— At about 6.30 P.M. on the 21st August the Cox- swain of the Life-boat sighted a steamer making for the Harbour, when she struck the bar and at once commenced to drift ashore. As the vessel appeared to be quite unmanageable and in a dangerous position owing to the heavy sea, the Life-boat was launched. A pilot asked to be put on board the disabled vessel, stating he had tried to board her before she came in, but was unable to do so, his boat being nearly swamped. He was put on board as requested, and the Life-boat stood by until asked by the captain of the steamer to get a tow-rope from a tug, which had also gone to the steamer's assistance, but was unable to get near. A rope was obtained and taken to the steamer, but in the meantime she had succeeded in getting her head to sea, and the rope was refused. The Life-boat continued to stand by the steamer until, eventually, the wind and sea moderating, she got clear on the rising tide. The Life-boat then returned to Harbour.

The steamer was the Brittany, a new boat built for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company, for the Newhaven and Caen route. She was on her way from Hu]l to Newhaven when the mishap occurred, and she was very fortunate in getting off as she did, because had the wind increased instead of moderated, she would have, in all probability, been lost..