, later on broke in two. She was launched at Kiel on 15th November, and was on her maiden voyage from Kiel to Barry. A former vessel of the same name, a steel four-masted bark of 3,410 tons, built on the Clyde in 1892, was interned by America during the war, and has since been placed under the American flag. It is not a name which has brought good fortune to German vessels..