Northern Belle - The Rescue

The Rescue

Whilst these preparations were underway, the lugger Ocean managed to rescue five of the Northern Belle's crew, leaving some 25 men still on board the stricken vessel.

In the 1850s, with two life craft, it was the regular practice for the boatmen to have one lifeboat ready at the harbour, and the other on its launching trailer stored in the coachyard of the Rose Inn, which had been a coaching inn since 1784, with the horses stabled in nearby Albion Street, close to the pier. In this way, one boat could always be taken to any part of the Thanet coast without delay. On this occasion, so fierce was the wind however, that both lifeboats had to be moved overland, one being reloaded from the pier.

In accordance with the prominent local historian William Lapthorne's careful reconstruction of the event,

"On arrival at the beach the boats were launched, and with a total disregard for their own safety, the crews pulled boldly through the boiling surf and, after making several hazardous trips, saved most of the crew of the stricken vessel.

"The Mary White, having been dragged across fields of snow, was able to bring off seven of the American crew, and then the Culmer White, having arrived with a fresh crew, made two further journeys, on the first attempt rescuing 14 shipwrecked men, and only then returning to recover the Captain and the Pilot."

The Maritime Heritage of Thanet, East Kent Maritime Trust 1997, (Howard Biggs) - Ed.: Cates & Chamberlain.

Cold, wet and exhausted but rescued, the American survivors were taken to an inn overlooking the bay and the scene of the disaster. All involved were there able to thaw out before a blazing log fire, in the bar's "cozy parlour" where food and hot rum was served and warming blankets given around.