ON the 8th of October a whole gale was blowing at Dungeness, Kent, from South by East, a very heavy sea was running and it was raining very heavily.

A London barge, the Shamrock, bound with a cargo to the Isle of Wight, with three men on board, had anchored in the roadstead off the Newcombe Sands, about one and a half miles North East of the Life-boat Station. At 12.30 in the afternoon she hoisted a signal of distress, as her anchors had started to drag.

The No. 2 Pulling and Sailing Life- boat, a 42-feet boat, one of the largest and heaviest in the Institution's Fleet, was got out, and the thirty-seven launchers, of whom fourteen were women, pushed her down the skids to the sea. Twelve other women, wives and sisters of the men launchers, also gave their help.

Blown off the Skids.

At the first attempt, so violent was the wind that a sudden gust blew the Life-boat right off the skids, on to the beach. She was hauled up again by the windlass, the skids were replaced, and at the second attempt—although wet to the skin and hardly able to keep their feet on the loose stones—the launchers succeeded in getting her away.

It was then just an hour after the signal of distress had been hoisted. Half an hour later, working under sail, the Life-boat reached the barge, anchored to windward of her, got a line on board her by means of the throwing-cane, veered down to leeward, and hauled on board a breast line. The barge was riding low, and heavy seas were breaking right over her bows and sweeping aft.

The Life-boat herself was pitching heavily, and the seas were breaking over her in clouds of spray which made it very difficult for her Crew to see any- thing.

To get the men off the barge in such conditions was a difficult and dangerous piece of work, but the Coxswain seized the opportunity of a slight lull to haul the Life-boat close alongside the barge by means of the breast line ; the three men on board her—all young men— jumped at once for the Life-boat, one of them with the barge's cat in his arms ; the line was cast off; and the rescue had been successfully accomplished without damage except that the bow-fender of the Life-boat had been displaced.

It was impossible for the Life-boat to return to Dungeness against the gale, so the Coxswain laid his course for Folkestone. Meanwhile, the Hythe Life-boat Station had been kept in touch with Dungeness, and when it was learnt that, at the first attempt, the Dungeness Life-boat had been blown off the skids, it was decided to launch the Hythe Motor Life-boat. She was got away a few minutes after the Dungeness Life-boat had been launched, the Joint Hon. Secretary, Mr. G. S.

Woodman, being on board. She met the Dungeness Life-boat returning from the rescue and took her in tow. Instead of going on to Folkestone—as the gale had now moderated—she was taken into Hythe and beached. Next day she was towed back to her Station.

Rewards.

In recognition of this fine service the Committee of Management have awarded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum to Coxswain Douglas Oilier, of Dungeness. Coxswain Oilier won the Bronze Medal for gallantry three years ago for his share in the service to the barge Marie May, of Rochester, the crew of which was rescued by the Hythe Pulling and Sailing Life-boat.

The Committee have also awarded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum to the women of Dungeness for their gallant services on this and other occasions in helping to launch the Life- boat.

Money awards have been made to the Crew and Launchers at Dungeness, amounting to £35 10s., and to the Crew and Launchers at Hythe, amounting to £25 7s..