3-066-036 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Divers exploring the wreck of H.M.S. Doterel, blown up in the Straits of Magellan, 1881. Destruction of a Royal Navy ship by an explosion - 143 crew members killed. '1. Two divers on board H.M.S. Garnet; 2. Sandy Point (Punta Arenas) with Pier; 3. Boats of H.M.S. Garnet letting down the divers; 4. Under the water; remains of H.M.S. Doterel, with pieces of hull and keel...and 64-pounder gun...Sandy Point, with its wooden pier, the snowy heights of Mount San Felipe and Mount Graves, and the distant shores of St. Mary's Point and Cape Valentin, are shown...The Garnet is there lying at anchor, with two or three of her boats, the pinnace and the cutters, away to let down the divers; while to the right hand lies the coaling-hulk of the Chilian Government. The lower part of our Engraving represents the situation of the remains of H.M.S. Doterel, as found by the divers at the bottom of the bay...The anchor is 210 ft. distant, partly buried in the sand. A piece of the fore topmast is also stuck in the sand, and is shown in this view to the right...The sketch shows the wreck in ten fathoms depth...All round the wreck are heaps of rubbish, among which are parts of bodies, iron frames, and broken pieces of wood and clothing of various descriptions'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.