On the 29th Jan- uary, during a south-westerly gale, the coal- laden brig Queenofthe Tyne, of South Shields, went on the Gorton Sand. The life-boat Iiostitia promptly proceeded off to the scene of the wreck, and on reaching the spot found the vessel on her beam ends, with the crew of 8 men in the weather main rigging.

From the position in which the vessel lay, it was a work of great risk to board her, she being on the most dangerous part of the sand, and the seas being very heavy, making a complete breach over her. However, the rescue was safely and nobly accomplished, the men being taken into the boat from the maintop gallant yard, which at times it was feared would have gone through the boat, as she and the vessel rose and fell together.

It was a most narrow escape for the poor shipwrecked men, for they would probably all have been lost as the flood tide made, had not the life-boat gone out to them so promptly..