About- seven o'clock, during a heavy fall of rain, the members of the South Shields Brigade observed the lights of a vessel to the southward of the South Pier making for the harbour. It was soon seen, however, that she was too close in shore to weather the end the South Pier, and she eventually drove upon the beach to the southward of the South Pier. This was at 7.20 p.m., and the alarm guns were immediately fired from the Spanish Battery and H.M.S. Castor. Owing to the wind blowing strong from the southeast, the guns were only indistinctly heard in South Shields, and there was consequently only small muster of volunteers. Almost immediately after the first vessel stranded another came ashore about thirty yards to the eastward of her. The coastguardsmen of the South Shields station assisted the brigadesmen and many others who volunteered their services, ran the van containing the rocket apparatus down the pier, and placed it in position directly opposite the first vessel. A rocket was fired, the line caught by the crew, and made fast on board the ship. This was accomplished in the space of a very few minutes. The van was then placed opposite the second ship, and efforts were immediately put forth to establish communication with her also. Before this was done, however, three rockets were fired. The third line went right over the stay between the fore and mainmasts. It was promptly secured, and made fast to the fore rigging. Communication being now obtained with both vessels the breeches buoy was sent off, and one by one the crews, numbering in all fifteen persons, were safely brought ashore amid the hearty cheers of hundreds of spectators. The first vessel which struck proved to be the brigantine Ann, registered at Bristol, but owned and commanded by Capt. George Carr, of Sunderland. She was bound from Southampton to Sunderland, in ballast. Owing to the stormy state of the weather, the captain was unable to enter the Wear, and he decided run for the Tyne. When approaching the harbour the lights were obscured by blinding shower of hail. The vessel ran well up the beach, and struck upon the Herd Sand, clear of the stones of the pier. The following is a list of the crew Captain and-owner: George Carr, Sunderland. Mate: John Rowe. Cook and steward: Charles Wilson. Able seamen: Alfred Doran, George Harris, and John Frier. The Ann was brigantine, and was built at Bristol in 1849. She was 168 tons register, and was not insured.
Source Shields Daily Gazette 15th of February 1881