LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Rhuddlan Castle

RAMSGATE.—At midnight on the 30th of March signals were fired by the Gull and Goodwin Lightships, and a flare was seen on the North Sand Head. The Bradford Life-boat stationed at Ramsgate put out in tow of the harbour steam-tug Vulcan.

When at a convenient distance the boat was slipped and sailed alongside the stranded vessel, which was the barque Bhuddlan Castle, of Liverpool, bound from Shields for Valparaiso, with a cargo of coal and a crew of fifteen men and a pilot on board.

The master having engaged the services of the crews of the life-boat and tug to get his vessel afloat, some of the cargo was thrown overboard, an anchor was laid out, and at 11 A.M. the tug commenced to tow the barque, the Life-boatmen and the crew of the vessel working at the windlass; the steam-tug Victor, of London, was afterwards engaged, and both steamers continued towing until the tide fell, when their ropes were slipped. The crews of two galleys were then employed to assist to throw the cargo overboard, and this work was continued until 8 P.M. At 10.15 the tugs again began to tow the vessel, and at 11.20 she came afloat, and was taken to the Downs by the Victor, the Ramsgate Life-boat and tug returning to their Station, and arriving there at 3.30 A.M., on the 1st of April.