During a strong W.N.W. breeze, accompanied by a rough sea in the early morning of the 21st September, the Coastguard reported that signals of distress were being made from the middle part of the Cockle Sands. It was then 4.10 A.M., and with great promptness the crew of the No. 1 Life-boat Govent Garden were assembled and the boat launched. The vessel proved to be the brigantine Parthenia, of Yarmouth, bound from Hartlepool to Lowestoft with coal; she being then under water and the crew of six hands taking refuge in the rigging.

From this critical position they were rescued by the Life-boat together with their dog, which they had humanely taken with them to the rigging when the vessel sank. One of the men was in a very exhausted condition when saved, being seventy years of age, and after being given restoratives was conveyed to the Sailors' Home at Yarmouth for treatment. The weather during this service was cold and the Life-boatmen suffered somewhat as, in the hurry to get the Life-boat away promptly, they did not stop to fully clothe them- selves..