Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire.——At 7.30 in the night of the 23rd of October, 1949, a resident of Criccieth telephoned that he could see an unusual light a.

mile off Criccieth. The life-boat station made further enquiries through the coastguard who reported that a boat had been seen that afternoon steering east from Pwllheli. About 8 o'clock the Abersoch coastguard reported that a boat could be seen about four miles off Criccieth and at about 8.30 said she was burning a bright light. As she was in a dangerous position, the life- boat Manchester and Salford XXIX was launched at 9.15 in a choppy sea with a moderate westerly breeze blowing. She found the fishing boat Sirdar, of New Quay, with a crew of two, at anchor one and a half miles south by west of Criccieth. Her engine had broken down, she was leaking and nearly waterlogged, but the two men would not abandon her and asked for a tow to Pwllheli. The life-boat sprayed oil on the sea and prepared to take her in tow, but when the Sirdar had raised her anchor the wind blew her round, the sea swamped her, and she sank at once. The two men jumped into the water, clinging to oars. The life- boatmen threw them life-buoys, and rescued one of them but the other man disappeared and was not found.

The life-boat returned to her station with the rescued man, arriving at 12.45 the next morning.—Rewards, £11 Ss..