Dark green-painted and gilded billet-head from the Neapolitian barque 'Lofaro' which, in February 1902, went down with all hands on rocks in St Martin’s Bay, Scilly, in a strong north-easterly wind. ‘Lofaro’ was first sighted by a St Martin’s coastguard but he left for his tea before there were signs that she was in trouble. When this became evident, the Round Island lighthouse keeper fired distress rockets to call the lifeboat from St Mary’s and the local gig ‘Emperor’ tried to give assistance but was prevented from rounding St Martin’s Head by the high sea. After ‘Lofaro’ went onto Merrick Rock the crew were seen swimming for the shore; all were lost and the lifeboat, now searching by lantern light in complete darkness, could only find wreckage. The next morning ‘Lofaro’s keel, with stem and stern posts attached, had been washed up; also three bodies and a chest, which contained the master’s gold watch and the ship’s papers, by which she was identified.

‘Lofaro’ details at time of wreck. Wooden barque of 721 tons, registered in Naples. Built by F. Sirello, Savona, 1876. Dimensions (in feet and tenths): 159.8 x 30.1 x 21.0. Owner: Francesco Lofaro di Pietro, Torre del Greco. Registered voyage: Hamburg to Cardiff. Cargo: in ballast. Master at loss: A. Ruffo. Wrecked: 2 February 1902.