At 3.45 P.M. on the 8th March the Signalman reported that two boats were adrift to the east of the Pier, in a very heavy snowstorm. A N.W. gale was blowing, and the sea was rough. Without delay the crew of the Life-boat James Stevens No. 9 were assembled and the Life-boat proceeded to search for the boats. They came up with one of the boats which had shipped a lot of water, her two occupants being in an exhausted con- dition. Both men were taken into the Life-boat, which then returned to Southend, and landed them. The boat belonged to the ship Aravia, of Nysted.

The men in the other boat succeeded in reaching a barge and took refuge there until the weather moderated..