Two members of the Teesmouth crew had a remarkable escape when they were washed out of the life-boat after she had gone to the help of an Indian steamer on I4th March, 1964.

At 9.40 that morning the honorary secretary of the Teesmouth station, Mr.

E. R. Copeman, learnt that the Indian steamer Jalamanjari, which had an- chored off Tees pier, was dragging her anchor and rapidly drifting on to the lee shore.

The maroons were fired, and the Teesmouth life-boat, Sarah Jane and James Season, which is one of the 47- foot Watson type, put out at 10.45. A.

south-easterly gale was blowing, visi- bility was poor, and there were very heavy seas. It was about half an hour after low water.

NOT EASILY SEEN The conditions were such that it took the life-boat some time to find the steamer, which was sighted well across the bay towards Hartlepool, where the sea was a mass of broken water.

As the life-boat approached her the Indian steamer grounded inside Hump Point near the Heugh light and almost alongside the promenade. Two tugs were called for, but they could not reach the steamer, and it was decided to leave her until a salvage officer had assessed the situation. The crew of the steamer were in no immediate danger, and Coxswain John Stonehouse de- cided to continue towards Hartlepool.

With the exception of the two mechanics he stationed the remainder of the crew on deck, those forward keeping a look-out for the entrance to Hartlepool harbour and those aft keep- ing an eye on the following seas. The seas were slightly on the starboard quarter. The life-boat drogue was correctly streamed.

STRUCK BY WAVES Several heavy seas had passed when the aft look-outs reported another one coming in. This wave brought the drogue in with its crest, and, freed from the restraining influence of the drogue, the life-boat sheered rapidly to starboard. She was struck by the breaking sea on her starboard side, and the boat heeled about 100 degrees to port until her masthead was actually under water. Heavy water poured over the after cabin, forced up the canvas screen at the rear of the wheelhouse, filled the wheelhouse itself, and washed the coxswain away from the wheel.

Motor Mechanic C. Coates and Assistant Mechanic W. Carter were also carried away from their controls.

The sea entered the radio cabin and partially flooded the after cabin. With the weight of the water on her and the seas entering through the wheelhouse door on the port side, the boat re- mained heeled over until the drogue held her again and she steadied up.

TWO OVERBOARD When she did so it was seen that two members of the crew, Bowman Clive Porter and Arthur Embleton, had been washed overboard. They had both been members of the forward look-out.

Assistant Mechanic Carter was the first man on his feet. He saw a man in the water and with great presence of mind grabbed the wheel and put it to starboard. Motor Mechanic Coates at the same time stopped his starboard engine to prevent it from fouling the drogue rope and went full ahead on his port engine.

Coxswain Stonehouse then resumed command and it was confirmed that only two men had been washed over- board. They were both seen about a hundred yards apart.

The life-boat reached the first man, who held on to an outside line while the boat was worked up to the other man. Both men were then hauled in- board.

As the drogue had been cut away Coxswain Stonehouse made the deci- sion, which was undoubtedly a correct one, to work back to Teesmouth into the sea rather than again risk the effect of the following seas.

For this attempted service a framed letter of thanks signed by the chair- man of the Institution was sent to the coxswain and crew and additional monetary awards were made..