Lowestoft, Suffolk.—At 3.57 in the afternoon of the 17th of January, 1952, the coastguard telephoned that a Dutch motor vessel was in distress twelve miles east-south-east of Lowes- toft. • She was listing heavily. At 4.15 the life-boat Michael Stephens left her moorings. A north-westerly gale was blowing, with a heavy sea and squallsof sleet. The life-boat found that the motor vessel was the Seaham, of Rotterdam, of 399 tons, laden with coal. Her cargo had shifted, and four of her crew of eight had abandoned her, but their boat had been swamped.

The Trinity House vessel Warden was standing by, and had rescued one of the four, but the other three had been swept away. The Warden wirelessed the life-boat that the Seaham's three engineers wanted to abandon ship.

The life-boat attempted to get along- side, but the Seaham's leeside was awash, her davits were rolling into the sea, it was difficult and dangerous to approach her. It was not until the fourth attempt, and with her wireless mast carried away, that the life-boat succeeded, and rescued the three engineers. The master refused to leave his ship, and the life-boat went in search of the three missing men, while the Warden continued to stand by the Seaham. She searched for two hours, but could not find them. The master now signalled that he wished to abandon ship, so the life-boat went alongside, took him off, and made for her station, where she arrived at 12.15 the next morning. The owners of the Seaham made gifts to the life-boatmen and to the Institution.—Rewards, £16 6*..