FEBRUARY 6TH and 12TH, and MARCH 7TH.

- AMBLE, NORTHUMBERLAND. At 11.45 P.M. on the 5th February the coastguard reported a vessel ashore at Druridge Bay, and the motor life-boat Frederick and Emma was launched 35 minutes later. A moderate breeze was blowing, but the sea was rough. The life-boat found the S.S.

Empire Breeze, of Sunderland, ashore on Bondicar Rocks, south of Hauxley. She was a vessel of 9,500 tons, with a crew of 42, laden with coke for America from Scotland, and on her maiden voyage. She was badly holed and the life-boat rescued and brought ashore 34 men. Going off again, the life-boat rescued the remainder of the crew, except the captain who still refused to abandon ship.

A third trip was made at 11.30 A.M. and after much persuasion the captain consented to leave and was brought ashore at 4.25 P.M.

The life-boat also brought with her some of the rescued crew’s belongings. Salvage operations were started, and on the 12th February, when a S.E. gale was blowing, with a rough sea, the naval salvage officer asked the lifeboat to go out and bring ashore the salvage party on board the Empire Breeze. At 3.30 P.M. the motor life-boat Elizabeth Newton, on temporary duty at the station, was launched, but the salvage party refused to leave the steamer and the life-boat returned at 4.50 P.M.

On the 7th March the steamer caught fire, and the life-boat went to her at 11 P.M., but the salvage party on board had got the fire under control, and the life-boat returned to her station at 12.45 A.M. - Rewards : first launch, £22 12s. ; second launch, no expense to the Institution ; third launch, £15.

(See “ Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” Cresswell, page 36.).