During a whole N.N.W. gale with terrific squalls signals of distress were seen from a vessel at anchor in Torbay. The crew were summoned at once and the Life- boat Betsey Newbon launched. Owing to the gale blowing right on shore some difficulty was experienced in getting to wind ward of the breakwater head. The vessel was reached about 8 P.M. when it was found that she had parted both cables but was then brought up by a spare anchor. She was in such a dangerous position on a lee shore that the life-saving apparatus was in readi- ness in case of necessity. Happily the Life-boatmen were able with consider- able difficulty to extricate the vessel, but after they got her under weigh the main-sheet parted and some of the head- sails were blown away. The vessel however was got into a sufficiently windward position to make the inner harbour, accompanied by the Life-boat.

At the time of the casualty the vessel— which was the ketch John Bees of Ply- mouth—was bound from London to Dublin with explosives and carried a crew of four hands..