During a fresh westerly breeze with rough sea, in the early morning of the 20th April, the s.s. Asia, of Bremen, bound from Savannah to Bremen, stranded on the Goodwin Sands.

In response to the signals from the Light-vessels the Life-boats Charles Hargrave, Civil Service No. 4, and Charles and Susanna Stephens put off from the above three stations. They reached the vessel between 3 and 4 A.M., but at first their assistance was declined. Later, however, the help of all three boats was accepted. A kedge anchor with a wire hawser was run away, and eventually when the tide made, with the help of the vessel's own energies, she was saved and able to proceed on her voyage..