On the 25th February the s.s. Eilandi, of London, while sheltering from a storm behind the south pier, and trying to repair her damaged steering gear, was driven across the harbour mouth and stranded on the Black Midden rocks.

She carried a crew of eight and was bound with a cargo of coal from the Tyne to Par. A whole S.E. gale was blowing, with a heavy sea and snow showers, when the motor life-boat Henry Frederick Swan was launched at 9.40 A.M. The coxswain dropped anchor and veered down to the Eilandi, and then got a line aboard with the line-throwing gun, but the crew would not leave by this means. Although unable to approach the steamer on the leeside owing to lack of water, the coxswain, after great difficulty, ma- noeuvred the life-boat alongside her and six of the crew jumped safely into the life-boat. The master and the remain- ing man fell into the sea in making the attempt, but were quickly pulled aboard. The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving there at 11.5 A.M.

In making the rescue the life-boat was carried by a big sea against the side of the Eilandi, and sustained some damage to her stern and gunwale. Owing to the state of the weather a watch was kept until the afternoon of the 26th.

This service was well and quickly carried out and the committee granted an additional reward of 10s. to each member of the life-boat crew.—Re- wards, £13 9s..