An elevated port side view, just aft of the broadside of the French steel three-masted ship Socoa (1901) aground off Kildown Point, near Cadgwith, Cornwall. The tide is low on the hull and there are a number of small boats alongside, with one off the port bow. The sails have been partially furled. The photographer was on the top of the cliffs looking across to the stranded ship.

The French owned steel sailing ship was on passage from Stettin to San Francisco with a cargo of cement for the city's rebuilding. Socoa became stranded near Cadgwith during thick weather on 1 August 1906 but was refloated after 50,000 barrels of cement were jettisoned over the side and beached in Cadgwith Cove on 26 August 1906 [The Times, 28 August 1906]. The ship was then towed to Falmouth by the four steamers with pumps keeping it afloat, arriving 31 August 1906 [The Times, 1 September 1906].