On the 8th March, soon after daylight, it was reported that a ketch was ashore on the north part of the Goodwin Sands. The weather up to this time had been hazy. Orders were at once given for the Life-boat Bradford and a tug to go out to her.

On reaching the Sands the Life-boat could not get near to the vessel, there not being sufficient watei", but a rope was made fast to the ketch, and, as the tide made, she hauled alongside and took off the crew of three hands, one of whom had a wooden leg. It appeared that the vessel, which was the ketch Wesley, of Jersey, whilst bound from Montrose to Guernsey with a cargo of potatoes, ran ashore at 3 A.M.

It was then blowing a W.N.W. gale, and as soon as she struck she com- menced to make water and the seas broke over her. The crew took to the rigging until the tide ebbed, and when they were rescued the ketch was prac- tically a wreck..