MARGATE AND CLACTON-ON-SEA.—On the morning of the 26th January, while a strong gale was blowing from N.N.E.

accompanied by a heavy sea, the Margate boatmen observed a large vessel apparently in dangerously close proximity to the Long Sand. She was examined through a powerful glass and WAS seen to hoist a signal of distress, and immediately afterwards the Tongue Light-vessel ran up signals denoting that help was required.

At 9.15 the Life-boat JSliza Harriet put off, the launch from the new West Slipway being witnessed by a large number of people, and sailed in the direction of the Long Sand, encountering tremendous seas which at timos completely submerged her, When Hearing the distressed vessel the sails of another Life-boat were seen approaching her from the opposite direction.

This was the Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Albert Edward, which had been launched on receipt of information of the casualty at the same time as the Margate boat, and had also had a very rough time in the heavy seas which continually filled her. Both the boats reached the vessel at about noon and approached her on thestarboard side, that side being the more sheltered. She was the full-rigged ship Hawksdale, of Liverpool, bound from Hamburg for Melbourne with a general cargo, and had stranded on the N.W. part of the Long Sand, where she became a total wreck. Her crew had consisted of twenty-eight persons, but three of them had been drowned in an attempt to get one of the ship's boats out before the Life-boats arrived. Eighteen of the survivors were taken into the Clacton Lifeboat, the remaining seven persons being rescued by the Margate Life-boat. The Clacton Boat also brought ashore the ship's cat,* which was taken into the Boat by one of the apprentices, who, even in his own time of danger, did not forget his feline companion. Considerable difficulty was experienced in taking the men into the Life-boats owing to the terrific seas.

Watching their opportunities, the men had to catch the masts and slide down the rigging into the boat. Having got all safely on board, the Life-boats parted company, and making for opposite shores, again through heavy seas—the Clacton Boat meeting with even worse seas than she had experienced on her outward journey— both boats safely reached home and landed those whom they had rescued.

Additional rewards were granted to the crews of the Life-boats in recognition of their specially good services on this occasion, and grants were made to three of the Clacton crew who received injuries in the performance of the rescue..