On the 20th Oct., 1869, the ship Frank Shaw, of North Shields, was totally wrecked, during a very heavy gale of wind, on the Goodwin Sands. She had sought shelter in the Downs, but was compelled .to slip her cable and try fresh anchorage off the North Foreland. On the morning of the 19th October she rode very heavily in the gale; the decks were full of water fore and aft, everything was being washed away, and she was settling down at her anchors. It was found necessary, there- fore, to slip her second anchor and ninety fathoms of cable. The ship was then run before the wind, and the crew got another anchor ready; but about two o'clock the vessel struck on the North Sand Head: the sea began to make a clean breach over her, and in fifteen minutes she broke in two—the masts, sails, and rigging being gradually washed away. All hands crowded aft for safety, and signals of distress were made. The Broadstairs life-boat Samuel Morrison Collins, and the Ramsgate life-boat Bradford, were soon on the spot; but the waves dashed over the ship so heavily and incessantly that it was found impossible to reach her then, and as the tide fell, both the boats grounded on the Goodwin, to leeward of the vessel. The ship's crew now endeavoured to launch the gig, but it was at once dashed to pieces by the waves. Another boat was then launched, and 6 of the crew got into her, landed on the Sands, and waded to the Broad- stairs life-boat. Another of the, crew was then sent, with a life-buoy, through the surf on to the Sands. The rest followed, and waded through the fearful surf to the life-boats, 200 yards distant. The current across the Sand was very strong, and 7 of the poor fellows were swept away and, unhappily, perished. One man succeeded in reaching the Ramsgate life-boat. The remaining 13 men rescued were on board the Broadstairs life-boat.

Both boats had to wait until the tide flowed before they could beat off the Sands to the steam-tug Aid, which had towed the Ramsgate life-boat out. It was ten o'clock at night before they were towed into harbour. The utmost excitement prevailed amongst the crowds assembled on the pier, and the life-boats on their arrival were greeted with ringing cheers. The poor shipwrecked fellows were in a terribly exhausted condition.

Shortly after the life-boats were brought into the harbour several rockets were fired from the Gull light-ship. The Ramsgate life-boat was quickly manned by a fresh crew, with the exception of the gallant coxswain JARMAN, who again took command of the boat. She then put to sea in tow of the Aid; but, after cruising about for some hours, nothing could be seen of the vessel supposed to be in dis- tress, and the life-boat returned to harbour about two o'clock in the morning, at which time it was blowing a perfect hurricane.