Shortly before 9 A.M. on the 8th January a telephone message was received from the Maplin Lighthouse, stating that there was a barge ashore on the "Burrows" with a signal of distress in her rigging. There was a strong W.N.W. gale at the time accompanied by a rough sea, and with all promptness possible the Life-boat James Stevens No. 9 was despatched to the assistance of the men on board. About 10.30 the Coxswain found the barge Dorothea of Harwich stranded in the position in- dicated with her sprit broken and sails blown away. She was bound from Lowestoft to Grays, Essex, and her boat had been smashed. The Life-boatmen were employed to save the vessel and succeeded in getting her and her crew of two men into safety about 4 P.M.

The Life-boat then made for Southend, arriving at midnight..