A large group of mostly men and boys on the rocks at the south east end of Perranuthnoe Beach, possibly in Trevean Cove, standing behind three bodies on stretchers from the wreck of the wooden sailing barque G. I. Jones (1867). In the far distance is the outline of St. Michael's Mount behind and to the left of Maen-du Point and the ridge of rocks called The Greeb.

The Newport-registered wooden sailing barque G. I. Jones (1867) was on passage from Charlestown, having left on 20 July 1883, bound for Falmouth with a cargo of phosphate rock. After picking up a pilot off Scilly, the ship was struck by a severe hurricane that affected a lot of shipping along the south coast of England on the night of 1 September 1883. The pilot had endeavoured to weather the Lizard but finding this impractical ran for Penzance. They could not get round Grebe rock and dragging their anchor struck. The ship went to pieces quickly and eleven of the thirteen crew were drowned: Captain Norton, Robert M'Clearn of Montrose (first mate, Fred. Norton (second mate), Anderson, Morris, Kennedy and William Garland, the pilot James Andrew, and three unnamed crew. The survivors were John M'Carthy of Carrickfergus and Henry Oldridge of Tentern Abbey, a boy [Aberdeen Journal, 3 September 1883, Western Mail, 3 September 1883]. The first body, William Morris, and a Norwegian, was recovered on Sunday 2 September. On the Monday morning four more were found: Captain William Norton, Robert C'Clearn, John Kennedy (AB), and the carpenter (name unknown). In each case the body was disfigured and some were nearly naked [Western Mail, 4 September].