A message was received from the Chief Coastguard on the night of 10th May that he and his assistant had seen about one and a half miles S.E. of Hartlepool Heugh what appeared to be a ball of fire. He took it to be signals from a boat in distress. The Motor Life-boat Elizabeth Newton was launched at 10.25 P.M. in a moderate S.W. breeze, set a course to the bearings given, and made a thorough search in all directions, but without success. She returned to her Station at 12.45 A.M.—Eewards, £1019s..