ON the morning of 17th January the 2,500-ton steamer Plawsworth, of New- castle-on-Tyne, which was at anchor off Workington, Cumberland, dragged her anchors in a south-west gale, and went ashore. A very heavy sea was running.

The motor life-boat Priscilla Mac- bean, at Maryport, five miles away, was very promptly launched at noon. She found the Plawsworih with her back broken. Her stern was aground and she was head on to the wind and sea, so that she had no lee side to give the life-boat any shelter from the gale. The cox- swain examined both sides of the wreck before deciding on which to approach her, and got the life-boat alongside the after part of the wreck, but owing to the working of the deck the crew of the steamer would not venture aft.

The coxswain then took the life-boat right to windward of the wreck; anchored off her bows ; veered down, and got alongside her fore part. Ropes were thrown from it to the life-boat to keep her alongside, but three of them carried away. When the first went the life-boat's bow sheered off, her stern struck against the steamer's side and one end of the rudder yoke was bent. For the rest of the service the coxswain could use the helm only one way.

The work of rescue was slow and difficult, owing to the heavy seas and the movements of the steamer and the life-boat. At times the life-boat was lifted by the seas level with the steamer's bridge, and one man, when half rescued, actually fell back into the steamer from the life-boat's gun- wale. The life-boat was alongside for forty-two minutes, and in that time thirteen of the steamer's crew were rescued. Her captain and four of his officers and men decided to stand by the wreck, and with the thirteen men on board, the coxswain, in spite of his damaged helm, got the life-boat safely away and brought her into Workington Harbour. There the damage was repaired.

On leaving the harbour at 3.30 P.M.

the life-boat was again called to the wreck and asked to take the rest of her crew ashore. By this time she had swung broadside on to sea and wind; there was not enough water for the life-boat to get alongside; and at low water the men on board would be able to wade ashore. The coxswain pointed this out to the captain and made for Maryport, arriving at 5.15 P.M.

It was a very fine service, in which the life-boat was handled by the coxswain with conspicuous skill, and the Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN THOMAS Q. R.EAY, the bronze medal, accompanied by a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and signed by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., as President of the Institution.

To MOTOR MECHANIC A. E. JOLLY, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum.

To MR. WALKER T. MOORE, honorary secretary of the station, a letter of thanks.

To the coxswain and each member of the crew money awards of £2 8s. Qd.

each.

The total rewards for the service, in- cluding extra rewards to the launchers, amounted to £27 9s. 9d..