LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

Advanced search

The S.S. Strathbeg

HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND. — Signals were heard on the morning of the 10th February proceeding evidently from a vessel on the northern part of the island. The weather was thick, snow was falling, the wind was blowing from N.E. a moderate gale and there was a somewhat heavy sea. At 7 o'clock the Lifeboat Grace Darling was launched and proceeded under oars to the Snipe Bocks, N. of Emmanuel Head, where the s.s. Strathbeg, of Fraserburgh, was found stranded. Communication with the vessel had been obtained by means of the rocket apparatus and three of the crew had been rescued with the lines when the boat arrived and succeeded in saving the remaining seven men. The Life-boat, which was well handled by her crew, behaved excellently. She shipped some heavy seas, one of which broke over her just after the rescue of the shipwrecked men had been effected, but she steadied herself and, to quote the words of the report of the service, " rose like a duck." The vessel became a total wreck. A letter written on the day of the rescue was received by the Secretary of the Institution, from one of the crew of the vessel, expressing, on behalf of himself and his comrades, admiration of the conduct of the Life-boat men and thankfulness for the service they had rendered.