RAMSGATE.—Captain BRAINE, the harbour- master of Ramsgate, in reporting the noble service rendered by the Ramsgate Life-boat on the 6th January, on the occasion of the wreck of the ship Indian Chief, on the Long Sands, states that the vessel struck on the Sands at 2.30 A.M.

on the 5th of January, but that nothing was known on shore of the wreck until nearly noon that day. In a quarter of an hour after the intelligence had reached Ramsgate, the harbour steamer Vulcan and the Life-boat Bradford were on their way to the Sands, notwithstanding that they were nearly thirty miles away from the port. Having such a long distance to traverse, in a fresh gale from the E.N.E., and a very heavy sea, they did not reach the Kentish Knock Lightship until 5 P.M. on that day, by which time it was nearly dark, and although they were given the bearings of the wreck, they were unable to find it in the darkness. With great courage and determination, the Life-boatmen then resolved to stay by the Sands until daybreak, involving their further exposure for fourteen hours in an open boat in a tremendous sea, the weather at the time being extremely cold. The steamer and Life-boat, therefore, cruised about between the Sands throughout the night, exposed to the whole fury of the storm. The steamer had her sponsons washed away, and one of the deck-houses damaged by the heavy seas, but happily no further casualty occurred. The suffering the Life-boatmen endured during that bitter night was, if anything, in excess of what was experienced by those on the ill-fated ship; but with the dawn of day their reward came, for they then caught sight of the wreck. There was only the foremast standing, the main and mizzen masts having given way and gone overboard during the night, carrying with them the master and sixteen of the crew, all of whom were lost. With infinite risk and difficulty the Life-boat was then taken as near as possible to the wreck, and the survivors of the ship's crew, twelve in number, were got into the boat, one by one making their way along the rail of the vessel between the seas which were continually breaking over her. The Lifeboat's cable was then slipped, sail was made, and she sailed across the Sands, through the heavy broken water, to the steamer, which took her in tow and proceeded for the harbour, which was safely reached soon after 2 P.M., after an absence of twenty-six hours. It may be added that three other Life-boats, stationed respectively at Harwich and Clacton (Essex), and Aldborongh (Suffolk), also proceeded to the succour of the shipwrecked crew, but they were unable to render any service, notwithstanding that some of them remained out many hours, in the hope that they might be able to help the unfortunate seamen. The ship Indian Chief belonged to Liverpool, and was outward bound from Middlesborongh to Japan, with a general cargo.

Captain Braine added: "Of all the meritorious services performed by the Ramsgate tug and Life-boat, I consider this is one of the best. The decision the coxswain and crew arrived at to remain till daylight, which was in effect to continue for fourteen hours cruising about, with the sea continually breaking over them, in a heavy gale and tremendous sea, proves, I consider, their gallantry and determination to do their duty. The coxswain and crew of the Life-boat speak in the highest terms of her good qualities.

They state that when sailing across the Long Sand, after leaving the wreck, the seas were tremendous, and the boat behaved most admirably. Some of the shipwrecked crew have since stated that they were fearful, on seeing the frightfullooking seas they were passing through, that they were in more danger in the Lifeboat than when lashed to the mast of their sunken ship, as they thought it impossible for any boat to live through such a sea.".