At 4 am, Captain G. W. Ward of "Pegaway" issued an SOS when the ship was twenty miles northwest of the island of Terschelling, off the coast of the Netherlands. The closest of the ships that answered the distress call was "Wilhelm Gustloff", which reached "Pegaway" at 6 am. She launched her Lifeboat No. 1, with a crew of twelve under the command of Second Officer Meyer. The oar-powered lifeboat was unable to come aside "Pegaway" in the heavy seas and looked in danger of needing rescuing. Lifeboat No. 6, with a crew of ten under the command of Second Officer Schürmann, was then lowered. As it had a motor, it was better able to handle the waves.