Gold Medallion Awarded for a Service on the Northumbrian Coast.

" Newton-by-the-Sea, " Tuesday, 2nd December, 1828.

" SIR,—It is with the deepest regret I have to communicate to you the loss of the schooner Triton, of Arbroath, Thomas ford, master, with a crew of seven in all, and one passenger, all of whom (with the exception of James Patterson, mariner), perished under the following circumstances: The Triton was from Libau in Russia, bound to Newcastle, with a cargo of rye, 104 tons burthen ; a little before daybreak on the morning of the 1st instant, and during a severe gale from the eastward, a vessel was discovered on shore, about two miles north of this station : Captain Manby's apparatus was without loss of time conveyed to the beach, and fired several times without effect, owing to the distance between us and the vessel, which had taken the ground at low water and a rising tide ; the sea broke with great and increasing violence over her, and such of the poor fellows as were able, were seen clinging to the rigging of the main mast, which was alone standing.

A Coble to the Rescue.

" As the only hope left, I instantly offered to endeavour to reach the vessel in one of the country boats (cobles), and four of the fishermen of this place (James Patterson, Robert Rutter, James Cars, and Thomas Faucus), as instantly volunteered to accompany me. A boat, however, had to be brought nearly two miles over land, but with the prompt assistance afforded with cart and horses, this was soon got over ; we succeeded in launching her, but were twice driven back on the beach by the violence of the surf; our third attempt was more successful, we were alongside, and one man dropped from the vessel into the boat at the instant a heavy sea broke over the schooner, and threw the boat a considerable distance from her; the next broke into her, and left us all struggling in that element from which we had endeavoured to save our fellow creatures ; providentially, we all succeeded in regaining a hold of the boat, and a rope which we had attached to her previous to leaving the shore, in hopes of rendering assistance by that means, if unable to get alongside, remaining fast, enabled those on shore to assist us, and we all landed, by which time, the vessel had parted amidship, and was but a skeleton of a wreck.

" As a party concerned, I cannot but feel some reluctance and delicacy in even stating the truth; in justice, however, to the four individuals who so nobly supported my humble efforts, it becomes necessary to mention the truly spirited way in which they (heedless of wives and families) volunteered to launch upon a sea, where hope was scarcely with them, and surrounded by those perils from which they were endeavouring to save the helpless crew.

I have also to regret that Robert Rutter, one of the four, had his right hand much lacerated; one finger is already amputated ; by which he is thrown out of bread, and his wife, with four children, suffering from his inability to support them.

Why Fishermen were Chosen.

" In justice to the men of the Coast- Guard Station under my command, I have much pleasure in stating that their services on this melancholy occasion, were most conspicuous and meritorious, and that my reason for preferring the fishermen was solely on account, that their knowledge of their own peculiar boats, must be entitled to a preference ; and that it was quite impossible to imagine the boats attached to the Coast Guard could have lived in such a sea.

" I have the honour to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant to command, " (Signed) J. BRUNTON, Lieut. R.N.

" Chief Officer, Preventive Water Guard." This account was confirmed by the Inspecting Commander of Coast Guard at Berwick-on-Tweed, who wrote that he had visited the scene of the wreck, and that " the saving of the individual whose life has been preserved, was (under Providence) to be ascribed entirely to the spirited, manly, and humane example of Lieut. Brunton." The Institution awarded its Gold Medallion to Lieut. Brunton, and made monetary rewards to him, and the four men who went with him to the rescue.