A starboard bow view of the paddle steamer Gem (1858) aground on the rocky beach at Porthloo [Porthlow], on the west side of Saint Mary's Island, Isles of Scilly. The hull is broken open in front of the poop deck where the paddle wheels and boilers have been removed. A young man is formally positioned in the foreground with an axe, possibly Alexander or Herbert Gibson. A bearded man, possibly John Gibson, is on board the ship looking over the side towards the camera, holding onto the guard rail and the foremast shroud.

The negative has red masking fluid added to create clouds and enhance details like the masts.

The double-ended paddle steamer Gem (1858), originally launched as Liscard, was on passage from Holyhead to Bass River, Africa, when it was run ashore in a leaking condition to be examined and repaired. On 21 November while at anchor in St. Mary's Roads, a WNW gale parted the anchor and the ship ran aground broadside to the rocks in Porthloo Bay and became a total wreck.