Immediately after returning from another call on the night of the 1st November the Life- boat Charles and Susanna Stephens was dispatched to the assistance of another vessel which was in distress on the south part of the Brake Sands. A strong N.E. gale prevailed at the time and the sea was very rough. The Life- boat was in tow of the harbour tug, but shortly after they put to sea the tow rope parted owing to the conditions of weather, and the tug was unable to pick the boat up again. She therefore proceeded under sail. Towards day- light the vessel was found, still making signals for assistance. At great risk the boat proceeded alongside and the crew got into her, taking their belong- ings with them. The Coxswain per- suaded the men to return to the vessel and all of them did so, with the excep- tion of four who were more or less injured. Life-boatmen also went on board the ship and, as it was far too rough at that time to try and refloat the vessel, the tug towed the Life-boat back to Ramsgate, where she arrived at 9.10 A.M. and landed the injured men.

The vessel was the Loch Garve, of Genoa, bound from Hull to Genoa with a cargo of about 1,500 tons of coal. During the afternoon of the 2nd Novem- ber both the tug and Life-boat returned to the ship, but as it was still too rough to attempt to salve her the boat stood by until next morning. Three tugs then attempted to tow the ship off, but without success. Five men of the ship's crew were then taken ashore by the Life-boat, which again put off to the vessel. At high-water on the 3rd November a further attempt was made by the three tugs to refloat the vessel, but without success; they then stood by until the morning of the 4th, when their renewed efforts proved successful.

| More Life-boatmen were then placed ! on board the vessel and, with their assistance, she was taken in safety to Gravesend. This was a very good service performed under difficult conditions.