3-052-635 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

An incident during the search for H.M.S. Atalanta, 1880. 'A singular incident occurred in the cruise of H.M.S. Wye, Staff Commander Sarratt, which was dispatched in search of the missing training-ship Atalanta...When about six miles from [Vigo, northern Spain] a small fishing-boat, with a man in a crouching posture, was observed. It was blowing hard from the north-east, with a heavy sea. A boat having been lowered, the fishing-boat was taken in tow, brought alongside the Wye, and hoisted on board. The occupant turned out to be an old fisherman, apparently about seventy years of age. He was perfectly unconscious when brought on board, and only lived about twenty minutes, although every effort was made by the medical officer, Dr. Lyon, to restore animation. The Wye...delivered the body to the Spanish authorities, who expressed their gratitude to the Commander for the attention shown. It is supposed the man was a Spaniard. The boat had only one oar, and had evidently drifted off the shore or out of one of the bays; the old man being unable, when he had lost an oar, to withstand the strong easterly gale. We are indebted to Lieutenant W. Verner, of the Rifle Brigade...for a sketch of this romantic, but rather melancholy, adventure at sea'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.