Boulmer, Northumberland.—At 4.21 on the afternoon of the 23rd of August, 1953, the coastguard telephoned that a motor boat was in difficulties two miles to the eastward and was flying a black flag. At 4.35 the life-boat Clarissa Langdon was launched in a swell and with a light south-easterly breeze blowing, with the second cox- swain in charge. She found the motor boat Merlyn, of Tynemouth, at anchor two and a half miles east of Boulmer.The Merlyn, a converted ship's boat, was bound from Seahouses for Tyne- mouth with a crew of five. She had broken down, and a life-boatman boarded her. The life-boat towed her to Boulmer, arriving at 5.25.—Re- wards, £8 16s. Qd..