Letters of Gratitude.

AT 7.15 on the evening of 22nd Novem- ber, a wireless message was received at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, from the Sunk Lightship, reporting that the Lightship could see flares four to five miles to the north-west. A whole gale was blowing from W.S.W., veering later to N.W. The weather was thick and very cold, and a very heavy sea was running. The Life-boat got away at 7.45, picked up the flares, and, two hours after leaving her Station, found the vessel in distress. It was the Auriga, of London, a 101-ton auxiliary schooner yacht, with seven men and two women on board. The yacht had struck on the Shipwash Shoal, had drifted off and had sprung a leak. It was only with great difficulty that the Life-boat was able to get alongside, as the yacht was pitching and rolling heavily. She found the nine people on board in a state of exhaustion, but they were all rescued without mishap, and five hours later, shortly before 3.0 in the morning, she brought them ashore.

A few hours later the Life-boat was again called out, and again it was a yacht that was in distress. Just before 8.0 in the morning a message came from the Coastguard at Clacton-on-Sea that a yacht was driving towards the Gunfleet ands, about four miles S.S.W. of Clacton pier. The Clacton Motor Life- boat was already out on service in answer to signals from the Nore Light Vessel, so the Walton boat put out at 1 8.15. The gale had moderated, but it was still blowing strongly from W.N.W.

An hour and a quarter later the Life- boat found the yacht, the auxiliary cutter Holiday, of Yarmouth, drifting with no one on board. She took her in tow and brought her into Walton, arriving at 1.15 P.M. On these two services the Life-boat was out for thirteen hours.

The rescue of the nine people on board the Auriga was carried out with skill and despatch, and the Institution has marked its appreciation of this fine service by awarding to Coxswain John C. Byford its Thanks inscribed on Vellum, and by making extra monetary awards to Coxswain and Crew.

The Life-boat which carried out the service was the new Waltou boat, E.M.E.D., which H.E.H. Prince George named last summer, and a message was received from the Prince heartily con- gratulating the Coxswain and Crew.

The Thanks of the Rescued.

The skipper of the Auriga also wrote sending his " heartfelt thanks to the Coxswain and Crew whose promptitude and superb seamanship were entirely responsible .for our lives," and the following letter, most graphically describing the feeling of those rescued from peril of their lives at sea, was received from Mrs. F. E. Pellew, who was on board the yacht with her only son.

" I was one of the unhappy crew of the yacht Auriga that was wrecked on Saturday night on the Shipwash Sand- bank. Our engine out of action; the yacht drifting helplessly in the gale ; all seemed lost ; when the Life-boat came out of the waste of water and was skilfully brought alongside and one by one we jumped on board.

" I cannot express my feelings as I should like to do towards those dear Life-boatmen. It is almost impossible, but one thing will remain in my mind to my dying day : those strong features of courage and endurance, and those stalwart figures, lit up by the light of the engine-room. They seemed to be in their element and on a pleasure cruise, not heeding the danger they had put themselves to to come and save us. ...

I have done much sailing and cruising of all sorts and in different seas—for I love the sea. I have also met with very bad seas and often had very bad weather and circumstances to battle with, and have almost been drowned twice, but I have never as yet met men like those of the Walton Life- boat, with such kindness and considera- tion. ...

" Their kindness to us all and the skill with which the boat was handled in the difficult passage to Walton-on-Naze are things I shall never forget as long as I live. These men are real heroes. ... I realize now what wonderful men are those who man the Life-boats all around the coast, and who are so willing to lisk their precious lives to save others.

None of your Crews can be kinder, braver, more efficient than that of the Walton Life-boat. ... I also wish to mention the exceedingly kind welcome we received on landing at the pier of Walton at 2.30 A.M. on Sunday morning from all those who had come to see about our welfare, in giving us hot cocoa and seeing to our being conveyed to the hotel where every comfort was awaiting us. Your local Secretary, Captain W. Oxley, was kindness itself, and I do hope he will feel how sincerely grateful we are, all of us, for his hospi- tality and attentions.

" I only want to add that my next- door neighbour's little son, aged 6, was so struck with the narration of our ship- wreck that he instantaneously asked to go out, and went and put 2d in the box for the Life-boat Fund, and to-day he rushed up to me and told me that he had put his 2s. 6d., all his week's money, in the box, because they had saved Tante Frances's life. ... I have to repeat the story so many times and he never gets wearied of it." The Institution later received a gift of £50 from Mrs. Pellew's husband, Captain.

E. I. P. Pellew, O.B.E., M.R.C.S, L.R.C.P. Mrs. Pellew's only son, it is interesting to know, is a direct descen- dant of Admiral Pellew, first Viscount Exmouth, who was one of the original subscribers to the Institution when it was founded in 1824..