Rescue of a French Crew at Barry Dock.

ON the morning of 17th September the French schooner Goeland, of Paimpol, was on her way from Brest to Swansea with a cargo of onions. A strong gale from the W.N.W. was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The schooner's sails were blown away and she was compelled to run for Cardiff. Then her ballast of sand shifted and gave her a very heavy list. More of her gear was lost and her master was injured. Her crew attempted to beach her in Porthkerry Bay, but failed, and the schooner drifted along the coast towards Barry.

A Quick Launch.

When she was off Rhoose Point it was seen from the shore that her crew were waving a white sheet, and the coastguard telephoned to the honorary secretary of the Barry Dock station. This was at 10.16.

Seven minutes later the motor life- boat Prince David was on her way to the rescue. The coxswain was absent, and the honorary secretary of the station, Mr. A. C. Jones, a retired dock pilot, took command. The weather was very heavy and from the shore the life-boat appeared all the time to be under water. She reached the Goeland about twenty-five minutes after launching, and found her with so heavy a list that she was almost on her beam ends. Her sails and rigging were overboard and drifting out to windward. She had a small jib-sail set, but her stearing-gear was damaged.

She was labouring heavily, unmanage- able, and was drifting towards the shore at two knots. When the life-boat reached her she was only 400 yards away from the shore. At the rate at which she was drifting she would strike the rocks in five minutes.

The time was so short, and the shore so near, that it was impossible for the life-boat to get to leeward of the wreck.

Without hesitation Mr. Jones ma- noeuvred the life-boat to get alongside to windward. This meant taking her through the drifting cordage, at the grave risk of fouling the propeller.

As the life-boat drew near, one of the Goeland's crew jumped overboard and got entangled in the cordage. The life-boat went astern, picked him up, and then, very skilfully and promptly manoeuvred by Mr. Jones, she went alongside. The five Frenchmen still on board lost no time. They slid down ropes into the life-boat, or were hauled aboard her. Less than a minute after the last man was rescued the schooner went on the rocks. There the heavy seas broke her up.

One of the six rescued men had severe injuries to his face, and as the life-boat returned to Barry Dock sig- nals were made for a doctor to be ready. She arrived at 11.25, just an hour and nine minutes after the first signal had been received.

The Awards.

It was a dangerous service, carried out with skill and courage, and the crew of the Goeland owe their lives to the promptness with which the life- boat was launched and with which Mr.

Jones took her alongside. There was literally not a minute to spare, and not a minute was wasted.

For this fine service the Institution has made the following awards : To Mr. A. C. Jones its silver medal and its thanks inscribed on vellum, signed by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, K.G., as president of the Institution ; To each member of the crew its bronze medal and its thanks inscribed on vellum, signed by the Prince of Wales ; To Mr. A. C. Jones and the crew money awards of £1 12s. 6d. each. Mr.

Jones has returned his money award as a gift to the Institution..