On the 12th December, at 12.45 P.M., the coxswain of the Life-boat was informed by some boatmen that they had seen a vessel on the Goodwin Sands, apparently wreck, with only one mast standing.

The crew were assembled, and the Van Kook Life-boat went off and proceeded towards the vessel, which was found to be the barque Hannah Rathkens, of Rostock.

She was a complete wreck, and nearly under water; 5 of her crew had been taken off by a Ramsgate lugger, and with great difficulty, owing to the heavy sea, the Life-boat succeeded in rescuing the remaining 5 men. The boat then had to make for Ramsgate, the wind and tide preventing her returning direct to her station.