MARCH 25TH. - WALMER, KENT. At 8.15 at night the Deal coastguard telephoned that a vessel was aground on the mainland near the South Foreland. A moderate southeasterly breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth, but there was thick fog. The motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched at 8.30 and, after a search, found the American steamer John P. Doe, of Baltimore, under the cliffs between Dover and St. Margaret’s Bay. She was a ship of over 7,000 tons, bound in ballast from Bremerhaven to New York. She had 38 on board.

Life-boatmen boarded her and the life-boat ran out a kedge anchor with the help of two motor boats from Dover. At 1.40 next morning the steamer refloated, without the help of tugs, and the life-boat escorted her to a safe anchorage off Dover harbour. She took her men on board again, left the steamer at 2.40 and reached her station at 3.30. - Property salvage case..