On the morning of the 5th January, the wind blowing fresh from E.S.E. with thick fog, guns were heard at in- tervals of five minutes, apparently from the North Sand Head and Gull light-ships; and the life-boat Bradford and the harbour steam-tug Aid were immediately manned, and left the harbour. Upon arriving in the Gull Stream, the life-boat fell in with a ship's boat with 8 men on board. They reported that their vessel, the schooner Mizpah of Dartmouth, had struck on the North Sand Head the previous evening.

They were taken on board the life-boat, and afterwards safely brought into Ramsgate.

The life-boat again put off in tow of the tug about eleven o'clock at night, in reply to signal guns and rockets from the Gull light-ship. It was then blowing a heavy gale of wind, and a high sea was running.

Upon arriving at the light-ship, they were told that a large flaring light of distress had been observed in a south-easterly direction.

It being very dark and thick with snow, it was agreed to keep about the sands till daylight; but about three o'clock A.M., it was so intensely cold that the life-boat and tug were forced to return to the harbour. As, however, it was probable that the services of the life-boat would be required to some distressed vessel, she was again taken out at eight o'clock in a strong gale and tre- mendous sea. It being now light, they dis- covered a vessel ashore close to the Trinity Beacon. After attempting no less than six times to veer the life-boat alongside the vessel through the very heavy sea and broken water, they at last succeeded in taking the crew, 10 in number, from off the wreck, the life-boat losing both anchors and cables in the service. The crew, when taken off, were very much exhausted. The vessel proved to be the Danish barque Aurora Sorealis of Rebe. The coxswain of the life-boat reported that he never en- countered such terrific weather, intense cold, and heavy seas, in all his experience. The crew could not have been saved without the assistance of the tug.