Signals of distress from the Middle Lightship were observed on the morning of the 19th January. The same Life-boat was launched and proceeded to a schooner which was found to be sunk with the lower masts' heads out of water. As no one was on the masts the Life-boat made for Gunfleet, but did not find any vessel distress; she then crossed the sand at West Buoy and stood toward the Heaps, and spoke a steamer steering E.N.

which waved for them to go to the westward.

Seeing nothing on the Heaps Barrows she steered for the Middle Lightship, which reported three sailing vessels and a steamer on the Maplin Sands.

reaching the first vessel she was found be abandoned. A signal was then made from the Maplin Lighthouse, the boat therefore steered in that direction and soon sighted a dismasted ship. On nearing her, at about 2 P.M., a group of people were seen standing on one of the deckhouses waving a flag. The Life-boat made for her lee bow, the loaded cane was thrown to the crew, who seized it and hauled the boat's cable on board. The sea was making a clean breach over the vessel, and some difficulty was experienced in transferring the crew from her to the Life-boat; eventually, however, this was safely accomplished. The vessel proved to be the brigantine Hasselo, of Haguesund, bound from Biga to London with oats. The crew, eight in number, had been on the deck-house since noon on the previous day, and had not tasted anything for thirty-three hours. The Life-boa fortunately had some spirits and biscuits on board, which were distributed amongsthe men and for which they were very grateful. On returning to shore the Lifeboat saw two other vessels, but it was evident that their crews had been able to get ashore. When about three miles below the Middle Lightship signals were seen going up from the Mouse Lightship; bu1 as the cold was so intense and the crew of the brigantine were in such an exhausted state that they would probably not have lived through the night if the boat had gone to the Mouse, it was considered best that the boat should make for Clacton. The Life-boatmen had great difficulty in keeping life in the rescued men by constantly rubbing their limbs, and were much afraid that they would not reach the land alive. They were, however, all safely landed at Clacton at about 4 o'clock on the following morning, and were taken to an hotel, where their wants were attended to..