On A Day Like This
by Kristina Rinell
Title
On A Day Like This
Artist
Kristina Rinell
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Peter Iredale was a four-masted steel bark built in Maryport, England, in 1890 and owned by British shipping firm Iredale & Porter. Despite encountering heavy fog, they managed to safely reach the mouth of the Columbia River early in the morning of October 25, 1906. The captain of the ship, H. Lawrence, later recalled that, as they waited for a pilot, "a heavy southeast wind blew and a strong current prevailed. Before the vessel could be veered around, she was in the breakers and all efforts to keep her off were unavailing." The Iredale ran aground at Clatsop Beach, hitting so hard that three of her masts snapped from the impact. Fortunately, none of the crew were seriously injured. Captain Lawrence ordered that the ship be abandoned, and rockets were launched to signal for help.
The lifesaving station at Point Adams quickly responded, sending a team of men to rescue the crew. It was a dangerous task, but the lifesavers managed to bring all twenty-seven crewmen, including two stowaways, safely to shore. William K. Inman, one of the lifesavers who helped Captain Lawrence ashore, remembered that the red-bearded captain stood stiffly at attention, saluted his ship, and said "May God bless you and may your bones bleach in these sands." He then turned and addressed his men with a bottle of whisky in his hand. "Boys," he said, "have a drink." The British Naval Court later ruled that the sudden wind shift and the strong current were responsible for the stranding of the ship, and that the captain and his officers were "in no wise to blame."
The wrecked bark became an immediate tourist attraction. The day after the ship ran ashore the Oregon Journal reported that the wreck "proved a strong attraction"and in spite of the gale that was raging scores flocked to the scene of the disaster." Although the ship has been broken up by wave, wind, and sand over the years, the wreck of the Peter Iredale continues to be a popular tourist attraction.
Featured in these FAA Galleries
- Water Water and Water, September 2016
- Ocean Photography and Art, September 2016
- ART - It Is Good For You, September 2016
- Water Reflections Photography, September 2016
- Pacific Northwest Artists, October 2016
- Abc Group - A Is For Abandoned, July 2017
- Storm Lovers, September 2017
Winner in Logo Contest for 'Forgotten By Time', October 2016
Uploaded
September 24th, 2016
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Viewed 3,637 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/18/2024 at 5:24 PM
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Comments (47)
Kristina Rinell
Thanks, Ally, for the feature of 'On A Day Like This' in 'Storm Lovers' .... greatly appreciated :-)
Kristina Rinell
Thanks, Pamela, for the feature of 'On A Day Like This' in 'Abc Group - A Is For Abandoned' .... very much appreciated :-)
Ken Lerner
Kristina Rusty Reflections is a really good shot -- but this is even better!! I can actually envision the sea slowly but relentlessly eating away at this once-was-a-ship, a trapped victim with no hope, like a fly Ina spider's web -- it's really fantastic!!!
Debra Martz
The weather really makes this great with the ruins of the hull! Great stop action on the wave hitting it!
Malanda Warner
Amazing shot with the perfect weather and water conditions to go along with the historical account! LF
Beverly Guilliams
Fabulous shot, Kristina......hope to see that again soon. was wondering how much is seen as of this year......v./f./tweet
Joy McAdams
Congratulations Kristina! This marvellous photograph has been chosen as a feature in the "Pacific Northwest Artists" group on Fine Art America! You are invited to post "On A Day Like This" to the featured image discussion thread as a permanent place to continue to get exposure even after it is no longer on the group home page.
Kristina Rinell replied:
Thank you, Joy, for the feature of 'One A Day Like This' in 'Pacific Northwest Artists' ... I appreciate the support :-)