At about midnight on the 8-9th February the district police constable roused the coxswain of the Life-boat Mary Andrew, and reported that a vessel was ashore south of Bondicar and making distress signals. The crew were assembled and the boat launched a little to the south of Hauxley Haven ; she was then pulled round Bondicar Rock in face of a strong southerly wind and choppy sea, reaching the wreck a few minutes after 1 A.M. She proved to be the Frank, of Tvedestrand, a large barque, bound from South America to Leith, loaded with guano. The captain asked for assistance at the pumps, and eight Life- boatmen were put on board and worked for an hour. It was then found that the water was still gaining fast; and the tide rising, with a strong wind on a lee shore, it was therefore decided to abandon the vessel.

The crew of seventeen were taken into the Life-boat, which returned to her station, towing one of the ship's boats containing the ship's papers and other small valuables..