This lithograph shows the naval ships Phaeton, centre, and Arrogant, on the right of the picture, in a heavy sea, on opposite tacks. A small cutter is struggling to approach a floating item in the foreground. The title refers to an incident which took place on the 11th August 1850 when a man called Edward Bartholomew, who could not swim, fell overboard. The crew of the Phaeton managed to rescue him.