During a heavy snowstorm and very cold weather on the 26th February the same Life-boat was launched to the help of a vessel ashore about half a mile south of Houghton Steel. She was the s.s.

Villalegre of Aviles, a steamer of 2700 tons, bound for Burntisland fromCarthagena with a cargo of iron ore.

The vessel was reached at 2.30 A.

the crew refused to leave her, but the captain requested that the Life-boat should stand by him. This was done, and at daylight they ran out a kedge anchor and also took a line to a tug which had been sent for. Later on the weather freshened, and the crew finding it impossible to get their vessel off, decided to leave her. Fourteen men were taken into the Life-boat and landed; a second journey was then made and another six were taken into safety.

Six of the men still preferred to remain on board, but at low tide they also had to abandon the vessel.On the night of the 29th February an attempt was made to salve her; during the first part of the night the weather was fine, but about midnight a strong breeze sprang up from S.E. A fishing boat which was in attendance at once took off as many of the salvage party as possible, but was unable to return owing to the severity of the weather, and at the urgent request of the fishermen the Life-boat again went out and landed the six remaining men..