Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, and Barra Island, Hebrides.—On the night of the 26th October the Latvian steamer Helena Faulbaums, of Riga, bound light from Liverpool to Blyth, was caught in a sudden and exceptionally severe storm near Jura Sound. A whole W. gale blew, bringing a very heavy sea. The weather was thick, with rain showers. The Helena Faulbaums was driven on to the rocks at the Island of Beulnanuamh, near Fladda light, at the west end of Jura Sound, and foundered in a few minutes. Her SOS had been picked up, and in spite of the fact that all land lines were down, news was broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation and eventually got through to the Port Askaig life-boat station, also from the Southend coastguard to Port Ellen,and thence by car. The life-boat coxswain was ill in bed, but against doctor's orders he decided to go, and the rnotor life-boat Charlotte Elizabeth was launched at 1.30 A.M., arriving on the scene at 9 A.M. She found that sixteen of the steamer's crew of twenty had been drowned, but that the other four, although badly hurt, had managed to scramble on to the rocks. They were taken into the life-boat, with great difficulty, by breeches-buoy, and landed at Crinan, on the mainland.

The life-boat returned to her station at 7 P.M., after an absence of seventeen and a half hours. The Latvian Consul at Glasgow telegraphed the ." everlasting gratitude of four survivors and my personal thanks." An inquiry into the cause of death was held by the Sheriff's Court at Oban, and the Procurator Fiscal commended the good work of the Port Askaig life-boat.

A letter of thanks was sent to the British Broadcasting Corporation for their co-operation. News of the wreck was also received at Barra Island, where the life-boat crew assembled.—• Rewards, Port Askaig, £31 18s. 9d.; Barra Island, £4 2s..