DUNGENESS, KENT, AND WINCHELSEA, SUSSEX.—At 3.30 A.M. on the 19th February, the s.s. Lake Michigan, of Liverpool, collided with a sailing vessel about two miles S.W. of Dungeness.

The steamer, a very large one of 9240 tons register, was on a voyage from St. John's, New Brunswick, to London, with a general cargo and cattle. Immediately after the collision the fires were swamped by the inrush of water, and the captain only just managed to run his vessel ashore to prevent her sinking in deep water. Later on a tug arrived and towed her within half a mile of the shore. Information having reached Dungeness, the No. 2 Life-boat, Thomas Simcox, was promptly launched at 5.30 A.M., and stood by the imperilled vessel until the night of the 20th, when some of the cattlemen and fire men wished to land. Forty-six were accordingly taken into the Life-boatand transferred to a tug, which, in her turn, transferred them to the Dungeness No. 1 Life-boat, B.A.O.B., as it was too rough for the tug to land them. In the meanwhile the No. 2 Life-boat had returned to the LaJce Michigan, and remained alongside until the evening of the 21st February, when, the men being exhausted, she proceeded home, the Winchelsea Life-boat being alongside the steamer. The next morning she again returned, and stood by her until successfully floated off on the 25th February. The Life-boat R.A.O.B., in response to an urgent message, was also despatched to the steamer on the morning of the 19th, but as the captain stated he did not require the assistance of both boats, she returned ashore, and was only launched again on the 20th to land the forty-six persons referred to above. When the Lalce Michigan was first beached the weather was moderate, with a north-west breeze and moderate sea, but it gradually got worse, causing very grave fears for the prospect of salving the valuable ship and cargo.

On the evening of the 20th a message was sent by telephone to Winchelsea, asking that that Life-boat should be sent to the vessel with all despatch.

The request was at once attended to, and the Winchelsea Life-boat, John William Dudley, arrived alongside the steamer on the 20th at 9.15 A.M. ; she remained with the vessel until the 25th, when the vessel was towed off, only then returning to her station after having been on duty for a period extending over five days and nights. Fortunately, both the ship and cargo were ultimately saved through the action of tugs, the value at stake amounting to no less than £142,000..