During the afternoon of the 6th August signals of distress were heard from the direction of Duncansbay Head; a dense fog pre- vailed at the time, with a north-east swell. The crew of the Life-boat Ida were immediately assembled and the Life- boat proceeded in the direction of the signals, which continued until she nearly reached the vessel. Before getting to the scene of the wreck, however, two boats were passed bottom up, which turned out to be the two life-boats from the wrecked vessel, which had been swamped alongside, with the loss unfortunately, of one life. The Life-boat with some difficulty got alongside the steamer, and two men were put on board, j The vessel proved to be the s.s. Indian, j of Liverpool, a four-masted vessel of nearly 6,000 tons register, bound from : Nordenham via the Tyne for Pensacola, j with a cargo of agricultural salt, and • carrying a crew of fifty-two hands. ' Shortly after the vessel struck and before the Life-boat arrived, she had ' heeled over to port until almost rail ! under. It was now considered necessary ! to transfer the crew to the Life-boat, and accordingly part of the crew were takea on board clad in their life- belts. With the turn of the tide the vessel righted herself and slipped off the rocks. An examination showed that she was making water rapidly.

Two attempts were made to take the steamer in tow, but the tow ropes carried away; it was therefore decided, as the vessel was gradually sinking, to beach her in Sinclair Bay, in order to save life and property. This was accom- plished in safety, but with only one bulkhead holding between the water and the engine-room, which might burst at any moment, and as the forepart was already full of water, the captain requested the Life-boat to stand by the vessel until tugs arrived. The Life- boat remained in attendance until the 10th August, when her services being no longer required, she returned to her station, arriving at 6 P.M..