From the Flintshire Observer 7 April 1887:
POINT-OF-AYR. WRECK ON HILBRE ISLAND.
During the whole of Thursday night [1 April 1887] a very severe gale blew which continued on Friday with little or no abatement. A barque was observed about six o'clock on the East Hoyle Bank, near the entrance to the Dee. The information was instantly conveyed from Hilbre signal station, and as the vessel had signals of distress flying showing that she wanted assistance no fewer than three lifeboats [Hoylake, Liverpool and Point of Ayr] put off to her aid. The vessel turned out to be the German barque St. Mathaus[sic], which left the Mersey on Thursday for New York. She was full of water. The crew were saved by the Liverpool lifeboat and placed on board the tug Toiler which landed them at Liverpool. The St. Mathaus was under the command of Captain Jantzen, and was a barque of 507 tons register. The Liverpool lifeboat effected the rescue, and the Point-of-Ayr lifeboat was also ready at hand. As the barque was making for the Dee when she went ashore, she must have been putting back for shelter. Besides the three lifeboats which went to her assistance there were two tugboats by the stranded vessel.