 A steam-powered tugboat had towed her out of the Bay, in order to help her maneuver in the dangerous waters.At that exact moment, an accident caused the death of the captain of a ship that was nearby, and the tugboat crew was called upon to help out with that emergency.Left on her own without the tugboat to steer her, "King Philip" dropped an anchor, but the anchor did not hold fast, and the clipper drifted with the current towards the breakers of the beach and ran aground in heavy surf, which caused the ship to break apart.