A distant port quarter view of the Norwegian three-masted sailing barque Petrellen (1855) ashore on Long Rock Beach in a gale. Rolling waves are crashing onto the shallow beach around the ship. The sails have been released and are blowing in the gale. The photographer was standing at the top of the beach looking towards Penzance in the background on the right.

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'].