Nameboard from the 'Oregon'. How this board arrived in the Valhalla Collection on Tresco is not clear, as no such wreck is recorded in the Isles of Scilly or nearby. However, an ‘Oregon’ was driven ashore under Picklecombe Fort, Plymouth Sound, in 1867 and after being pulled off was reported as being ‘stripped’, though it certainly survived to deliver its cargo and sail again. This could have been the source since Augustus Smith of Tresco, who formed the collection, occasionally acquired items from the mainland. There is a brief report of this incident and an illustration of this 'Oregon' ashore in the 'Illustrated London News' of 30 March 1867 (p. 317). Identified as of Shields or Newcastle (though not registered in Lloyds), she was in-bound from Cartagena (Spain) with lead and cork. The 'Newcastle Courant' of 22 March explains in more detail what happened: 'Plymouth, March 18. It blew a terrific gale yesterday at E[ast]., and although over 400 sail were in the Sound, the only casualty was the Oregon, [Captain] Ford, of Newcastle, for the Tyne, which came into the Sound and brought up [to anchor] so far to leeward that at low water she struck on one of the sunken rocks near Picklecombe Fort, and made so much water that the captain thought it best to slip and put her ashore, lest she should go down at her anchors. Steamtugs [sic] are in attendance upon her and it is hoped she will be got off by lightening.' This occurred at about 4 a.m. on the 18th and all the crew got off temporarily via a line to the shore later in the morning. The 'Hampshire Telegraph' of the 23rd gives a further account stating the cargo as 'lead and grass' and the ship of 949 tons: on Tuesday 19th three government steam tugs plus equipment were obtained from Devonport Dockyard, and a gang of men hired by the ship's agent at Plymouth, but their efforts at first failed to refloat herf. However, later efforts succeeded and she was towed round from Plymouth to Shields, arriving on 13 April (see the 'Newcastle Courant', 19 April). If this vessel was therefore the source of the board it may have been lost by accident during the affair rather than by deliberate 'stripping' – which may have been removal of damaged top-hamper before the tow – and subsequently picked up. There is an 1859 painting by John Scott in the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle (TWCMS: G1336), though another by Scott of the ship – flying the same 'number' at the mizzen – in possession of descendant of Captain Ford shows a different and less elaborate bow (no figurehead) and a more modern rig with double topsails. [updated PvdM 8/15]