A MOST unfortunate accident, resulting in the death of the Coxswain, occurred at Port St. Mary, Isle of Man, on 6th August, on which day Life-boat Day and a Road Practice of the Life-boat were to be held. Coxswain Kneen, in firing the maroon to call out the Crew, was struck by it on the forehead and died shortly afterwards.

Coxswain Kneen, who was 58 years old, was a specially good Coxswain, taking the greatest interest and pride in the Life-boat and Boat-house. He had been appointed Bowman in 1896, Second Coxswain in 1902, and Coxswain in 1916. He left a widow and an unmarried grown-up daughter. The Institution, following its custom of pensioning the widows and dependent children of all Life-boatmen who lose their lives at service, have given Mrs.

Kneen a pension.

A careful inquiry was held into the accident, and it was suggested that it would not have occurred had the mortar been placed on a post above the level of the firer's head. The advisability of doing this was considered before the mortars and maroons were introduced, in place of the socket distress signal, two years ago. It was then decided that it was better to adhere to the practice, approved by the Home Office, | of burying the mortar, the reason being that if the mortar were to explode there would be no risk to those standing round being struck by pieces of flying metal. At some Stations, however, it is not possible to bury the mortar, and at these it is mounted on a portable base, strict instructions being given that no one shall be allowed to stand near when the maroon is fired.

The Institution has issued sand-bags to all Stations which, use the portable base, with instructions that these are to be filled and packed round the mortar.

Meanwhile the Board of Trade is carrying out. further experiments.

In order to prevent a repetition of the accident at Port St. Mary with the buried mortars, a memorandum was sent to all Stations concerned, drawing their attention to the printed instructions issued to every Station where the mortar is used, and printed on each maroon, that the firer should stand as far away from the mortar as possible when striking the fuse. This memorandum was followed by a poster-card with two photographs illustrating the right and the wrong way of standing. Where the right way is adopted, there should be no risk to the firer, even if there should be a premature explosion of the maroon..