SHORTLY after nine at night on 21st December the Boulmer (Northumber- land) Motor Life-boat L.P. and St.

Helen was launched to the help of a vessel which the Coxswain had seen to be aground on a reef of rocks off Seaton Point, known as the " Boulmer South Ranges," just outside Boulmer Harbour. A strong breeze was blowing and a moderate sea running. The vessel was found to be the steam trawler Fezenta, of Grimsby, with a crew of nine. She had run aground while bound for the fishing-grounds off the Fames. The Life-boat stood by until she settled down with the ebb- tide, and then, as she was not in imme- diate danger, and her crew did not wish to leave her, returned to Boulmer Haven, arriving there at one in the morning. The tide was getting low.

As at this state of the tide there are many large boulders only just covered with water, and it would have been dangerous to attempt in the darkness to get the Life-boat on to her carriage, she was left at anchor, and the crew came ashore in a small boat.

A Second Trawler on the Rocks.

Just before half-past two in the morning a signal of distress was seen from near Cullernose Point. It was the steam trawler Guillemot, of Grimsby, with nine men on board, which had run on the rocks. By this time the wind had freshened to a moderate gale, with squalls, and a heavy* sea was running. Owing to the state of the tide the Boulmer Life-boat could not get away at once, and the Motor Life-boat at Holy Island was also called out.

When the Boulmer Life-boat was able to get away, she found the Guillemot lying among rocks and reefs about a hundred yards from the cliffs. Mean- while; the Board of Trade Life-saving apparatus had also got to work from the shore, and had already rescued six of the Guillemots crew, though only at great risk to them, as they had to be hauled for a hundred yards through the rocks and surf. There were still on board the skipper, mate and engineer, who had refused to abandon the ship.

As the life-saving apparatus was at work the Honorary Secretary of the station signalled to the Coxswain not to attempt a rescue, for he felt it to be too desperate a venture in the pitch darkness among the rocks; but the signal was not seen.

A Perilous Rescue.

The Coxswain attempted to take the Life-boat in to the wreck stern first, but did not succeed. With much difficulty in the darkness he found ground where his anchor would hold, veered down over the rocks and through the breaking seas, and got alongside the wreck. She was rolling and pounding on the rocks, with seas breaking over her stern.

One sea broke on board the Life-boat, as she lay alongside, filling her and knocking one of her Crew from one end of the boat to the other. She was in a position of great peril, for she was in less than five feet of water, which meant that, at times, she cannot have had more than a few inches under her keel.

The three men were taken off, and hauling on the cable, the Coxswain got the Life-boat safely away. He then made for the Fezenta again, to make sure that all was well on board her, and arrived back at Boulmer at eight in the morning.

Shortly after the rescue had been completed, the Holy Island Life-boat arrived, having travelled about seven- teen miles. Finding no one on board the Guillemot she made for the Fezenta, and stood by her until tugs arrived to try and tow her off. She then returned to her station, arriving at eleven in the morning.

As the tugs had failed to get the Fezenta off, the Boulmer Life-boat again went out at 10.30 in the morning and found her pounding heavily on the rocks. She again stood by until the trawler settled with the falling tide.

Her skipper was still unwilling to leave, and it was arranged that he should signal if help were needed. The Life- boat was finally housed at 1.30 in the afternoon of 22nd December, twenty- eight hours after she had been launched.

She was launched again to the Fezenta on the 23rd and to the Guillemot on the 24th in connexion with the attempts to refloat them. The Guillemot was refloated on the 25th and the Fezenta on the 26th.

The service to the Guillemot was one in which Coxswain Bartholomew Stanton took great risks, and succeeded by the skill and courage with which he handled the Life-boat. The Institu- tion has awarded him the Bronze Medal for gallantry, and made to him and the Crew increased money awards amounting to £3 16s. Qd. to each man.

The Holy Island Coxswain 'and Crew received awards of £2 16s. Qd. to each man. The total awards were £34 5s. 6d.

for Boulmer and £25 19s. 6d. for Holy Island. The expenses of the launches on the 23rd and 24th were not paid by the Institution..