`...at 2am the lightship guns were heard on the mainland and despite a SW gale and the night being wild and dark the Walmer lifeboat CENTURION and the Kingsdown lifeboat SABRINA were launched. It was agreed that the SABRINA would go through the surf and burn a flare if the wreck was sighted. The SORRENTO was found on the South Calliper lying in six feet of water, both lifeboats going alongside, their crews helping to throw cargo overboard in an attempt to refloat her. At daybreak the sea increased and her pumps ceased to work. Pieces of the ship then commenced to be torn off by the waves and all the crew took to the bridge. The five inch cable of the Walmer boat then parted and she drifted away to re-anchor, leaving half her crew on the steamship. There were now 14 lifeboat men and 31 crew on the tiny bridge. Eventually a cork fender with a line attached was floated down to the lifeboat which pulled alongside, by which means all were saved.' Propulsion: Screw, 2cylinder compound engine Year Built: 1868 Builder: Pearse Engine HP: 100 Owner: Carnegie and Co, London Master: R Miller Date of Loss Qualifier: R Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index. GSS. Larn.R. 1977 p120(photo p40); LR.1972-3 No.521(S); TT.18.12.1872 p7

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.