At 4.30 A.M. on the 21st February the Albert Edward Life-boat was launched, signals having been fired by the Swin Middle, Light-vessel. The morning was bitterly cold; a very strong wind was blowing from the N.E., and the sea was very rough. Flares were afterwards seen, apparently shown by a vessel ashore on the Whitaker or Bnxey Sands, and theLife-boat burned blue-lights in response, but no further signals being shown, she proceeded to the Light-ship, where the crew were informed that a vessel was in distress bearing S.W. by W. After going some distance and seeing nothing of the vessel, the course was altered for the Maplin Light, where the same information was given. Proceeding again in the direction indicated, the Life-boat men eventually found the schooner Dorothea, of Eiga, bound from Memel for London with oakstaves, and having a crew of four men, just below the West Maplin Buoy; she was full of water, and had lost her rudder.

The Life-boat men weighed the anchor, set some of the sails, and the Life-boat was made fast astern, so as to steer the vessel, but owing to the heavy sea and the ship being waterlogged, the services of a steam-tug had also to be secured.

After some time, the hawsers repeatedly breaking, the vessel was got off the sand and was taken to Gravesend, which was reached at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

The Life-boat crew went ashore for food, having had but little since leaving home in the morning, after obtaining which they returned to the ship. The Coxswain and two men remained on board to assist in taking the vessel to London. About 1.30 on the following afternoon the Lifeboat, with eleven men, under the charge of the assistant Coxswain, started to return to her station, but owing to adverse winds, and being unable to obtain a tow from any vessel proceeding towards the Swin, the crew took refuge on board the tug Victoria until daylight, when they left the tug and were kindly taken in tow by the s.s. Columbia, of London, as far as the N.E. Gunfleet Buoy, the boat reaching Clacton pier at 7.45 P.M., the crew being worn out by exposure and cold..