During a S.W, gale on the 27th January, signals of distress were shown by the ketch Christine, of Milford, which had stranded on the Dogger Bank. The crew of the Life-boat James Stevens No. 15 were at once assembled, but before they had boarded the Life-boat, the Captain of the ketch came ashore in his own boat and engaged the crew to save his vessel.

At 11.15 A.M. they proceeded to the schooner, and laid out two anchors.

They then commenced to jettison the cargo and continued the salvage opera- tions all day. About 10 P.M., whilst so engaged, signals of distress were seen from two other vessels also aground on the bank. The Life-boat immediately left the schooner and proceeded to their assistance. The wind by now was blowing a strong gale, and the night was very dark. The boat was anchored and veered down to the nearer vessel, which proved to be the schooner Aeron Belle, bound from Newport, Monmouth, to Wexford, with a cargo of coal. With difficulty the crew of seven men were rescued, and then the boat made for the other vessel—the ketch Ketch, of Ayr, inward bound from Plymouth.

To rescue her crew also presented con- siderable difficulty and some danger; the vessel lay stern to wind and it was necessary to take the men over the bow owing to the shallow water along- side and at the stern. In doing this the stern of the Life-boat was damaged by the vessel's anchor, which was on her bow. The heavy sea breaking on the star-board side washed heavily round the bows, rendering the operation very hazardous. Having accomplished their task the Life-boat returned to the Christine, and anchored until daylight.

About that time the wind veered more to westward and the Christine was floated, whereupon the Life-boat returned ashore and landed the rescued men..