Thes.s. Cairntorr, of Newcastle, was torpedoed when about eight miles south of Beachy Head, on the 21st March. The Coastguard reported that the vessel was apparently in distress, and the No. 2 Life-boat James Stevens No. 6 was dispatched with all haste to the doomed vessel, the Motor Boat Estella taking her in tow. When the Life-boat reached the scene of the disaster she found a small torpedo-boat standing by and the crew of the steamer in the ship's boats.

Eight men were at once transferred to the Life-boat and ten others were placed on board the Motor Boat, and, as nothing further could be done, the boats returned ashore and landed the shipwrecked men..