NOVEMBER 16TH - 17TH. - KIRKCUDBRIGHT, KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE, AND MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND. At 8.45 in the evening of November 16th the Kirkcudbright life-boat Morison Watson was launched to the help of Hopper No. 2, of Preston, which was reported to be ashore three miles west of Ravenshall Point. A moderate S.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea, and the night was very dark, with rain showers. The life-boat searched for half the night but could find no sign of the hopper and, as the weather was improving and the sea was calm, she returned to her station, arriving at 3 in the morning of November 17th.

The Hopper No. 2 refloated, and at 8.20 on the evening of the 17th the naval authorities told the Maryport station that she  was driving up the Solway Firth towards Maryport.

A squally W.N.W. wind was now blowing, with a heavy sea. At 9.20 P.M. the Maryport motor life-boat Joseph Braithwaite was launched, and found the hopper one and a half miles north of Maryport piers. She was bound light from Birkenhead to Workington, and had a crew of five. The men were exhausted, and had had no food for two days.

The life-boatmen gave them rum and chocolate from the emergency rations, and the coxswain went aboard the hopper, took charge and brought her into Maryport, with the life-boat escorting her. The life-boat returned to her station at 11.15  P. M . -Rewards : Kirkcudbright, £16 ; Maryport, £20 10s..