Shortly after midnight on the 17th-18th January signals of distress were seen burning in the direction of the South Barber Sands.

As soon as it was possible the No. 1 boat Covent Garden was launched and found the S.S. Altyre, of Aberdeen, riding with two anchors down and dragging towards the shore. The captain asked the Coxswain of the boat to stand by, and, if necessary, take off the crew.

Tugs had already been sent for from Yarmouth, but in consequence of the bad weather and the E.S.E. gale they would not leave port. At 9 A.M. the next morning one tug came out to the vessel, and the Life-boatmen with their assistance succeeded in getting the vessel out of a very dangerous position, in only 2^ fathoms of water. She was then towed to Yarmouth. At the time of this service the weather was very cold with heavy snow squalls..