A bow view of the passenger liner Mosel (1873) aground off Bass Point, Lizard. The left side of the image is dominated by the sheer cliffs of the headland. The boat davits are empty and mooring lines have been tied ashore. The ship has a slight list to port.

The Mosel was on passage from Bremen to New York with a crew of 100, 20 saloon-class passengers and 600 emigrants. The cargo consisted of specie, mail and 400 tons of English woollen goods. Just after 8am on 9 August 1882 the ship steamed into Bass Point at 14 knots while passing through a dense fog bank. The ship was so close ashore that the Coast Guard signalman from the station above was able to climb down and jump aboard. The crew, passengers and cargo were recovered. Despite salvage attempts, the ship broke in half on 24 August 1882.