FEBRUARY 23RD. - WALMER, KENT. A strong west-south-west gale was blowing and the sea was very rough. In the early morning a ship was seen to be in difficulties. She tried to move to a safe anchorage and grounded on the Goodwin Fork Sands. At 9.10 the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched, and found the ship to be the American steamer Fort Frederica, of Portland, of 10,480 tons, loaded with petrol. She was bound from Trinidad for Hull and had a crew of 46, and three passengers. She was lying with a big list and the seas were breaking right over her. The life-boat went alongside and put her second-coxswain and three lifeboatmen on board, but it was impossible for her to remain alongside. She lay off until, as the tide rose, the steamer righted herself and refloated. The life-boat then escorted her clear of the sands, and the second-coxwain piloted her to an anchorage in the Downs. The life-boat went alongside, took off her second-coxswain and three life-boatmen, and returned to her station, where she arrived at 1.20 that afternoon. - Property salvage case..