A starboard quarter view of the sailing barque Maipu (1865), semi-submerged on the north end of Hell Bay, Bryher.

A starboard quarter view of the iron sailing barque Maipu (1865) semi-submerged by the bows at the north end of Hell Bay, Bryher, Isles of Scilly. The tide is out with the stern aground and the bow is semi-submerged to just below the bowsprit. The yards for the main mast has been lowered to deck level (unlike in G14376). The island of Gweal is on the right in the background, across Gweal Neck from Great High Rock and Popplestone Brow.

The iron three-masted barque Maipu was on passage from Iquique to Hamburg with a cargo of saltpetre when it tried to weather the Isles of Scilly in thick fog. After hearing a sound, but then unable to hear or see anything more, the captain ordered the helm over to weather the ship but as it came about the ship struck the rocks at Bryher on 27 July 1879 and slowly sank by the bows. The sails were clewed up and taken down and boats got out to take soundings. A line ashore meant that some of the crew could land on Bryher. The ship became a total loss and broke up by 18 August 1879.

Object Details

ID: G14375
Collection: Historic Photographs
Type: Glass plate negative
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Gibson & Sons of Scilly
Date made: 27 July to 17 August 1879
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Gibson's of Scilly Shipwreck Collection
Measurements: Overall: 6 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in