LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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The S.S. Saintfield, of Belfast

MAY 1ST. - FLAMBOROUGH, AND BRIDLINGTON, YORKSHIRE. In the early morning the S.S. Saintfield, of Belfast, bound from the Tyne to Poole, with coal, ran ashore in foggy weather about two miles north of Flamborough. The call for a life-boat was received by the signal station and passed by the coastguard to Flamborough life-boat about three o’clock. At 3.35 the motor lifeboat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was launched, in a light northerly breeze, with a slight swell, and found the steamer within half an hour. She had just come off the rocks, but had a heavy list to starboard, was making a lot of water and was much down by the head. Only the master, mate and chief engineer were then on board. The remainder of the crew were in the ship’s boat tied astern of the steamer. The master asked the lifeboat to stand by until he could beach his ship.

She put some of the steamer’s crew back on board her, and received the ship’s papers for safe keeping in case the steamer should founder. Directed by the life-boat the steamer made her way round Flamborough Head. There the coxswain went aboard and piloted her to the south of Bridlington harbour, where she was beached. The lifeboat then made for her station, arriving at 10.30 that morning. The news of the Saintfield was also sent to Bridlington and the life-boat was launched, but she arrived to find that everything needed was being done by the Flamborough life-boat. - Rewards : Flamborough, £33 9s. ; Bridlington, £19 17s. 6d.