MARCH 9TH. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

A message had been received from the coastguard that a heavy explosion had been heard, and a later message said that an S.O.S. had come in from the S.S. Esmond The life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched at 9.20 in the evening and came upon a south-bound convoy. She hailed the last ship but that convoy had suffered no damage. The lifeboat then went southwards and at 2.30 in the morning found the Esmond nine miles south-west of Buchanness. She had been attacked and damaged, and seven of her crew had been seriously injured. They were so seriously injured that they could not be put on board the life-boat. A message had already been sent from a tug asking for a doctor, and the life-boat at once returned to Peterhead to get one. She arrived at 3.45 in the morning, but found that a doctor had already gone out on board one of H.M.

trawlers. - Rewards, £13 3s. 6d..