Guttenburg

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The Guttenburg was a German brig of about 170 tons. It wrecked on the Goodwin Sands on January 1, 1860, and 26 of the 31 people aboard died. Earlier it had picked up 14 survivors from the Canton, which had been found dismasted and waterlogged off Newfoundland; the survivors were later handed to the Walmer lugger Cosmopolite in a chance meeting off Dover.

On New Year’s Day, hurricane-strength winds, thick fog and snow drove the Guttenburg onto the South Sand Head, where it capsized. Distress signals were fired but were not seen by harbor authorities because of the bad weather. Deal boatman Stephen Pritchard sent a telegram to Ramsgate to launch the lifeboat. The lifeboat Northumberland, pulled by the Ramsgate steam tug Aid, began a rescue attempt, but boatmen and tug crews were prevented from leaving the harbor by the harbormaster, because he had not received the distress call by the proper means and regulations had not been observed. This delay cost 26 lives, including Deal pilot Henry Pearson. The harbormaster was later charged with neglect, but kept his post.