A few minutes after 8 P.M. on the 8th January the Coastguard reported that distress sig- nals were being fired from the St.

Nicholas Light-vessel, and without delay the No. 1 Life-boat Mark Lane was launched. They found the brigantine Rapid, of Faversham, at anchor in the roads, she having been run into by a foreign vessel which, in the prevailing gale, had parted from her anchors. The main rigging of the Rapid was carried away on the port side and her side stove in, leaving her in a perilous state in the existing conditions of weather.

The crew of seven hands had taken to the starboard rigging, and with con- siderable difficulty they were rescued.

Having got them safely on board, the Life-boat returned to Gorleston and landed them at about 10 P.M. The gale continued throughout the night with snowstorms, and shortly before 6 A.M.

information was received that the Life- boat was again wanted, a vessel having been burning signals near the Gorton Light-vessel. The Mark Lane, in tow of a tug, at once proceeded to the sands, and in the broken water found the smack Our Boys, of Lowestoft, and the crew of five hands in. the ship's boat hanging on to the wreckage above water.

The men were rescued and landed at Lowestoft, the Life-boat then returning to Gorleston in tow of the tug which had taken her to the sands..