LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Crocodile

RAMSGATE—On the 6th January the Life-boat Bradford, in tow of the steamtug Aid, left the harbour at 3.30 A.M., in a strong N.E. breeze with snow squalls and a heavy sea, signal guns having been fired from the Goodwin Sands. The tug and Life-boat went at once to the North Sand Head, seeing a flare in that direction, and found the three-masted schooner Crocodile, of and from Guernsey for London, with a cargo of stone. The Life-boat was slipped from the tug and sailed towards the wrecked vessel, letting go the anchor just to windward of her, but the cable parted before the crew couldbe rescued. The boat was, [therefore, obliged to return to the tug, which towed her to windward again, when sail was once more hoisted. On Hearing the wreck the second anchor was let go, the boat sheered alongside, and with great difficulty, the heavy seas causing her to strike several times with considerable violence against the vessel, succeeded in saving the crew of six men who had taken refuge in the mizen rigging, the hull being entirely submerged. The master of the vessel having unfortunately been benumbed by the cold fell from aloft and was killed before the Life-boat arrived..