A port bow view of the cargo steamer Scheldt (1884) aground and semi-submerged to west of Portheras Cove at Boat Cove. The ship has a list to starboard and the stern is under water with waves washing up towards the main mast. Three rowing boats are alongside with people on board. There are also people on the port side of the Scheldt near the bridge. The photographer was on the rocks above the wreck looking north. In the foreground are the seaweed-covered rocks close to Boat Cove. A man is seated on a rock with his paint box open, painting the wreck. He is being watched by four boys. The artist may be Alexander Gibson, who was known to paint wrecks and then sell copies.

The steam ship Scheldt (1884) was on its way from Newport, Monmouth, to Bordeaux with a cargo of about 1,450 tons of coal. The ship ran aground in calm weather at 2/230am on 23 June 1890 on the rocks just west of Portheras Cove, close to Boat Cove. The 17 crew were saved. An inspection reported that only the moveable gear could be salvaged, as the hull had several holes in the bottom, resulting in the ship being almost submerged at high tide.

The court of enquiry heard that the compass had been out of order and the lead not used as the water is very deep along the coast. The weather 'being thick, the wind blowing light from the west, and the sea choppy' [Western Mail (Cardiff). 9 July 1890].