Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—Soon after 8 P.M. on the 12th June messages were received from the coastguard and the Royal Naval Signal Station that a steamer with 120 passengers on board had been beached one mile west of South Shoebury buoy, following a collision. Wind and sea were calm, but there was a dense fog. The reserve motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty, was launched at 8.25 P.M., and found the steamer to be the Royal Archer, of Leith. She had been badly holed. The life-boat took off forty-nine of the passengers and landed them at Southend. She then returned to the Royal Archer and stood by for some time in case her help was wanted.

She arrived back at her station at 5.30 A.M. on the 13th. Later in the day the Royal Archer was towed to London by tugs.—Rewards, £17 4s..