Plymouth, Torbay, and Salcombe, Devon.

—On the evening of the 9th January, with a strong south-westerly gale blowing, and a very heavy sea, information was received through the coastguard that signals of distress had been seen a mile S.W. of Bolt Head.

They came from the Dutch motor vessel Zeehond, of Groningen, bound from Southampton to Plymouth with timber and a crew of six. Her engines had broken down. The Salcombe motor life-boat Alfred and Clara Heath was launched at 4.15 P.M., but could make no headway against the wind and sea, and was unable to cross the bar. The Plymouth motor life-boat Robert and Marcella Beck put out at 5.25 P.M., and reached the Zeehond at 7.35 P.M. Her master was undecided whether or not to abandon ship, but finally decided to remain aboard. The life-boat stood by throughout the night.

In the morning the Zeehond got her engines working again, and the life-boat.