The Grand Lodge Life-Boats.

This lamentable occurrence was occasioned by the capsizing of the boat in an unusually heavy sea . It was the first mishap of the kind , and it is a source of gratification to be able to say that no other accident has taken place in connection with the "Albert Edward , " and that the families

of the brave fellows who sacrificed their lives at the call of duty were amply provided for . In April , 1885 , the National Life-boat Institution sent a new life-boat to Clacton-on-Sea , to take the place of the smaller boat on that station . The new boat possesses all

the latest improvements , and , like its predecessor , is named the " Albert Edward . " In 1887 , the Hope Cove Life-boat was replaced by a new one , a water-ballast boat of modern type , the new boat bearing the same name as the former one , " The

Alexandra . " The Clacton-on-Sea Life-boats have been launched for service on 105 occasions and have saved 266 lives in addition to rescuing 11 vessels from destruction .

Tin : J . IFK-IIOAT AND Horsi : AT Hoi ' K CIIVK PKESK . VTK / I nv Tin : KKKKMASIINX » K K . \ IIU . VII AS A TIIANK- OITHIIINI ; ON TII I : SAI-K IOTI ' IIN FIIOJI INIMA , IN 1 N 7 I 1 , OF ll . li . ll . mi I ' IIINCII in- WALKS , M . W . d . M .

1 he Hope Cove Life-boats have been on service 10 times and have saved 62 lives . On the 14 th December , 18 93 , the silver medal of the Institution accompanied by the vote inscribed on vellum and framed was awarded to Mr . W . Schofield , the present

coxswain of the life-boat " Albert Edward" in recognition of his general gallant services in the boat . On nth January , 18 95 , the silver medal of the Institution accompanied by a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and framed , were awarded to Maurice Nicholls , Robert Osborne

and John Grier , members of the life-boat crew , who had been out on service in the boat respectivel y 77 , 74 and 67 times . On 9 th March , 18 99 , the silver second service clasp was awarded to Maurice Nicholls and Robert Osborne on their resignation necessitated by old age . The former had been on service on 101 occasions and the latter 99 times .

The silver medal and copy of the vote on vellum , framed , were awarded to G . Grigson , senior , who had also retired after rendering 68 services in the boat . On the morning of the 23 rd of October , 1881 , the "Albert Edward " was instrumental , under circumstances of great difficulty and danger , in saving the crew of 16 , of the

" Madeleine , " of Boulogne . Two gold medals , eleven silver medals , and thirteen diplomas , were awarded by the French Government to the coxswain , second coxswain , and crew of the life-boat , and the silver medal of the Institution and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum , were awarded to Mr . Robert Legerton ,

coxswain of the life-boat , in recognition of his general gallant services , and particularly on this occasion . On the 7 th February , 188 4 , the Institution ' s silver secondservice clasp w ; ts awarded to Mr . Legerton in recognition of his continued valuable services * . On the 14 th May , 1891 , lie received the third service clasp on his retirement from the office of coxswain .

The last service rendered by the Clacton boat was on the 18 th December last , when she rescued six persons from the brigantine " Nina , " of Tynemouth , which was totally wrecked on the Gunfleet Sands in a strong W . S . W . breeze and a moderate sea . December 1 st , 18 9 6 , Hope Cove , "Alexandra" Life-boat .

The three-masted steamer " Blesk , " of and from Odessa , bound for Hamburg , laden with petroleum , stranded on the Greystone Rock , about a mile S . E . of Bolt Tail , in extremel y dark and thick weather . Guns and rockets having been fired , the life-boat "Alexandra" was launched at 6 . 45 p . m .

and found the steamer aground under the cliffs , which are between 200 and 300 feet high . She had gone ashore with a tremendous crash , and , it being impossible to get her off , her crew of 43 persons were taken into the life-boat and safely brought ashore in two trips .