At 6.30 P.M. on the 18th November a telephone message was received, stating that a large vessel had struck a mine and was at anchor about three miles off Orfordness. As the amount of damage was unknown and the sea was rough, the No. 1 Life- boat City of Winchester was launched to the assistance of those on board. The vessel proved to be the five-masted schooner Helen W. Martin, of Bath, U.S.A., bound from Archangel to London, and carrying a crew of eighteen hands. When ihe Life-boat reached her it was found that the captain's wife had been taken off, and was on board a small steamer which was in attendance.

The vessel was more or less waterlogged, and when the explosion took place some of the cargo, which consisted of baulks of timber, was blown half mast high, but fortunately no lives were lost, only a dog on board being killed. As it was thought that it would be possible to save the vessel, a tow-rope was made fast between a tug and the ship, and eventually the ship, with the Life-boat astern to help to steer her, was got into safety. When the Life-boat was being launched valuable assistance was gener- ously rendered by some of the troops stationed at Aldeburgh..