At about 1.30 P.M. on the 9th January the Life-boat Coxswain with a large number of men witnessed the breaking away from their moorings of two boats anchored in Holy Island Harbour, one being the cutter Alma, of South Shields, and the other the ketch Fingal, of Dublin. A very strong W.S.W.

gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea, and the boats were liable to the double danger of collision and stranding on the rocks. The Alma managed to barely clear the rocks but stranded on a sandy beach, where she was attended by shore-boats. The Life-boat Lizzie Porter was smartly launched and in five minutes was alongside the Fingal, which had been brought up by her anchors.

The Life-boat stood by the vessel for two hours..