At 7.15 P.M.

on 19th September, when a fresh breeze was blowing from the S.W. accom- panied by a rough sea, the St. Nicholas light-vessel fired signals denoting that a vessel was in distress, and about the same time a vessel was observed3 appar- ently ashore, on the inside part of the Scroby Sands. The Life-boat John Burch was launched and proceeded to the vessel, •which proved to be the fishing- smack Soy Sen, of Lowestoft, bound for the North Sea fishing-grounds.

Before the Life-boat arrived she had got off the sands, but she had no sails set with the exception of the mizzen, and her anchor was hanging in the water. As the vessel was drifting, the Life-boat stood by her until sail had been set; she then returned to her station..