At about 6 P.M., on the 12th March, two men put off in a pilot boat to pull a line set at sea. It was too dark to find it and they tried to get into harbour again, and twice were driven back, the boat shipping heavy seas. The third time they tried, the boat broached to, shipped a sea that half filled her and washed one of the men overboard, leaving the other man with only one oar. Fortunately by means of this the man was got on board again and both men shouted for help.

Their cries were heard and the Life-boat Matthew Simpson was smartly launched and proceeded to sea with all haste.

After searching for nearly an hour the Life-boat picked them up, both men being helpless from exhaustion, and the boat half full of water. Two Life- boatmen were put on board to bale the boat out and then she was taken in tow, the exhausted men in the meantime having been transferred to the Life-boat and supplied with restoratives..