Exmouth, Devon.—At 4.18 on the morning of the 27th of October, 1954, the coastguard telephoned that a boat was burning a white light about three miles south-east of Orcombe Point. At 4.39 the life-boat Maria Noble was launched. There was a heavy ground swell, and a moderate south-south- west breeze was blowing. The life- boat made a search in a flooding tide and found the cabin cruiser Ruth, of Poole, with two men on board, four miles south-east of Straight Point.

The Ruth had sprung a leak the pre- vious afternoon, but the men had not been able to keep pace with the water, which had eventually swamped their engine, and they had soaked a jacket in paraffin and burnt it to attract attention. The life-boat towed the Ruth to Exmouth, reaching her station again at 6.35.—Rewards, £14 14s..