4127 x 2741 px | 34,9 x 23,2 cm | 13,8 x 9,1 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
13 giugno 2011
Ubicazione:
West Bay, Vatersay, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Altre informazioni:
The wreck of the 'Annie Jane', just off the west coast of Vatersay in 1853, was among the worst maritime disasters of all time. The ship was a brig sailing to Montreal from Liverpool with over 450 passengers travelling to work in Canada, some with families. The ship appears to have been hit by a storm and lost both her masts so that for three days she attempted to reach a safe port with only temporary sails. However, on 28 September 1853 a gale drove her onto rocks off Vatersay. The seas were such that it is believed about 100 people were swept into the sea by a single wave as they tried to release the lifeboats. A second wave collapsed the central deck area, killing people who had remained below decks. A few remaining people took refuge on the poop deck and were saved as it broke away from the rest of the ship and acted as a raft. In all there were 102 survivors including the captain, 28 crew members, 12 women and 1 child. 348 people died and bodies from the wreck continued to wash ashore for days afterwards. Because of a lack of wood for coffins on the islands, they were buried in a mass grave behind the shore - a spot still marked by a cairn and memorial above the West Bay on Vatersay.
