NOVEMBER 24TH. - TORBAY, AND SALCOMBE, DEVON, AND WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

A heavy south-westerly gale was blowing. The seas were very heavy. Visibility was poor. At 5.35 in the morning information came to the Torbay life-boat station that the S.S. Ayrshire Coast, of Liverpool, of 780 tons, with a crew of twelve, was in difficulties ten miles south of Start Point.

Ten minutes later the motor life-boat George Shee set out to her help. She searched for a long time, but though she was in communication by wireless with the steamer all the time, she could not find her, for the steamer did not know where she was. The life-boat returned to her station at 3.30 that afternoon, refuelled, and left again at 4.40. At 6.16 she found the Ayrshire Coast drifting in Lyme Bay. The Admiralty tug Enforcer was trying to take her in tow. The lifeboat stood by until she succeeded, at 7.20, and then escorted the steamer and tug, as they made for Portland. At nine o’clock the tow-rope parted, and the Ayrshire Coast called for the life-boat to come closer, which she did ; but the tow-rope was re-connected. The lifeboat continued to escort them until they were just off Portland. She then made for Weymouth, for fuel and rest, and arrived there at 10.53 on the morning of the 25th. At 12.45 she left Weymouth for her station. She arrived early in the evening, was ready for service again at 7.45. During this very arduous service of 36 hours, the life-boat had covered about 200 miles.

At Salcombe the news of the Ayrshire Coast was received from the coastguard at 5.30 in the morning of the 24th, and the motor lifeboat Samuel and Marie Parkhouse left at 5.50.

She searched and found nothing, and put into Dartmouth about ten o’clock that morning.

At 11.30 the steamer was reported two and a half miles south of Skerries Buoy. The lifeboat put out again, and again searched without result. She went into Dartmouth for the second time about two that afternoon. She had then been out for eight hours. Her crew returned by road to Salcombe, and fetched the life-boat back two days later.

The honorary secretary of the station, Commander A. C. Roberts, O.B.E., R.N., was in the life-boat on this service. He said that when she was launched, it was touch and go if she would get over the bar at Salcombe, and that he had never seen such a sea as was running in the Channel.

At Weymouth the coastguard reported at 6.30 in the evening of the 29th that the Torbay life-boat was standing by the Ayrshire Coast, and the Weymouth motor life-boat William and Clara Ryland left at 8.15 to relieve her, but missed her and returned at five in the morning of the 25th of November.

She had been out for nearly nine hours.

The crew of the Ayrshire Coast made a collection for the Institution.

An increase in the usual money awards on the standard scale was made to each member of the crews of the three life-boats : Torbay : standard rewards to crew and helpers, £47 5s. ; additional rewards to crew, £24 ; total rewards to crew and helpers, £71 5s. ; Salcombe : standard rewards to crew and helpers and other expenses, £25 12s. 3d. ; additional rewards to crew, £16 ; total rewards to crew and helpers, £41 12s. 3d. ; Weymouth : standard rewards to crew and helpers, £14 14s ; additional rewards to crew, £18 ; total rewards to crew and helpers, £32 14s. ; Total rewards for the three life-boats, £145 11s. 3d..