At about 9.30 P.M. on the 8th May, during an easterly gale and very heavy sea, Thomas W. Rowntree, Coxswain of the No. 3 Life-boat, Horatio Brand, observed a schooner approaching the harbour, and shortly afterwards she made a signal of distress and ran aground. The Cox- swain at once assembled the crew and proceeded to the vessel, the boat on several occasions being struck broadside by heavy seas. While the Life-boat was being launched the steam tug Stranton, belonging to tiie Isforth Eastern Railway Company, put off to the vessel's assistance, and got a rope aboard, but just before the Life-boat reached the schooner the tow rope parted.

The vessel was found ashore on. the west bank of Hartlepool Channel, and with some difficulty the Life-boat got alongside under her lee. As opportunity offered, the eight men jumped into the boat, incurring considerable risk of falling between her and the vessel.

The vessel was the schooner Meda, of Cimbrisham, loaded with pit-props, and bound fromVastervik to West Hartlepool.

During the time that the crew of the Meda were being rescued, the tug-boat Stranton struck the ground, and was washed up on to the Middle ton Beach.

The Life-boat, therefore, as soon as she had landed the rescued men, proceeded to the tug, which had been blowing her siren for help. The tug was in such a position thafc no other vessel could approach her; but on getting alongside, the master stated that he did not wish to leave his vessel, and he would not allow his crew of four men to do so. The Coxswain informed the master that if he did not wish to leave, the Life-boat would be obliged to return ashore as the seas were too heavy to allow him to stand by. The master, however, again refused help, and the Life-boat returned ashore. As it was realized by the officials of the North Eastern Railway Company that the tug was in a very dangerous position, and the men on board were in considerable peril, the Coxswain was asked to return to the Stranton and take the men off while it was possible to do so. The Life-boat therefore proceeded to the tug and succeeded, with considerable difficulty and danger, in rescuing the four men, whom they brought ashore.

At high tide the tug washed high up on to the beach..