A very distant view of the Norwegian three-masted sailing barque Petrellen (1855) ashore on Long Rock Beach in a gale. The ship has its head facing the rolling waves crashing onto the shallow beach, suggesting it is still at anchor. Marazion is in the background. The photographer was standing on the shore with Penzance behind him.

The Petrellen had anchored about one mile off Penzance Pier on 22 January 1885 while east bound. On 31 January 1885 during a strong gale, the crew fired rockets for assistance. The RNLI lifeboat Dora went out and landed eight men at Penzance, leaving the captain and mate on board [Aberdeen Journal, 2 February 1885, 'Shipping Intelligence']. However, on 1 February in getting under weigh both anchor chain cables parted and could not reach off, so drove ashore a mile to the east of Penzance. The life boat saved the captain and crew, leaving the vessel to become a total wreck in the westerly, strong and heavy seas [Morning Post, 3 February 1885, 'Shipping Intelligence'].