AT 2.15 ih the morning of 27th January a message was received at the Penlee life-boat station from the coast- guard that a ship appeared to be on fire near Gear Rock in Mounts Bay.

Twenty minutes later the motor life- boat W. and S. was on her way. A strong S.S.W. gale was blowing, with a heavy sea running, and the weather was thick with rain.

In about half an hour the life-boat reached the Gear Rock. There, by the light of her searchlight, she saw the 400-ton steamer Taycraig. The after half of the ship was submerged, and the crew of nine men were packed together on the forecastle head. The steamer was not on fire. In the heavy swell she had struck the Gear Rock and lay with her stern wedged on the rock, and the seas breaking over her. The fire which the coastguard had seen was mattresses burning as a signal of distress. Twenty minutes after making their signals the men waiting on the forecastle head had seen the maroons fired at Mousehole, nearly two miles away. They knew that the life-boat had been called out to their help, and were surprised that she came so quickly.

The Taycraig lay end on to the gale, so that there was no lee to give the life-boat any shelter as she came alongside, and there was very little room for manoeuvring among the rocks. The coxswain, however, suc- ceeded in bringing her close to the starboard side of the forecastle, and threw a grappling-iron on board. The life-boat was flung violently about on the big rise and fall of the seas, and every moment the captain of the Taycraig expected to see her come right on board the steamer, but the coxswain skilfully kept her off. She touched the steamer, but was only slightly damaged.

Each in turn, and each watching carefully for his opportunity, the nine men of the Taycraig jumped on board the tossing life-boat. Seven landed without mishap. One dropped right on the neck of the bowman. Another, misjudging his jump, fell between the steamer and the life-boat, but he was seized at once by two life-boatmen and dragged on board. The life-boat then took the nine rescued men to Penzance harbour. She arrived at 3.25 in the morning. The service had taken just fifty minutes.

It was a service in which the life-boat was handled very skilfully and boldly, all the more so that the whole service was carried out with only one of the two 40 h.p. engines working.

To COXSWAIN FRANK BLEWETT the Institution has awarded its bronze medal with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and framed.

To the coxswain and each member of the crew it has made an increased money award of £2 17s. 6d. The total awards amounted to £27 14s. 6d..