As stated above, at half-past ten o'clock on Saturday night the signal guns denoted a casualty at the mouth of Shields harbour, a brig, which afterwards proved to be the Lavinia, Martin, of Guernsey, from London for the Tyne, in chalk ballast, having been cast ashore on the north side of the Herd Sand inside of the Fish Pier. The members of the Volunteer Life Brigade proceeded along the sands to the vessel, and at the same time the life-boat men with great rapidity launched and manned the two South Shields lifeboats, the Tom Perry and the Tyne, and manfully pulled round the vessel. The North Shields life-boat men also put off and pulled round, but the South Shields boats were first to reach the vessel, and they took the crew off and landed them at the Coble Landing. The brig during the night, by the force of the wind and sea turned completely round with her bow to the sea. The following is list of her crew Frederick Martin, master: George Prince, mate ; George Marett, A.B; Francis Golichan, A.B.; Phillip Longlois, A.B., Charles Gavey, A.B. ; John Cuthbert, A.B. Walter Youlton, A.B.; James Harris, cook. The Lavinia, though lying in an exposed position, is clear from the stones of the pier, and if the weather soon moderates it is expected she will be got off if heavy seas of yesterday have not strained her too much.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 30 November 1874