100 Years Ago The following three items were first published in the journals of February. Mav and Aueust. 1885.CLACTON-ON-SEA.—At about 6 o'clock on the morning of the 7th September, during a gale of wind from the W., a schooner was seen high and dry on the Gunfleet Sand, just above the lighthouses flying signals of distress. The Albert Edward Life-boat proceeded to her assistance under sail, and found that she was the Mystery, of Portsmouth, on a voyage to that port from Calais, in ballast. The wind and sea had greatly increased by this time, but the Life-boat succeeded in getting alongside as the tide rose; took a woman off, and then remained by the vessel, as the Life-boatmen considered there was hope of saving her. Accordingly they set the canvas; kept the pumps going; repaired the wheel-chain, and eventually she dragged over the sand into the Wallet Channel, when she was taken safely to Harwich with her crew of four men, and a -woman who was also on board. During the time the vessel was crossing the sand the seas broke right over her, making it dangerous work to stand by her.

Feb. 13.—At about 7 P.M. telegrams were received at Duncannon, Co. Wexford, stating that a large four-mast ship was ashore on the Pollock Rocks in Fethard Bay. The wind was blowing a whole gale from the south and the sea was very heavy.

Horses were procured as soon as possible, and the Duncannon Life-boat Richard and Anne was taken to Fethard, a distance of seven or eight miles over a rough road, and was launched after great difficulty, the sea sometimes washing over the boat and crew. She proceeded in the direction of the stranded vessel, which was about four miles out, but she was driven back by the heavy seas. Two of her crew were then landed, their places being taken by others, and the boat, after waiting an hour at Fethard, again proceeded to sea, and was then successful in reaching the vessel. Her crew, consisting of 33 men, were then taken into the Life-boat and landed at Fethard. The vessel proved to be the Earl of Beaconsfield, of Glasgow, 2000 tons, bound from Glasgow to San Francisco with coal and a general cargo.

The Life-boatmen, who were very much exhausted, did not get back to their homes until 9 P.M. on the 14th February, having been on duty for nearly twenty-six hours.—Expense of service, G-il. 15s. 3d.

PLYMOUTH and TEALM RIVER.—On the night of the 28th of January the Plymouth Life-boat Clemency and the Yealm River Life-boat Bowman went out in reply to signals of distress shown by the barque Wellington, of Windsor, N.S. The wind was blowing a gale from the S.W., accompanied by a very high sea. It was found that the vessel was brought up by her two anchors with all cable paid out, between the Mewstone and the coast, close to the rocks, but not touching them, and that she required a steam-tug to tow her to Plymouth. The Life-boats were employed several hours in passing lines and hawsers to and from the tug, under circumstances of difficulty and danger; remained by the vessel while she slipped her cables, and accompanied her into the Siver Yealm, where she was grounded on the mud at about 4.30 on the following morning. The sea being too heavy for the Plymouth Life-boat to work her way back, she waited until the tug left at about 4.15 P.M., and was then taken in tow and returned to her station. In consequence of circumstances connected with the death of the captain of the Wellington, whose body was on board the vessel, and some of the sailors being wounded, the Queen's Harbour Master requested further services from the Yealm Life-boatmen.

They were placed on board the vessel, and given full power to act as guard on the crew previous to the magisterial enquiry into the case. They remained there until 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

At 4.45 on the morning of the 31st of January, the Wellington, which had been brought from the Yealm to Plymouth Sound on the previous evening, parted from her moorings during a gale of wind from the S. and a high sea, and drove ashore at the back of Millbay Pier. This being observed by the coxswain of the Plymouth Life-boat, he immediately called the crew together, launched the boat, and proceeded to the vessel. The Life-boatmen were requested. to pass a tow-rope from a steam-tug to the vessel, and remained by her until she was towed off at about 6.30. As the ship had lost her anchors and chains, and had, therefore to be moored temporarily to a buoy, it was thought advisable to keep the Lifeboat afloat until the weather moderated at about 10.30 A.M..