A distant port broadside view of the passenger/cargo liner Minnehaha (1900) taken from Bryher Island looking west towards Scilly Rock. A fleet of salvage vessels, tugs and small fishing craft are off the port side preparing to jettison and salvage the cargo in order to float the ship off. The number of vessels reflects the scale of the salvage operations. Rocks off the north side of Gweal are on the left of the image and the foreground is dominated by a rocky outcrop from the shore of Bryher.

The Minnehaha ran aground on 18 April 1910 in fog on passage from New York to Tilbury. The 66 passengers, all First Class, and 171 crew were rescued and landed on Byrher, and about 200 of the 243 steers (castrated young bulls) were landed on Samson Island. The mixed cargo from Holds 2 and 3 were jettisoned, including crated new motor cars, grand pianos, machinery, sewing machines, carpets and other cargo going over the side to lighten the ship. Between 20 April and 11 May the ship was prepared for refloating (using compressed air to float it), and eventually came off the ledge. Minnehaha then proceeded under its own power to Crow Sound before continuing under escort to Falmouth.