During a thick fog, a strong W.S.W. breeze, and a rough sea on the night of the 16th February, the s.s. AMI, of Bilbao, stranded about two and a half miles to the westward of Clovelly and the crew took to the ship's boats. The steamer was bound from Newport to Bilbao with a cargo of 1,700 tons of coal at the time of the accident. About 10 P.M.

the village of Clovelly was startled by loud shouts for help from sea in the direction of the back of the breakwater.

A boat was immediately launched and brought one of the Abril's boats with sixteen men in her into safety. The captain then reported that another boat with four men in her was missing; it- was therefore decided to launch the Life-boat Elinor Hogel, and she searched all night. At about 2.45 A.M. the Life- boat fell in with a tug and told her of her mission. The tug also joined in the search and some hours later they again made for the Life-boat and reported they had found the missing men and that they were on board. They were then transferred to the Elinor Roget, which returned to Clovelly, arriving about 9 A.M..