At 2.30 A.M. on the 12th April the Coast- guard at Shoeburyness reported that the Nore Light-vessel was firing signals of distress. The crew of the Life-boat James Stevens No. 9 were assembled and the boat proceeded to the Light-vessel, which stated that flares had been seen to the N.W. The Life-boat sailed in this direction and found a barge with her sprit broken, but the men on board were in no danger as a smack was lying by her. The Life-boat there- fore started to return home, but she fell in with the barge William and Richard, of Bradwell, in a sinking condition and just in time to take the crew of two hands off when the barge sank. She was loaded with hay, and was bound from Bridgemarsh to Nine Elms. A strong northerly breeze was blowing at the time, and the sea was very rough..