At 7.30 A.M. on the 14th January the Coastguard reported that signals of distress were being made by a vessel on the Goswick Sands. The crew of the Life-boat Edward and Eliza were promptly assembled, and the boat was transported for four miles over the sands through broken water, and launched in the vicinity of the vessel.

Although the wreck was only a short distance from the shore the sea was so heavy that for upwards of an hour the Life-boat was fighting the breakers to reach her. One heavy sea struck the boat, carrying away five oars, and the men were in imminent danger of being washed out of the boat, but fortunately no casualty occurred. When the boat got alongside, the crew expressed their wish to leave the ship at once, but the master refused to allow them to do so, and he requested the Life-boat to stand by until he could consider what action he should take. The boat stood by the vessel for an hour and a half, when it was considered that the ship's cable was a serious danger to the Life-boat; the boat therefore returned ashore, and the men remained in readiness to return to the vessel should it be necessary.

No further signal was made, however, and the crew after remaining on duty for many hours returned home. The crew of the endangered vessel eventually landed. During the whole day a dense fog prevailed and a very heavy sea was running, and although two tugs approached the stranded vessel they were unable to render assistance. The vessel was the s.s. Werner Kunstmann, of Stettin..