The story of the rescue of the crew of the Northern Belle and the loss of nine Margate men gets a wider audience.
The Brigantine Sarah – A Gallant Rescue by the Margate Lifeboat
At a time of severe gales, in January 1871, the Brigatine Sarah, carrying coal, was aground on Margate Sands. The crew of the lifeboat Quiver and a local lugger Ocean went to the rescue.
Dedication Service of the Victory Lugger Memorial Stone at Margate
The nine men crew of the Victory Lugger lost their lives when their boat was swamped by terrible seas during their attempt to rescue the crew of the American sailing ship Northern Belle which had foundered on rocks off the most south eastern point of England, off the coast of Kent, on 5th January 1857. Amongst them were William Emptage, aged 52 and his nephew, John Emptage, aged 29.