On the 14th March the barge Nellie, of Appledore, was returning home from Meadow Ridge, empty, when her mainsail was carried away by the strong southerly gale that was blowing. A very heavy sea was running, and it was raining.

Her crew of three dropped anchor, but it failed to hold, and the barge ran aground opposite Meadow Ridge. She was seen by life-boatmen at Appledorc, and the motor life-boat V.C.S. put out to her help at 1.50 P.M. She found that the Nellie was only thirty yards from shore, in such shallow water that she could not go alongside. She went as near as possible and fired her line- throwing gun, but it was not until the third attempt that a line was got aboard the barge and made fast. Then the three men, very wet and exhausted, were hauled into the life-boat by means of the breeches buoy. They were taken to Appledore, and the life-boat arrived back at her station at 3.35 P.M. The Nellie was later refloated and towed in by a motor vessel.—Rewards, £10 Is. 3d..