The Coastguard, at 8 A.M. on the 2nd January, reported that a vessel was ashore on the west end of the Mixon. Reef, and the crew of the Life-boat Lucy Newbon were quickly assembled and the boat launched. They found the barquentine Waterwitch, of Portsmouth, loaded with coal and bound for that port, had stranded in the pre- vailing iog and was bumping heavily.

Owing to the strong flood tide and head wind it took the Life-boat some time to get to the vessel, but on reaching her it was thought prudent to stand by her as she was in a very dangerous poskion, and with a heavy ground swell running.

Later in the day a tug from Little- hampton was able to tow the vessel off in a leaking condition, and the crew being no longer in danger, the Life-boat returned to her station, arriving shortly before 5 P.M..