The wreck of the Indian Chief.

On 5th January 1881, the 1,230 ton merchant ship Indian Chief which was four days out from Middlesborough bound for Japan, ran aground on the Goodwin sands. The ship began to break up throughout the day, the main mast fell down during the night & 16 men drowned. The remaining 11 survived the night by tying themselves to the wreck. The next morning, inspite of freezing gale force winds, their spirits were lightened by the sighting of the Bradford Lifeboat who had sailed & rowed for over 30 miles, in the small 44ft boat. In the words of one of the doomed sailors, "I saw a lifeboat heading directly for us, it was sight to make one crazy with joy, & none of us thought that she'd make it to us, we could see her crew-all 12 of them & as the boat leapt from the crests of the waves, we could make out the words RNLI THE BRADFORD,it was the Ramsgate lifeboat, which was our salvation." For this outstanding rescue, the coxswain Charles Fish of Ramsgate was awarded the R.N.L.I gold medal, & a silver medal went to each of the lifeboat's crew. One of the lifeboat's crew members, said later in a newspaper report, "It was one of the worst storms he had ever been out in, the feel of the wind on his face felt like he was being gnawed by a dog & it nearly froze the tears it brought to our eyes" Footnote: The lifeboat was called 'The Bradford' as the town had not gained it's status as a City.