RAMSGATE AND NORTH DEAL.—At 4.20 A.M., on the 18th May, during a strong breeze from the W.S.W., a screw-steamer was seen ashore on the North Sand Head, with signals of distress flying; and about the same time signal guns were fired from the Gull Lightship. The Ramsgate Lifeboat Bradford and harbour steam-tug Vulcan at once proceeded to her assist- ance, and the North Deal Life-boat Mary Somerville was also despatched to the spot.

It being necessary to lighten the vessel, both Life-boats' crews commenced to throw overboard the cargo, consisting of boxes of oranges. This was continued for three hours, when the sand alongside dried, and the kedge anchor and hawser were then taken from her port bow and run out on the sand a distance of eighty fathoms, and the bower anchor and cable were run out for about sixty fathoms. Directly these operations were accomplished all hands went to work again, and threw overboard more boxes of oranges for about two hours, until she was nearly afloat, when sail was set to endeavour to force her over the sand, and at the same time the chain and hawser were hove taut. Eventually she floated, and was proceeding round the South Sand Head when her engines stopped, owing to a rope having fouled the propeller. She was then taken in tow by the steam-tug, steering towards the North Foreland. In about half an hour the propeller was cleared, and she was then able to proceed under her own steam to Margate Roads. She was the ss. Gervase, of London, 417 tons, bound from Valencia to the Thames with oranges and dried fruit.