Portaskaig, Islay.—During the morning of the llth March the mail steamer Pioneer, of Glasgow, left Portaskaig for West Loch Tarbert. She had mail and twenty-two persons on board. When she was about eight miles east of Macarthur's Head lighthouse her engines broke down, and she signalled for help. A strong east gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea and showers of snow. The signals were seen by the coastguard, and the motor lifeboat Charlotte Elizabeth was launched at noon. She found the Pioneer drifting. The master dropped anchor, but she continued to drag until a second anchor was dropped. Two other steamers arrived, but as the Pioneer was in a dangerous position the lifeboat stood by. She put back to her station at 12.50 A.M. on the 12th to refuel, and set out again at 1.30 A.M.

She continued to stand by until thePioneer had repaired her engines, and finally returned to her station at 9.30 A.M., twenty-one and a half hours after she had first put out. The owners expressed their thanks and made a donation to the Institution and a gift of money to the crew.—Rewards, £34 5s..