NORTH DEAL. — Signal rockets and guns having been fired by the Gull Light-vessel while a whole gale from the S.W. was blowing, accompanied by a very heavy sea, on the 11th February, the Life-boat Mary Somerville was launched at about 10.15 P.M. While proceeding towards the lightship a vessel burning large flares was observed, and the -Lifeboat at once steered in her direction, got alongside and with some difficulty put some of her crew on board. The vessel was afloat but was driving broadside-on to the wind towards the off part of the north-west spit of the Goodwin Sands.

All that was possible was done to save her, but she laboured so heavily that all efforts failed and the Life-boat men went back to their boat accompanied by the vessel's crew of seven men. To get clear of the vessel was then a work of considerable difficulty—in fact, the Life-boat was considerably damaged by driving against her; she eventually however got free and made for Ramsgate, where the rescued men were landed. The Life-boat remained in that port during the night, and on the following morning, while returning to their station, the crew observed the vessel, which was the brigantine Franz von Mathies, of Eibnitz, in charge of a steam-tug and some boatmen, who afterwards succeeded in taking her into Ramsgate harbour.