LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Formica

NORTH SUNDEBRLAND. — The Longstone Lighthouse signalled early on the morning of the 14th June that a vessel was in distress. At 1.35 the Life-boat Thomas Bewick was launched and found the barque Formica of Arendal, laden with battens, had drifted with the tide, there being but little wind, and struck on the Wyms, one of the Fame islands. The Life-boat men assisted to get the vessel off the rocks, and with the help of a steam-tug, which came up while this was being effected, she was taken to Berwick, for which port she was bound, arriving at 7 P.M. The state of the tide, however, prevented her from being taken into the harbour, and they therefore had to wait until the afternoon of the 16th, when there was sufficient depth of water to enable this to be accomplished. A heavy sea was running, and the vessel lost her rudder and stern-post from the continued bumping on the rocks when she struck. She was manned by a crew of ten hands..