MARCH 10TH. - TROON, AYRSHIRE. At 11.30 P.M. on 9th March, the duty naval officer at Ardrossan reported the S.S. Asteria, of Glasgow, ashore on Eagle Rock, off Ardrossan breakwater, and in need of help. She was a vessel of 694 tons gross, in ballast, carrying a crew of fifteen and bound from Glasgow to Ardrossan. The night was dark with rain squalls, and a fresh westerly wind was blowing with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Sir David Richmond of Glasgow was launched at 12.15 next morning and reached the steamer at 1.30 A.M. She found the Ardrossan pilot boat standing by and the steamer herself lit up by searchlights from the shore.

The coxswain took the life-boat straight up to the steamer. There was a nasty backwash from the rocks, but he got her safely alongside it, and in a short time had rescued the crew of fifteen. The life-boat landed them at Ardrossan, and reached her station again at 3.30 A.M.

The rescue was carried out promptly and skilfully and an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale was made to each member of the crew. - Standard rewards to crew and helper, £13 14s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew, £4 ; total rewards, £17 14s. 6d..