Shortly after 8 P.M. on the 15th October distress signals were observed from the St.

Nicholas Light-vessel, indicating that a vessel was ashore and required assist- ance. The crew of the No. 1 Life-boat Mark Lane were promptly assembled and the boat proceeded in tow of a tug to the Light-vessel where she ascertained that flares had been seen from a vessel on the Scroby Sands. The Life-boat proceeded to the Sands and there found the steam drifter Vera, of North Shields, aground. She had been bound for the fishing grounds. Seas were making a clean breach over the vessel and she was filling rapidly. The Life-boat therefore rescued the crew of nine hands.

At the time of the casualty there was only a light wind, but there was a heavy broken sea on the Sands..