On the 23rd March, the ship Alarm, of Belfast, was driven into Ballycotton Bay, during a strong gale of wind, and came to anchor under shelter of the island. As the gale increased, however, she dragged her anchors and drifted towards the northern side of the Bay.

She was brought up again at a short distance from a reef of rocks near the beach at Bally- croneen. A boat was then lowered, but was immediately swamped. In the mean- time the Ballycotton life-boat had been launched, and was now gallantly working her way to the vessel, over which the sea was making a clean breach. On nearing the ship a rope was conveyed on board from the life-boat, and 6 of the crew were thus drawn through the surf into the boat. The last of these was scarcely clear of the ship, when the main and mizenmasts fell fore and aft along the deck, and the spars went over the quarter within a few feet of the life-boat. Five other men were rescued shortly afterwards, and the 11, exhausted by fatigue and cold, were brought safely ashore in the life-boat.

The gale moderated during the next day, and the vessel having fortunately held by her anchors, she was eventually towed into Queenstown.