MARGATE.—On the evening of the 18th March the coastguards reported that a vessel off the Margate Sandhead buoy had just lost her foremast and gear, bnt was not showing any signal for assistance.

A strong gale was then blowing from 3.

by E., the sea was heavy and the weather thick, with snow and sleet. At 5.50 she hoisted a signal of distress, and eight minutes later the No. 2 Life-boat Civil Service, No. 1, was on her way to the vessel, which was found to be theketch Egremont, of Exeter, bound from Southampton for Chatham with timber and iron. Five of the Life-boat men boarded her and at the request of the captain the boat returned to the shore to obtain the services of a steam-tug. A message was despatched to Ramsgate, and as soon as possible the harbour tug Aid proceeded to the vessel, which had drifted near the Tongue light-vessel, and towed her into Ramggate Harbour at about 4.15 A.M. The Egremont had a crew of five men..