The large life-boat Birmingham, on this station, was launched on the 28th October to the barque Alma, of Malta, which, while lying about a cable's length from the buoy of the West Scroby Sand, had dragged one anchor and had then hoisted a signal of distress, being in imminent danger, as she had then only one anchor to hold her during the fury of the storm then raging, and must have gone on the sands in five minutes, had the other cable parted.

Some of the life-boat men boarded the vessel, and cut away some of her top gear.

The boat remained alongside, and on the weather moderating, a steamer was for- tunately able to get out of her dangerous position..