ON llth February, with a gale blowing from W.N.W. and a very heavy sea running, the Norwegian steamer Taormina, of Oslo, with a crew of eighteen, attempted to enter Padstow Harbour when the tide was low. She struck on the Doom Bar, and lay there with heavy seas breaking over her. The Institution's tug and the Life-boat Edmund Harvey were called out, but there was not enough water in the channel, so the smaller Life-boat, Arab, was launched and went down the channel under oars. She had to cross the dangerous Ketch Bank, and this put her beam on to a nasty breaking sea, but she passed safely through it, anchored to windward of the steamer, and veered down to her.

There she lay alongside, while the steamer's crew jumped aboard her. The operation called for great skill, and the Life-boat was admirably handled by Coxswain W. J. Baker. The return journey, with the laden Life-boat, was very dangerous, and it was only by the skilful seamanship of the Coxswain and the good work of the Crew at the oars that the Ketch Bank was crossed a second time in safety. It added considerably to the merit of the rescue that of the thirteen men who manned the Life-boat, seven had not been out on service before.

The Institution awarded its Bronze Medal to Coxswain Baker and its Thanks inscribed on Vellum to each member of the Crew. They also received additional monetary awards..