AUGUST 12TH. - ST. IVES, AND PADSTOW, CORNWALL. At 10.40 in the morning the St. Ives coastguard reported that a tug, with a steamer in tow, north of St. Ives Head, was making little headway. A fresh westerly gale was blowing, with very heavy seas. The tug and steamer were kept under observation, and when it was seen that they were slowly drifting towards the shore, the motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched. It was then 2.40 in the afternoon, She set a course for St.

Agnes Head. The weather got much worse and the coxswain was compelled to return. The life-boat arrived back at 5.20. The Padstow life-boat station had been informed when St. Ives launched and, as no further news of her had been received by 4.15, the coastguard asked for the Padstow life-boat to go out. It was now blowing a full north-westerly gale, with tremendous seas, and when the No. 1 motor life-boat Princess Mary left at five o’clock on her twenty-mile journey she had to meet the last of the flood tide. She reached St. Agnes Head about 8.30 and found the S.S.

Kedah, of Singapore, three-quarters of a mile east-north-east of the Head.

She had parted from the tug which was taking her from Barrow to Antwerp.

Her anchors were down, but she was dragging towards the shore and was yawing considerably in a very confused sea. She had rescue nets out on the port side and the life-boat attempted to get a line aboard on that side, but as the life-boat approached, the Kedah sheered away to starboard. At the same time the lifeboat had to go full steam ahead and turn away to meet a tremendous sea.

She then asked for the nets to be shifted to the starboard side and made an attempt on that side, but, just as she came alongside, the steamer again sheered and the life-boat was swung round by the seas and struck the steamer, damaging her own bows.

For the third time she closed the steamer. Again the steamer sheered and again the life-boat was damaged.

But the coxswain kept his engines at full speed and this time brought the life-boat alongside. The steamer’s crew of ten jumped into her and she came out again at full speed. The life-boat reached Padstow at 12.20 next morning, having been at sea for over seven hours in what were described as almost impossible conditions.

It was a courageous rescue, calling for fine seamanship and great determination on the part of the coxswain, and skilful co-operation on the part of the second-coxswain and the motor-mechanic.

The Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN JOHN T. MURT, the silver medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To WILLIAM H. GRANT, second-coxswain, and JOHN H. ROKAHR, motormechanic, each the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; To each member of the crew a special reward of £2.

Rewards : Padstow, standard rewards to crew and helpers, £7 1s. 9d. ; additional rewards to crew, £16 ; total rewards to crew and helpers, £23 1s. 9d. St. Ives, £11 5s. 6d..