At 1 A.M. on the 18th March the Coastguard reported that a large Government cruiser was signalling to the shore for immediate assistance. The crew of the Life-boat were promptly assembled, and in a choppy sea the Life-boat John BurcJi was launched. On reaching the vessel, which was about one mile S.E. of the Cross Sands Light-vessel, they found that she was H.M.S. Invincible, and that she had been in collision with the brigantine Mary Ann, of Fowey, the latter being very badly damaged. The crew of the bri- gantine were on board the cruiser, and the brigantine was astern with two ropes fast. The crew were transferred to the Life-boat, which replaced them on their own vessel with ten of the Life- boat crew, each man being supplied with a life-belt, the brigantine having been so seriously damaged that grave fears were entertained that she would founder.

A tug was employed to tow the vessel towards Yarmouth, and when near the harbour the Life-boatmen started pump- ing and clearing the damaged gear, eventually getting the vessel safely moored. The Mary Ann was bound from Charlestown to the Tyne with a cargo of china clay..