Salvaged bales of cotton on the stone pier at Hugh Town, St. Mary's, taken from the wrecked general cargo steamer Brinkburn (1894). The salvage ship Hyaena (1856) is alongside the pier on the left. People are standing and sitting on the bales, as well as behind them, posing for the camera. Hugh Town is in the background.

The Brinkburn (1894) was on passage from Galveston, USA, to Le Havre when it grounded on the Maiden Bower rocks at 1145pm on 15 December 1898 in fog and light winds. The crew abandoned the ship and were guided to Bryher by islanders. The ship was submerged at high water and eventually the bow broke away. As much of the cargo of cotton was salvaged and landed at St. Mary's over a number of months.