APRIL 22ND. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, ESSEX. The coastguard kept a yacht under observation for some hours. The sea was very heavy, a N.W. gale was blowing, and it was decided to send out help. At 2.25 P.M.

the motor life-boat Edward Z. Dresden put out and found the yacht to be the Sprite, of Leigh-on-Sea, with a crew of two on board.

She was near the Swin Bell Buoy and in need of help. The coxswain decided to take her to Harwich. While the skipper of the Sprite was making the tow-rope fast he was washed overboard by a heavy sea, but managed to catch hold of a rope and was hauled aboard again. Harwich was reached at 6.15 P.M.

and the life-boat left for home two hours later. On her way home, at a signal from the coastguard, she spoke a small yacht off Walton but no help was needed, and the lifeboat got back to Clacton at 10.15 P.M. The skipper of the Sprite sent a letter of thanks and a donation to the Institution.-Rewards, £l5 13s. 6d..