At 3.15 A.M., on the 15th January a message was received from the Kentish Knock Lightvessel reporting a ship ashore on the sands.

A whole S.E. gale was blowing, the sea was very heavy, and the weather bitterly cold. Without loss of time the Margate No. 1 Life-boat Eliza Harriet proceeded to the sands arriving about 8 A.M.

Owing to the very heavy seas it was only with great difficulty the Life-boat got alongside. The vessel proved to be the ketch Malvoisin of London, bound from Gravelines to Goole, with a cargo of phosphates; she had lost her rudder, her sails had blown away in the gale, her bulwarks were smashed, and the sea at times made a clean breach over her.

Finding that nothing could be done for the ketch and that she was twenty- three miles from Margate, the master decided to abandon her. The Life-boat proceeded alongside and took off the crew, all of whom were in a very exhausted condition, but whilst so engaged the position was one of great danger to all, owing to the seas break- ing over the vessel, and the boat was damaged. Margate was reached again at 1.30 P.M., the men having had an arduous task in very severe weather.

Two of the four rescued men when landed were in a state of collapse. The Committee decided to award the silver medal of the Institution to the Assistant Coxswain Mr. S. CLAYSON, who was in charge of the Life-boat on this occasion, and he and the other members of the crew were each granted an additional monetary reward.

Next day it having been ascertained that the ketch was still afloat, the Life- boat again put off, at the request of the owners, to see if the ketch could be saved. The severity of the weather however prevented the Life-boat reach- ; ing her and she had to put back.

On the 17th idem, a further attempt was made, and together with the help of a tug the Life-boatmen were able to bring the ketch into port in a very battered and leaking condition..