At 8 A.M. on the 26th February, a telephone message was received from the coastguard that one of H.M. Torpedo Destroyers was rapidly drifting towards the break- water, and that the crew of the Life- boat Friern Watch should be assembled in case of need. As a hurricane from the S.W. was blowing and the sea was very heavy this was promptly done, and the men remained on duty until the Destroyer with the help of a tug got into safety. Within an hour a further message arrived, stating that a ship was in distress with her crew in the rigging 6 miles S.S.W. of Grovepoint. The Friern Watch was immediately launched and in tow of a tug proceeded to the • vessel, which proved to be the barque ! Countess cf Anglesey, bound from Rouen to Liverpool in ballast. The crew I wished to be taken off, and two of the men got into the Life-boat, one falling | into the sea and with difficulty being j picked up, the captain, however, for- ; bade any more to leave the vessel.

j The Life-boat then remained by her, ', and subsequently two tugs were able to | take the barque into safety..