On a voyage from Singapore to Jeddah, The Medina hit Parkin Rock, part of the Hanish Islands in the Red Sea, and was wrecked.

The Timor answered a distress signal but refused to take the refugees to Jedda unless the master of The Medina paid £4,000.

James LJ said it was ‘a very exorbitant sum for only a few days’ work… having regard to the particular circumstances, that pressure was exercised’.

Baggallay JA said it was ‘very large in comparison with the services rendered’ leading ‘to the conclusion that there may have been some unfair dealing’.

Brett JA said the standard rule is that, where there is an agreement made by competent persons and there is no misrepresentation of facts, the agreement ought to be upheld, unless there is something very strong to shew that it is inequitable.Promising to pay when there are 550 stranded people was "compulsion to the mind of any honest man".