JANUARY 18TH. - WALMER, KENT. A request was received from the naval authorities at Ramsgate for the life-boat to take out a doctor to the American steamer J. P.

Mitchell, urgent help being needed by four of her crew. A south-west gale was blowing and the sea was very rough. No ordinary boats could have gone out. At 11.15 the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched with a doctor on board.

After speaking several vessels by semaphore, she found the J. P. Mitchell anchored near the South-West Goodwin Buoy. With great difficulty she put the doctor on board. Heavy seas twice parted the securing ropes. The doctor was on board for over an hour.

Many attempts were made to get him back into the life-boat and it was only done after a bowline had been passed. The life-boat returned to her station at 2.15 that afternoon.

- Rewards, £15 14s..