Sunderland, Co. Durham.—On the afternoon of the 5th May the s.s.

Birtley, of Newcastle, ran aground about six hundred yards north of Whitburn Steel in a fog. She was bound, light, from Rotterdam to the Tyne. A moderate S.E. breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea. The coastguard telephoned to the life-boat station, and the motor life-boat Edward and Isabella Irwin was launched at 3.25 P.M. She found that the Birtley was in no immediate danger, but stood by. Later on she ran a line to a waiting tug, but efforts to refloat the Birtley failed and the life-boat returned to her station at 6.30 A.M. She put out again at 1.30 A.M. on the 6th, as another attempt was to be made to get the Birtley off. She stood by while the tugs tried to refloat her, but they were agqiin unsuccessful. The life-boat reached home after this trip at 6.30 A.M. She put out for a third time at 4.30 P.M. on the 7th. The third attempt to refloat the Birtley also failed, and when towing operations ceased on the turn of the tide the life-boat made for her station, arriving at 6.30 P.M., the crew of the steamer being in no danger.— Rewards, £20 10s..