MARGATE.—On the llth February a strong gale was experienced here, the wind blowing from S.S.W. accompanied by a heavy sea and thiek weather, with rain and snow. At 1.50 A.M. the Coastguard reported that the Tongue Lightvessel was firing signals of distress; the Life-boat crew were summoned and the Life-boat Ciwl Service No. 1 was launched. Beaching the Tongue Lightvessel and ascertaining that she was answering th« Prince's Channel Lightship, the Life-boat proceeded in that direction.

Subsequently flares were observed on the Shingles and on arriving there the schooner Picton, of Carnarvon, bound from Shoreham for London and laden with carbolic acid, was found stranded.

She had a good depth of water in her and her fore compartment was on fire.

The Life-boat men succeeded in extinguishing the fire and worked at the pomps about four hours, but the water gained on them, and, finding it impossible to save the vessel, the Life-boat left her at about 8 o'clock, having taken off her crew of five men, and a dog. The master of the vessel highly commended the conduct of the Life-boat men in their endeavours to save the vessel in such tempestuous weather..