Shortly after 10 A.M. on the llth January, the Coast- guard reported that a vessel off Gorton was dragging her anchors and driving towards the beach. As the position of the vessel was one of considerable danger, the Life-boat Kentwett was launched, and in tow of a tug proceeded to the vessel. She proved to be the schooner Alice Watts, of Harwich, bound from Shields to Colchester with a cargo of coal. Seas continually broke over the Life-boat, but the anchor was let go and the boat veered down to the schooner. Some of the Life-boatmen were put on board, and they eventually succeeded in getting a hawser to the tug, and the vessel was towed out of her dangerous position, and she subse- quently got into harbour.

The strong E.S.E. gale, which was raging during the above service, con- tinued throughout the day, and about 4 P.M. another message was received, stating that a vessel was burning flares for assistance. Owing to the state of the weather it was not possible for the Life-boat to get out of harbour without the assistance of a tug. Fortunately the tug was able to tow her just clear of the harbour, but the tug was then compelled to return, having been damaged during the service to the Alice Watts in the morning. The Life-boat then proceeded under sail to the vessel, let go her anchor, and veered down to her. As soon as the boat got alongside the vessel—which was the barge Gladys, of Dover—the crew of three men jumped aboard. Sail was made for home, but as the wind and tide were against the boat, the Life-boat was obliged to anchor and wait for the tide to change. It was impossible for the boat to run into Yarmouth Harbour, as the entrance was blocked by a steamer which had sunk there earlier in the day. The Life- boat rode to her anchor throughout the night unti] daybreak, when she got under way. Shortly afterwards a tug was seen coming down towards her, and the boat was picked up and towed into harbour, after having been at sea for orer seventeen hours, exposed to practically a whole gale, accompanied by squalls of snow and rain. The men were numbed with the cold and thoroughly exhausted after their long and trying service. In view of the arduous nature of their work, and the hardships which the men had been called upon to endure, the Committee of Management granted them extra reward.

The boat returned to harbour shortly before 9 A.M. from the above service, and as it was thought possible to save the barge, a fresh crew was obtained and the boat again put to sea in tow of a tug. They succeeded in picking up the Gladys close to the beach off Corton, and bhe was eventually brought into Lowestoft Harbour in safety. The wind at this time had changed to the W.N.W., and the weather had moderated. The barge at the time of the casualty was bound from Barton to London with a cargo of tiles..