Walton and Frinton, Essex. — Just before midnight on the 21st of June, 1949, the coastguard reported informa- tion from the pilot cutter Bembridge that a steamer had struck the sunken wreck of the Fort Massac, about one and a half miles north-west of the Sunk Lightvessel, and at 12.40 in the morn- ing of the 22nd the life-boat E.M.E.D.

was launched. A light northerly wind was blowing, with a slight sea. The life- boat reached the position at two o'clock and found the S.S. Corcrest, of Sun- derland, a 2,500-ton collier, carrying a crew of twenty-three, but no cargo. A large hole had been torn in her plates, and she was leaking badly. A tug had already arrived and half of the collier's crew were taken into the life- boat while the tug made an unsuccess- ful attempt to refloat the collier. More tugs arrived, and at 11.5 in the morn- ing the life-boat left to fetch food for the collier's crew and to despatch messages for her. She returned at 4.15 in the afternoon. It was not possible to complete temporary repairs to the collier in time to make another attempt to get her off on the night's tide and the life-boat remained in attendance. On the following morning, at eight o'clock, she left again for Walton to fetch more stores and to bring out the owner's marine super- intendent, and arrived back at 1.25 in the afternoon. During the afternoon the wind freshened, the collier slewed about, and when in the evening another effort was made to get her off she plunged forward, ripping a large hole in her side. As she went down by the head the life-boat moved alongside and rescued her crew of twenty-three, a salvage party of ten and three marine superintendents. The life-boat put the ten salvage men on board their own.

ship and with the remainder aboard made for Walton, which she reached at 12.8 in the morning of the 24th, forty- eight hours after she had first put out.

The owners gave £50 to the crew.— Rewards, £104 12s..