Seaham, Durham.—On the evening of the 15th January the s.s. West Hika, of Mobile, U.S.A., sent out a wireless call for help. She was a vessel of over three thousand tons, carrying a crew of thirty-eight, and had gone ashore.

The coastguard informed the life-boat station, and a steamer entering Seaham also brought the news of the West Hika's distress. The motor life-boat Elliot Galer put out at 8 P.M., in a light S.W. wind, with a heavy ground swell.

It was very cold. The steamer was found about three miles south of Seaham, but was not then in immediate danger. The life-boat returned ashore at 12.40 A.M. on the 16th January,and made two further trips to the West Hika at 2.40 A.M. and 10.30 P.M.

Tugs went to the vessel and the lifeboat passed tow-ropes to them, but they were not, at that time, successful in their efforts to salve the steamer.— Rewards, £34 145..