At about 6.10 A.M. on the 19th March the ketch Margaret, of Bideford, which was riding in the Clovelly roads for shelter, burnt flares to attract attention. The crew of the Life-boat Elinor Boget were promptly assembled and the boat launched. It appeared that the captain was afraid that, owing to the wind having suddenly flown into the N.W. and increased to terrific force, his vessel would be driven ashore, and, as the sea was increasing, it might have been impossible later to take the crew off. The men, three in number, were therefore taken into the Life-boat, which landed them. The weather moderated later, and the crew were able to return to their vessel.

The ketch was bound from Gloucester to Barnstaple with a cargo of salt..