Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.— At 1.5 in the morning of the 6th of December, 1948, the coastguard telephoned that red flares could be seen four miles to the south-south-east, and the motor life-boat Edward Z. Dresden was launched at 1.30. A moderate south- south-east gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. The life-boat found the sailing barge Esterel, of London, carry- ing grain to Ipswich, with a crew of three, two and a half miles to the south- south-east. She was sinking. With difficulty the life-boat went alongside, slightly damaging herself, and rescued the men. It was then just after two in the morning. The barge sank about 6.50. The life-boat anchored off the pier until daybreak and reached her station again at 8.15.—Rewards, £19 105..