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Wreck of HMS Wasp
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Wreck of HMS Wasp
Wreck of HMS Wasp, British gun-boat, at Tory Island, Donegal, north coast of Ireland, 1884
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Media ID 23423718
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
1884 Donegal Feb21 Gun Boat Gunboat Shipwreck Shipwrecks Sinking Storm Tory Wasp Wreck Wrecks
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the haunting remains of HMS Wasp, a British gun-boat that met its fate off the north coast of Ireland in 1884. The image was taken at Tory Island, a small, rugged outcrop located in Donegal Bay. The Wasp, a transport and gun vessel commissioned in 1861, served in various capacities during the 1860s and 1870s, including in the Second Schleswig War and the Anglo-Egyptian War. By the 1880s, the Wasp had seen better days. On the night of February 21, 1884, a violent storm struck the Irish Sea, and the Wasp, with a crew of 120 men on board, was unable to withstand the force of the waves. The ship ran aground on the rocks off Tory Island, and despite the efforts of the crew and local fishermen, the Wasp was soon lost. The photograph, taken in the aftermath of the sinking, shows the wreckage of the Wasp as it lay battered against the rocks. The once proud vessel, now a mere shadow of its former self, is a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of life at sea during the late 19th century. The desolate landscape of Tory Island, with its craggy cliffs and stormy skies, only adds to the sense of isolation and melancholy. The image offers a glimpse into the past, transporting us back to a time when the sea was a far more dangerous and unpredictable force than it is today. It is a reminder of the courage and resilience of those who braved the elements to navigate the waters, and of the inherent risks they faced in doing so.
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