During a whole N.N.E. gale with a very heavy sea on the morning of the 12th January the St. Nicholas Light-vessel commenced to fire signals of distress. The crew of the No. 1 Life-boat Mark Lane were promptly assembled and at 7 A.M. the boat was launched. When abreast the North Bay flares were seen burning to the southward and the Life-boat's course in tow of a tug was shaped accordingly.

When nearing the vessel the Life-boat's 1 anchor was let go, but owing to the ' violence of the wind and sea the cable ! carried away and the boat was driven i to leeward. She was towed back again , to the vessel and the crew o£ four hands I were eventually saved, just as their •• vessel struck the outer bank. The | vessel was the schooner Volant, of Goole.

She was at the time bound from London to Hull with a cargo of loam, but she was totally wrecked..