A middle-distant fine off the starboard bow view of the schooner Mary Hannah (1861) aground outside the North Pier at Newlyn. The sea is lapping around the starboard quarter of the ship as it sits on the sandy beach. Large waves are rolling along the shallows past the harbour wall. People are on the beach near the wreck. The harbour in the background is full of masts from other sailing vessels.

The schooner Mary Hannah (1861) had left Newlyn on 3 February but was hit by a sudden gale the next day. The schooner had been on passage from Cardiff to Plymouth with a cargo of coal. The force of the gale smashed the main boom off the Lizard so the ship returned to Newlyn but was unable to get through the harbour entrance. Having been swept down past the North Pier the ship was hit by waves breaking over the stern and destroying the sails and rigging. The crew were rescued by the Rocket Brigade from Mousehole. The ship became a total wreck.