Seaham, Durham.—At 9.45 on the night of the 13th of July, 1949, the coastguard telephoned a message from Cullercoats Radio Station that a vessel was in distress, four miles east of Seaham Harbour, and the life-boat Elizabeth Witts Allen was launched at 10.11 in a light east-north-easterly breeze, with a moderate sea. She found the motor vessel Crescence, of Rochester, out of control. Heavy seas were breaking over her and driving her towards a lee shore. Shortly after- wards the Crescence dropped anchor, but she still drove inshore. The life- boat was then joined by the S.S.

Eastwood and both stood by until the tug Souter arrived at fifteen minutes past midnight. The life-boat passed a tow-line from the tug to the Crescence, and after the Crescence had slipped her anchor cable, the tug towed her to Sunderland, escorted by the life-boat.

There they arrived at 2.50 next morn- ing. The life-boat returned to her station at four o'clock.—Property Salvage Case..