The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-09 00:00:00

SHIPWRECKS AND LIFEBOAT SERVICES.

RUNSTANTON, NORFOLK, BrXDAT.
We heard yesterday afternoon that a Hamburg
steamer was aground upon a sandbank near Branoaster
(states C. W. Preedy, Esq.). The Licensed Victualler
lifeboat of the National Lifeboat Institution was promptly
got out and taken along the coast on her transporting car-
riage ; but as the distance before she could be launched
was about ten miles, and the roads were bad, and the
sands very heavy, it wan nearly four hours before she reached
the steamer. It was then blowing very bard indeed, and the
surf-boat from Burnham and the Erancaster coastguard boat
both failed to get off to the wreck. The passengers had
previously been taken off the vessel by means of her own
boats, but these could not get back to rescue the sailors,
who must have been lost but for the timely aid of the
Licensed Victuallers lifeboat. I may add that her crew
behaved admirably. The steamer broke up soon after the
men had been taken off by the lifeboat. The name of the
vessel is not yet known. This valuable lifeboat, which
was contributed to the National Lifeboat Institution by
the licensed victuallers of England, has only been on her
station about five months, and has already been the means
of rescuing thirty-one persona front a watery grave.

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NEW BRIGHTON, near LIVERPOOL, Dw. 7.
The Willie and Arthur lifeboat, belonging to the
National Lifeboat Institution, went out along with the
two lifeboats belonging to the Mersey Dock Board (says
the Rev. It. D. Fowell). They proceeded to the West
Middle Sands where a ship was seen ashore but on arriving
there it was discovered that the crew of the vessel had
left in the steam tag Lion, and the lifeboat therefore re-
turned. Shortly afterwards a ship wax reported to be in
danger on the West Hoyle Bank, and the Willie
and Arthur lifeboat again went out but before
she reached the spot the vessel had been towed
off the sands. While on the way hack it was ob-
served that the services of the boat ware required at
the ship on the West Middle, and the boat accordingly
proceeded there, and succeeded in rescuing 13 men who
bad gone on board from Liverpool after the crew had left,
but from the gale and heavy sea the steam tugs were not
able afterwards to go alongside the wreck. The ship,
which was the Thornton, bound to Liverpool from New
York with a general cargo, has since become a total wreck.
BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY, Dec. 7.
Dr. Wynne Jones reports that an American ship of 1,200
tons, the T. G. Sou bend, Oaptain Bishop, laden with
grain from New kork to Liverpool, struck yesterday on
the Dinmoro Bank, about half • mile from the shore,
became unmanageable, and in endeavouring to make the
entrance of the Menai Straite, near the lighthouse, was
carried by the tremendous wind and sea stern foremost on
to the rocks. The local crew of the Penmen lifeboat of
the National Lifeboat Institution, four other men whom I
had sent from this place in a car, and other volunteers,
anteceded in effecting a communication with the ship,
and by means of a hawser from the lighthouse, which was
attached to the shrouds of the vessel, they success-
fully and safely landed all who were on board,
numbering twenty-two persons. This was accomplished
by sliding an improvised chair (a boatswain's chair) up
sod down the hawser connecting the ship with the rooks.
At the time the wind and sea were terrific, with occasional
hail showers, and the cold was very greet, so that the
service was not only one of skill, but attended with con-
siderable risk and labour to the brave volunteers.
• BALLYWALTER, IRELAND, DEC. 7.
A full-rigged !ship named the Annie Gray, laden with
coal and p•
ig iron, and bound from Troon to New Bruns.
wick, struck on Wallace's Rocks. near this place (rays the
Rev. H. Wilson). The lifeboat, the Admiral Henry
Meynell, which belongs to the National Institution, was
launched as soon as possible in a very rough sea, and re-
mained alongside for about three hours in company with
another boat to be ready to rescue the crew in ease of
need, but as two steam tugs afterward, arrived, she was
not wanted, and accordingly returned to her station.

RAMSGATE, Dec. 7.
Three Broadstairs boatmen came over here yesterday
evening and reported that a large Baring light wee burning
elute on shore under the North Foreland (says Capt. Shaw).
A telegram to the same effect was received at the same
time. The lifeboat Bradford and steam-tug Aid at once
proceeded out and searched along the shore as far as Kings-
gate, but finding nothing except what appeared to be the
lights of a steamer towing another vessel, they returned to
the harbour after being absent about two boon in • very
strong gale accompanied by • heavy confused sea with
snow and sleek Some afterwards it was reported that •
large schooner, the Via, of Brixham, was on shore at Stone-
stairs, to the eastward of Broadstairs, with only the master
on board, the rest of the crew having left in their own
boat.

The Italian papers contain a telegraphic account
of the Roman catholic meeting in " St. James's Hall."
Amongst those present they give the names "II Conte
Benbip" (Denbigh), " Lord Almaden," and" Sir Gem&
Bonen"

Sixty kegs of French brandy were found by the
Isle of Wight mast-guard concealed between Colwell•bay
end CliMend, on the south-west oast of the island, a few
days ago. The dhows of the eoastigniud have for a long
time had a sinecure.