Six mines exploded under and around the _Pelican_ one day in July. Deluged by the mass of water thrown up by the explosion, the forward part of the ship ruptured and flooded, the mine-sweeper was rapidly sinking. Captain R. C. Bulmer, directing the operations, went at once to her assistance. Placing his flagship, the _Auk_, alongside the _Pelican_, he connected his wrecking hose with the forward compartments, and set the pumps going to keep the damaged ship afloat. The _Eider_ got on the other side, and did the same thing. The _Teal_ took the three ships in tow, and the four, lashed together, headed slowly for port. The bow of the _Pelican_ was hardly above water, but for several hours constant pumping held her up. Then a heavy head sea arose, and the pump-lines were carried away. Water rose in the _Pelican_, buckling the forward bulkhead, and the vessel was liable to burst at any moment, going down in a flash. Every man on her was in danger, and it was decided to leave aboard only a few men to do necessary work. Twelve volunteers were called for. Every member of her crew stepped forward. The dozen strongest were chosen and the others, against their will, were ordered off the ship. Fifty miles of open sea were still to be traversed. Darkness had fallen. Crews of _Auk_ and _Eider_ struggled desperately to get the lines repaired and pumps going. Men stood by with axes to cut the mooring lines, in case the _Pelican_ should sink. All through the night this struggle continued, and there was a sigh of relief when day dawned with the vessel still afloat, and the ships reached the shelter of Tresness Bay. A curious accident befell the _Flamingo_. While weighing anchor, steel touched copper and exploded a mine which her anchor had fouled, damaging her rudder, bending her skeg, and dishing in her stern. The most serious disaster encountered in all our mine sweeping occurred on July 12th, the sinking of the _Richard Bulkeley_. Caught in its kite, a mine was seen close to her stern, near the surface. To get it further away the kite wire was being veered when the mine exploded. The after part of the ship's hull was shattered. She sank in seven minutes.