During the forenoon, a number of vessels succeeded in getting into the harbour, after a severe struggle, and not without causing the utmost alarm amongst the dense crowds of spectators on shore. One of these vessels, Capt. Elliotson, of Whitstable, struck the rocks at the north side immediately below the Mussel Scarp but a heavy sea catching her leeward, she immediately came off again and was drifted sheer across to the Herd Sand, where she struck. The lifeboats of North and South Shields rowed alongside, but the vessel not being in a dangerous position, the crew declined to leave her. She was afterwards got off and towed into harbour, with slight damage.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 11 February 1871
The schooner Rowena, of Whitstable, went ashore on the south side of South Shields Harbour, but was afterwards got off.
Source: Berwick Advertiser 17 February 1871