JANUARY.

Launches 50. Lives Rescued 35.

JAN. 2ND. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

Early in the morning a number of fishing boats went to sea. At about 8.30 A.M. a N.E. gale sprang up and the sea became rough, broken and dangerous between the pier ends and the Rock Buoy. At 9.30 A.M.

the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched, manned by a scratch crew, with the second coxswain of the No. 2 pulling life-boat in charge. The regular members of the crew were at sea in the fishing boats. Some of the boats had a bad time, but by 2 P.M. all the boats, fourteen in number, had reached safety escorted by the life-boat.- Rewards, £7 6s. 6d.

JAN. 2ND. - REDCAR, AND TEESMOUTH, YORKSHIRE. At about 9.45 A.M. the coastguard at Marske telephoned that a motor fishing vessel was in distress four miles north-east of Huntcliffe. She was the Success, of Whitby, with a crew of four. Her engine had broken down. breeze was blowing, A strong N.E. with a rough sea and squalls of hail. The Redcar motor life-boat Louisa Polden was launched at 10.23 A.M., and the Teesmouth motor life-boat J. W. Archer at 10.30 A.M. The Louisa Polden arrived first and found the Success riding to a single anchor. Her main cable had parted and she was dragging. Her crew did not wish to abandon her, and the Redcar life-boat stood by until the bigger Teesmouth life-boat arrived. Teesmouth then took the Success in tow. The Redcar life-boat returned to her station at 12.35 P.M., and the Teesmouth life-boat, after towing the Success to Hartlepool, returned to her station at 3.15 P.M.- Rewards : Redcar, £9 17s. ; Teesmouth, Property salvage case.

JAN. 2ND. - FLAMBOROUGIH, YORKSHIRE. During the morning it was reported that one of the local motor fishing cobles was at sea. A N.E. gale was blowing, with a very rough sea and squalls of sleet. The motor life-boat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was launched at 10.50 A.M., and found the coble, the Pioneer, with a crew of three, about one and a half miles north of North Landing. She had just cut away from her gear. The life-boat went alongside and life-belts were thrown to the fishermen. She then escorted her in. The life-boat returned to her station at noon.-Rewards, £15 13s.

JAN. 2ND. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE.

Some of the local motor fishing boats were caught at sea by bad weather. A N.E. breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. The Eagle came in and reported that the boats still at sea were in danger of being swamped. The motor life-boat Herbert Joy II was launched at 11.45 A.M. and made three trips to the N.E. to escort in the Hilda, Reliance and Courage in turn. She returned to her station at 2.20 P.M.-Rewards, £19 14s. 6d.

JAN. 2ND. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. CORK.

At 8 P.M. the life-boat coxswain saw a flare about three miles south of Ballycotton Light. A moderate W.N.W. breeze was blowing with a heavy swell. The S.S. Innisfallen was in sight and as several boats were fishing it was it first thought that the flare was to indicate that drift nets were being used. As the flares continued the motor life-boat Mary Stanford was launched at 8.45 P.M. and found the motor drifter Pre-eminent, of Ballycotton, with a crew of four, towing the motor drifter Yankee Girl, of Ballycotton. The Yankee Girl had struck a large shoal of herrings, and while the crew were hauling their nets aboard the water had rushed through the exhaust and disabled the motor. She was still taking in water through her exhaust and was almost level with the water. With the life-boat escorting them, the boats got safely in at 10.20 P.M.-Rewards : life-boat, £13 11s. 6d. ; Pre-eminent, £2 10s., with £3 for loss of fishing, and 2s. 6d. for fuel used, together with a letter of thanks to her owner.

JAN. 3RD. - LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.

During the morning the sailing boat Roustabout, of Lowestoft, left harbour with a crew of four. At 11.30 A.M. the life-boat coxswain, who had gone to the coastguard lookout, saw the boat drifting towards the Inner Shoal of the Newcome Sands, with the crew signalling for help. A strong N.N.W. wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Agnes Cross was launched at 11.35 A.M., and went alongside the sailing boat. The crew jumped into her. Their sailing boat went adrift but, the life-boat picked her up and brought her in. The rescued, who had had a narrow escape from being drowned, expressed their thanks. The life-boat was remoored at 12.35 P.M.-Rewards, £20 18s. 6d.

JAN. 3RD. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

At 6 A.M. the watchman at the life-boat station reported a steam trawler aground on the Trinity Sands. A N.W. breeze was blowing, with a slight sea. Watch was kept on the trawler, which was the Spaniard, of Hull, bound for the White Sea fishing grounds with a crew of sixteen. She was in no immediate danger, but the owners, who had been informed of the position, asked that the life-boat should go out and stand by.

At 11.45 A.M. the motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched, went to the trawler, and put on board the owner’s representative. Shortly afterwards the trawler was refloated, with the help of a tug, and the life-boat returned to her station at 12.50 P.M. -Property salvage case.

JAN. 7TH - CLACTON-ON-SEA. AND WALTON AND FRINTON ESSEX. At about 4.38 P.M. the Clacton coastguard telephoned that a barge off Holland Sluice appeared to be in difficulties. Soon afterwards they reported that she was burning flares for help, and the Clacton motor lifeboat Edward Z. Dresden was launched at 5 P.M. A moderate south breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea, and the weather was overcast, with fog and rain. The lifeboat reached the barge abreast of Frinton.

She was the Louise, of Rochester, with two men on board, bound from London to Ipswich with a cargo of cotton seed. She had lost both anchors, her steering-gear had broken down, and she was unmanageable. The Clacton life-boat was unable to get her to a safe anchorage without help so signalled for the Walton motor life-boat E.M.E.D., which put out at 6.50 P.M. Between them the lifeboats towed the Louise to Harwich. The Walton life-boat returned to her station at 11.49 P.M., and the Clacton boat to hers at 1 A.M. - Property salvage cases.

JAN. 9TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN.

Early in the afternoon a man reported that his son and two other men who had gone out in the motor fishing boat Laura to shoot cod lines had not returned when expected.

Strong squalls were blowing from the west, and the sea was choppy. The motor lifeboat Civil Service No. 5 put out at 1 P.M She found the Laura about three miles to the south, and escorted her back to harbour The motor fishing boat Prospector, of Ballywalter, was then seen. She seemed to be in difficulties and she, too, was escorted in. The life-boat returned to her station at 2.15 P.M.- Rewards, £6 17s.

JAN. 9TH. - THURSO, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

Four seine net fishing boats- Streamlet, Lea Rig, Fisherboy, and Crestwere overtaken by a sudden N.N.W. gale, with a heavy sea, when fishing about eighteen miles west of Thurso. The motor life-boat H.C.J. was launched at 3.25 P.M., with the second coxswain in charge, and met the boats coming home. Against the heavy sea and strong ebb tide the fishing boats made but slow progress. The life-boat escorted them until they reached Scrabster Harbour at 6.30 P.M.-Rewards, £l1 3s.

JAN. 11TH. - SUNDERLAND, CO. DURHAM.

At about 5.30 P.M. a message was received from the South Docks that a vessel close to the shore was burning red flares. A N.N.E. gale was blowing, with a heavy sea and snow showers. The motor life-boat Edward and Isabella Irwin was launched at 6 P.M. and about three miles east of Ryhope came up with the 2,700-ton Greek steamer George J. Goulandris, of Andros. She had then got out of immediate danger, and wanted a pilot to take her into the Wear. The lifeboat guided her to the harbour entrance where a pilot was waiting, and returned to her station at 8.30 P.M. Owing to the state of the sea she could not be rehoused until next day, -Rewards, £l7 9s. 6d.

JAN. 16TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. At 6.55 P.M. it was reported that the open motor fishing boat Prince, of Torquay, with three men on board, was overdue on a trip from Torquay to Brixham, and that owing to the poor condition of her engine anxiety was felt for her safety. A moderate south-west gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat George Shee was launched at 7.10 P.M., and helped by the searchlight of a sheltering steamer very quickly found the Prince in the middle of Tor Bay. Her crew were morsing a distress signal. The life-boat towed her to the inner harbour at Brixham, and returned to her station at 7.40 P.M. A letter of thanks was received from the skipper.-Rewards, £l6 7s.

JAN. 17TH. - ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE.

At 3.50 P.M. the St. Ann’s Head coastguard reported that a French schooner was in distress two miles south of the Head. She was the Eglantine, of Treguier, bound laden from Cardiff for France. A strong south wind was blowing, with a rough sea, and the weather was thick. The motor lifeboat Elizabeth Elson put out at 4 P.M. and came up with the Eglantine off Thorn Buoy.

Her, cargo had shifted and her mainsail had been blown away. The life-boat escorted her to a safe anchorage off Milford, and returned to her station at 7 P.M.-Rewards, £11 14s. 3d.

JAN. 18TH. - WALMER, KENT. At 5.18 A.M. a message was received from the Deal coastguard that flares had been seen about six miles south-east from Ramsgate.

A strong S.W. breeze was blowing, with a heavy sea and squalls of rain. The motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched at 5.50 A.M. and found the ketch yacht Leigh Hall, of London, aground on the Goodwin Sands near South West Buoy, and bumping badly. She was bound from Calais for London with a crew of eight. Her engine had broken down, her sails had been blown away, and she was on fire, having been set alight by her distress flares. The Deal motor fishing boat Rose Marie came on the scene, and at the coxswain’s request she helped.

Three of her crew boarded the burning vessel, put out the fire and helped to bale her. The life-boat then got the Leigh Hall clear of the sands and took her in tow for Ramsgate, aided by the Rose Marie. Ramsgate was reached at 10 A.M., and the life-boat got back to her station at 2.30 P.M.

This was a good service carried out in difficult circumstances without damage to the life-boat. The Committee sent a letter to the branch, commending the coxswain and crew, and an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale was granted to each member of the crew. Rewards were also made to the crew of the motor boat.- Standard rewards to the life-boat crew, £l2 16s. 6d. ; £5 ; additional rewards to crew, total rewards to crew and launchers, £27 13s. 9d. ; £3 10s.; to the crew of the Rose Marie, 12s. for fuel used, and 12s. for damage to tow-rope.

JAN. 19TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

During the morning the fishing fleet put to sea, and by 2 P.M. all but four boats had returned. At this time a fresh S.E. breeze was blowing, with a strong sea and a dense fog. These conditions made it dangerous for the boats to enter the harbour, and the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 2.45 P.M. to help them in. She made three trips in different directions before she had found and escorted them all into harbour. She returned to her station at 5.45 P.M.-Rewards, £11 19s. 9d.

JAN. 19TH -. GOURDON, KINCARDINESHIRE.

At about 3.30 P.M. a report was received from Johnshaven that the local fishing boats Isa Simpson and Sunbeam were at sea, and that owing to the bad weather they were making for Gourdon instead of their own harbour. A strong S.E. breeze was blowing, with a heavy surf, and the weather was very thick. The motor life-boat Margaret Dawson was launched at 4 P.M., and met the fishing boats off Gourdon. Their skippers decided, after all, to run for Johnshaven, and the life-boat escorted them there and saw them safely into harbour. She returned to her station at 6 P.M.-Rewards, £24 14s. 9d.

JAN. 20TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

At about 11.30 P.M. the life-boat watchman reported a vessel ashore on the Middle Binks. She was the motor vessel Peterborough Trader, of Wisbech, bound for the Humber. A light, variable breeze was blowing, with a nasty ground sea, and the weather was misty. The motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched at 11.50 P.M., and found the Peterborough Trader bumping hard on the bottom. She stood by her until she refloated on the rising tide and went on her way. The life-boat then made for her station, arriving at 3.15 A.M.-Permanent paid crew : Rewards, 18s.

JAN. 2lST.. - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

Early in the morning the Belgian trawler Paul Therese, of Ostend, broke from her moorings in Newlyn Harbour and drifted out to sea. Her crew of six were asleep and unconscious of their danger. A south-westerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea, and the weather was thick. The news was received from the coastguard, and the motor life-boat W and S was launched at 4.35 A.M. She found the trawler near the rocks between Penzance and St. Michael’s Mount and one of the life-boat. crew boarded her. He roused her crew and the life-boat towed her out of danger. Her crew then got the engine going and she followed the life-boat clear. She returned to Newlyn Harbour, and the lifeboat arrived back at her station at 7.15 A.M.- Property salvage case.

JAN. 22ND. - POOLE AND BOURNEMOUTH, DORSET. At about noon in- formation was received through the coastguard that the motor launch Snapper, which was bound from Hamworthy to Southampton, was in difficulties off Boscombe Pier. A S.W.

breeze was blowing with a rough sea. The new motor life-boat Thomas Kirk Wright put out on her first service at 12.20 P.M. She found that two of the crew of three had left in the dinghy and reached Boscombe Pier. A life-boatman was put aboard the Snapper and she was then towed to Poole by the life-boat which arrived back at her station at 4.15 P.M.-Rewards, £7 15s. 6d.

JAN. 23RD. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

During the afternoon a gale was blowing from the N.N.W. with a heavy sea. The motor fishing boat Pilot Me was at sea and as she did not return the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 3.20 P.M.

She found her about a mile and a half to the north and escorted her through the broken water to the harbour. The life-boat took one tremendous sea, which buried her from stem to stern.-Rewards, £8 5s. 6d.

JAN. 23RD. - TORBAY, DEVON. During the morning the auxiliary ketch St. Helens, of London, broke from her moorings in Brixham Outer Harbour in a severe N.W.

gale, and drove ashore on the beach near the life-boat station. A motor trawler got her off the beach, but both vessels went aground on the breakwater. During the evening the life-boat coxswain, who was on the breakwater, was hailed by the eight men on board the St. Helens. Two were her own crew and the other six were from the trawler, and were attempting to salve the St. Helens. They had no boat in which to land, and no rockets on board with which to attract attention, and their position was dangerous. The motor life-boat George Shee was launched at 8.49 P.M., towed the St. Helens into harbour, and r e t u r n e d t o h e r s t a t i o n a t 9 . 1 0 P . M . - Property salvage case.

JAN. 25TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. At 11.16 P.M. on the 24th January the coastguard reported a vessel making signals on her siren. The night was misty with a light S.S.E. wind and a moderate swell. Later the coastguard reported that a vessel was off Lancing with all lights extinguished, and at 12.40 A.M. on the 25th the motor life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched to investigate. She found the motor vessel Gerco, of Delfzijl, laden with bricks for Denmark. The captain had lost his bearings and wanted a pilot. The lifeboat escorted the vessel to the harbour, where she took a pilot aboard.-Rewards, £l5 7s. 6d.

JAN. 25TH - ILFRACOMBE, DEVON.

During the afternoon anxiety was felt for the safety of the motor fishing boat Rowena, which had been at sea since 6 A.M. and had not returned with the other boats which had put out with her. A N.N.E. gale was blowing, with a rough and worsening sea.

The motor life-boat Rosabella was launched at 4.5 P.M., and found the Rowena about four miles off Combe Martin. She escorted her back to harbour, and returned to her station at 5.15 P.M.-Rewards, £38 2s. 9d.

JAN. 25TH. - WICK, CAITHNESS-SHIRE.

During the afternoon two local fishing boats were caught at sea by a strong easterly breeze, with a rough sea. They were seen making for harbour and the motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 3.30 P.M., and escorted them safely in. She returned to her station at 4.45 P.M.-Rewards, £5 14s.

JAN. 30TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. The Berry Head coastguard reported that rocket 

had been seen about eight miles to the east ward. A moderate easterly gale was blowing, with a heavy swell. At 8.55 P.M. the motor life-boat George Shee was launched, and found the S.S. Brilliant, of Glasgow, with a crew of ten on board, bound laden from London to Dublin. Her rudder had been carried away and she needed a tug. The life-boat went to fetch one and met one coming out to the steamer.

The life-boat stood by and after two hawsers had parted she was asked to help to get the Brilliant in tow. This she did. A third time the hawser parted, when the Brilliant was only about 300 yards from the shore, but eventually the tug got her safely into Brixham harbour. The life-boat returned to her station at 2.10 A.M.-Property Salvage Case.

The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons given :

JAN. 2ND. - CLACTON-ON-SEA, ESSEX. JAN. 21ST. - WALMER, K E N T . A A flying-boat had been reported down and in steamer had been heading for the Goodwin distress. but later it was learned that she was Sands, but changed her course in answer to warning guns from the East Goodwin Lightvessel.- Rewards, £29 0S. 6d safely at anchor, and the life-boat was recalled by wireless.-Rewards, £16 5s. 6d.

JAN. 7TH. - LYTHAM - ST.ANNE’S, LANCASHIRE.

A small boat was swamped. One of her crew of two got ashore unaided. The other could not be found.-Rewards, £11 14s.

JAN. 8TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. The steam trawler Imbrin, of La Rochelle, had stranded on the Haisborough Sands, but got off without help.-Rewards, £29 6s. 6d.

JAN. 9TH. - SENNEN COVE, CORNWALL. The Seven Stones Light-vessel fired rockets, but it was found that she was signalling for the Trinity House tender.- Rewards, £21 10s.

JAN. 10TH. - YOUGHAL, CO. CORK. Distress flares had been reported, but a long search revealed no vessel in need of help.- Rewards, £16 5s. 6d.

JAN. 13TH. - BOULMER, NORTHUMBERLAND. The Dutch motor vessel Drittura had burned a red flare, but it was found that she had done this by mistake when signalling for a pilot.-Rewards, £18 15s. 6d.

JAN. 14TH. - DUNBAR, EAST LOTHIAN. A small sailing boat bound from Leith to Dunbar was overdue. She took shelter at Cockenzie and the life-boat was recalled by wireless.-Rewards, £14 11s. 6d.

JAN. 16TH. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE. A trawler had run ashore on the Scaurs of Cruden, but she was refloated and taken in tow for Aberdeen by another trawler. Unfortunately she had been damaged and on her way to Aberdeen she foundered with the loss of her whole crew. - Rewards , £13 11s. 6d.

JAN. 17TH. - LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.A motor trawler had grounded on the New- combe Sands, but she refloated unaided.- Rewards, £27 11s. 6d.

 

JAN. 19TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

Prolonged blowing of a siren had been heard in the direction of the Shambles Light-vessel, but no vessel in distress was found . - Rewards, £l3 2s. 6d.

JAN. 19TH. -BLYTH, NORTHUMBERLAND. A local motor fishing boat was overdue, but she got in unaided, after having been delayed by a fouled propeller.-Rewards, £14 9s. 6d.

JAN. 19TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE. A motor boat had gone ashore at Lossiemouth, but her crew were able to scramble over the rocks to safety.-Rewards, £10 6s. 3d.

JAN. 22ND. - TORBAY, DEVON. A motor fishing boat had gone ashore, but her crew reached safety unaided.-Rewards, £14 18s. 6d. Six days before she had been rescued by the Torbay life-boat.

 

 

JAN. 22ND. - KIRKCUDBRIGHT. A steamer had been reported blowing her horn apparently for help, but no trace of any vessel in distress could be found. - Rewards  £23 11s. 6d.

JAN. 22ND. - ABERDEEN. A small boat had been reported capsized at the mouth of the River Don, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £6 17s. 6d.

SEVEN LIFE-BOATMEN LOST AT ST. IVES JAN. 23RD. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.Three minutes before two in the morning, the honorary secretary was rung up by the district officer of coastguard, who told him that a vessel was in a dangerous position two miles north-north-east of Cape Cornwall.

Cape Cornwall is eleven miles along the coast from St. Ives in the direction of Land’s End. A west-north-west gale of exceptional violence was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The life-boat would have to travel the eleven miles against the gale.

Five minutes later the district officer At 4.20 the coastguard at Clodgy Point saw red flares a mile out at sea. They meant, “ More help needed.” The coastguard life-saving apparatus at St. Ives was ordered out and sent right round St. Ives Bay to Godrevy Point, on the leeward side of the bay.

The Portreath apparatus, from the other side of Godrevy Head, was also summoned. At the same time a message was sent to the Penlee life-boat station, on the south coast of Cornwall, nearly thirty miles away, calling out the motor life-boat W and S. She was launched at five o’clock.

The people of St. Ives waited for nearly three hours more, and then, just after seven o’clock in the morning, came the message that the life-boat had been wrecked on the rocks near Godrevy lighthouse and that, of her crew of eight men, only one was alive.

What had happened during those four hours since the life-boat had put out we know from the survivor, William Freeman.

THE FIRST CAPSIZE As she left the shelter of St. Ives Head she met a very heavy sea. She kept well clear of the headland to avoid the heavier seas and strong flood tide closer in, and turned westward. She was then running almost in the teeth of the gale. When about one and a half miles north-north-east of Clodgy Point, the boat sheered as she came down a sea. The next struck her on her starboard bow, and she capsized.

She was a self-righting boat, and she righted herself in a few seconds. When she righted herself, four of the eight men on board were missing, Coxswain Thomas Cocking, the acting bowman, William Barber, the signalman, John Thomas, and one of the crew, Edgar Bassett. William Freeman, who was forward, was in the water before he knew what had happened, but he kept hold of the gunwale and two of the other men dragged him on board again.

PROPELLER FOULED The engine had shut off when the life-boat capsized, as it was designed to do. Before the motor mechanic restarted it and any attempt could be made to pick up the missing men, some of the boat’s gear, which had been washed partly out of her, was cut away for fear that it would foul the propeller.

The mechanic then restarted the engine without difficulty, but when he put in the gear, the engine stalled. He restarted it again. Again it stalled. The engine was working, but the propeller must have been fouled. The astern gear was then put in; attempts were made to clear the propeller ; and the ahead gear was once more put in.

Again the engine stalled.

The four men dropped the anchor and veered out all the cable. They then attempted to step the mizzen mast and, with the help of the mizzen sail, to keep the life-boat head to wind and sea, but with half the crew gone it was beyond their power.

While they were at anchor they burned the red flares, “ More help needed,” which were seen by the coastguard.

They also switched on the searchlight, and burned a white flare.

They saw the coastguard’s answering rocket.

Meanwhile, the life-boat was sheering about. A great strain was put on the cable. It was a new one; it had not previously been used ; but the strain was so great that it parted, and the life-boat drifted to leeward across the mouth of the bay.THE SECOND CAPSIZE As she drifted, the mechanic again started the engine. It stalled again.

Again he started it, but again it stalled.

The boat continued to drift. When she was two-thirds of the way across the bay, a great sea struck her as she was beam on to it, and capsized her a second time. When she righted herself, the motor-mechanic, Richard Stevens, who was forward, was missing.

William Freeman, who was under the canopy above the engine controls, had jammed one hand in the railing below the canopy. With the other he had grasped the starting handle.

When the boat capsized, the pressure of the air trapped under the canopy was sufficient to keep the water out.

Even when he was upside down, with the keel of the boat above him, his face was not under water.

THE THIRD CAPSIZE There were now only three men aboard, and the life-boat continued to drift towards Godrevy. The men were all aft. As she came close to the rocks, Matthew Barber, the bowman, who was acting as second coxswain, shouted, “ Look out, a big sea coming.” For the third time she was capsized. When she righted herself only William Freeman was on board.

Matthew Barber and the assistant mechanic, John Cocking, had gone.

He felt them go past him, but he never saw them again.

Three minutes later the life-boat struck the rocks near Godrevy. She was thrown on a fairly level ledge, her stern towards the shore. As the sea receded, William Freeman crawled out and made his way on all fours along the rocks. A sea overtook him, but it did not knock him over. He scrambled up a gap in the cliff, took off his water-logged boots, and made his way to Godrevy Farm. There he was taken in by Mr. and Mrs. Delbridge and put to bed. He was cut and much bruised. Mr. Delbridge then cycled to Hayle. From there he telephoned to Camborne for a doctor, and then telephoned the news of the disaster to the coastguard at St. Ives. It was from the coastguard that the life-boat station learned, at five minutes past seven, four and a quarter hours after the boat had put out, that she was smashed on the Godrevy rocks with only one of her crew alive.

As soon as the coastguard received the news they started to search the coast for the bodies of the seven other men. The Penlee life-boat was off Land’s End, twelve miles from her station at 7.20. There she was signalled by the coastguard to return as her services were no longer needed.

AT THE SCENE OF THE DISASTER Immediately the news of the disaster reached the headquarters of the Institution, Captain R. L. Hamer, R.N., the deputy chief inspector of life-boats, went down to St. Ives with the inspector of machinery and the chief draftsman (hull), and there met the southern district inspector, Lieut.- Commander H. L. Wheeler, R.N.

Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Institution, went down the same day, provided with funds to relieve any immediate necessities among the families of the men who had lost their lives.

PENSIONS The seven men were all married, and besides the seven widows there were eight children, and one of the widows was expecting a child. On the day of the disaster it was announced that, as from that day, the Institution would give pensions, and allowances for the children, on the same scale as if the men had been sailors, soldiers or airmen killed in action. It also gave pensions and allowances to other dependent relatives who would not, under the pension scheme for the armed forces of the Crown, be entitled to receive them.

The pensions amounted to over £600 a year.

BRONZE MEDALS The Institution also awarded its bronze medal for gallantry to William Freeman, and bronze medals post-humously to the seven other men.

Freeman’s medal was accompanied by a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, and special certificates were awarded to the widows, recording that their husbands had died on service . The vellum and certificates were signed by H.R.H . the Duke of Kent, K.G, President of the Institution.

Special letters of thanks were sent to Mr. E. Leigh Guppy  the honorary secrectary of the station, to the coastguard, the police, the St. John Ambulance Association, Mr. and Mrs. Delbridge, who took in William Freeman, and others who helped.

The Institution paid all funeral expenses, and gave the widows the money awards for the launch. These amounted to £ 4 1 4 s . a man. I n addition to this reward on the standard scale, the Institution gave a special reward of £10 to William Freeman.

The total rewards to the St. Ives crew and launchers amounted to £88 2s.

The rewards to the Penlee crew and launchers were £21 15s.

THE MYSTERY OF THE SHIP IN DISTRESS What ship it was that was in distress off Cape Cornwall will never be certainly known. It is possible that she got out of danger and went on her way.

Or she may have been the 3,000-ton Glasgow steamer Wilston, with a crew of over 30 men. The Wilston had left Newport, Monmouthshire, on the evening of the 21st of January, bound for the Mediterranean. Two days after the wreck of the life-boat, wreckage began to come ashore at Wicca Cove, some six miles to the east of Cape Cornwall, a life-buoy with the Wilston’s name on it, and bodies of men who were identified as members of her crew.

The wrecked life-boat was at once placed under guard and was examined the next day. S he was on one of the reefs of rock immediately to the south o f Godrevy Island. She had been driven through a narrow gulley and left well above high-watermark .

From the marks on the rocks and the damage to the boat it was evident that she had, at one time, been keel up on the rocks. From the place where she lay it was impossible to remove her by land or by sea and she had been so severely damaged that she was beyond economical repair.

The engine was not damaged. It was started without difficulty. The propeller was dented, but nothing was foul of it. The engine was removed  and later the remains of the hull were burned.

THE INQUEST Four of the bodies came ashore, almost at once: Coxswain Thomas Cocking; his son, John Bassett Cocking; Matthew Barber; and William Barber. The inquest on them was held on 25th January and was attended by the secretary, the deputy chief inspector of  life-boats and the district inspector of life-boats. The verdict was “Death by misadventure. ”The funerals were held next day, the secretary, the deputy chief inspector of lifeboats and the district inspector of lifeboats, representing the Institution.

Nearly all  the men of St. Ives were present, and life-boatmen and fishermen from all round the Cornish coast.

In the end all the bodies were given up by the sea, the last of the seven on the 10th of  February .

The seven men who lost their lives were : THOMAS COCKING, aged 65, the coxswain.

MATTHEW STEVENS BARBER, aged 32 , bowman and acting second coxswain.

WILLIAM BRYANT BARBER, aged 37, acting bowman, the brother of Matthew.

RICHARD QUICK STEVENS, aged 36, the motor-mechanic.

JOHN BASSETT COCKING , aged 38, assistant motor - mechanic son of the coxswain.

JOHN THOMAS, aged 42, signalman.

EDGAR BASSETT, aged 29.

JAN. 23RD. - PADSTOW, CORNWALL.

On the same day on which the St. Ives motor life-boat was wrecked, the motor life-boat Princess Mary, at Padstow, Cornwall, was damaged on service. She is the heaviest lifeboat in the Institution’s fleet.At five minutes past two in the morning, just eight minutes after the honorary secretary at St. Ives had been rung up by the coastguard, the Padstow station was also rung up. The message from the coastguard was that distress flares could be seen about a mile north of Trevose Head. The life-boat put out in a W.N.W. gale, with exceptionally heavy seas and ground swell, and heavy squalls of rain. She found the ex-mine-layer Medea just outside the harbour. The Medea had parted from her tug and was drifting towards Doom Bar.

As she tried to get alongside, the life-boat was buried by a very heavy sea. It washed overboard a ventilator, several fenders, a life-buoy and and damaged the electric lighting system, putting it out of action.

The position of the Medea was now such that it was not practicable for the life-boat to reach her, so the coxswain signalled with his hand-flashing lamp to the coastguard of Stepper Point asking him to call out the rocket life-saving appliances. He had lashed a small torch to his compass and put out to sea, to wait for the tide to rise. The minelayer drifted over the bar, and three of the four men on board her were rescued by the rocket appliances from the shore. The fourth man was drowned.

Meanwhile the life-boat remained at sea until high-water. As she was coming in she was swept by three successive heavy seas which filled the canopy, washed a spare drogue and another life-buoy overboard, and knocked both the coxswain and the second coxswain from the wheel. The life-boat was out for five hours.

Rewards : A letter of appreciation to the coxswain and crew and an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale.

Standard rewards to crew (of whom four are full-time employees) and helpers, £10 13s. ; additional rewards to crew, £8; damage to mechanics’ clothing, £3 17s. 4d. ; total rewards, £22 10s. 4d.

JAN, 23RD. - CLOGHER HEAD, CO.

LOUTH. A fishing boat was reported in danger on Drogheda Bar, but she went ashore at Nanny River and her crew were able to land unaided.-Rewards, £28 1s. 6d.

JAN. 23RD. - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

Early in the morning information was received from the coastguard that the St.

Ives life-boat was out. At 5 A.M. it was reported that signals had been seen off Clodgy Head. The Sennen life-boat could not get out as the tide was low, and the Padstow life-boat was already out to a ship off Trevose Head. The Penlee motor life-boat W and S, which was in Newlyn Harbour at the time, set out at once, but off Land’s End she was recalled by the coastguard. She returned to Newlyn again at 8.45 A.M. An increase in the usual money awards on the standard scale was granted to each member of the crew.-Standard rewards to crew, £11 8s.  additional rewards to crew, £9 ; total rewards, £21 15s.

JAN. 23RD. - BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY.

A small boat had been reported in distress, but along search was without result. - Rewards, £8 1s.

JAN. 24TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. An aircraft had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found.-Rewards, £8 18s.

JAN. 26TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. A motor barge had signalled for help, but her anchors held and she did not need it.- Rewards, £14 0S. 6d.