2-914-063 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Storm in Balaclava Bay, 1854. Crimean War: Royal Navy ships lost in bad weather on the Black Sea. 'Captain Frain saving the sole survivor from the Wild Wave; Pride of Ocean; HMS Retribution; Medora; Lady Valiant; HMS Vulcan; Mercia...The sea, which seemed to gather in a dark mass under the heavy clouds which covered the sky at dawn, was gradually lashed into the whiteness of a boiling cauldron...In the midst of this awful cauldron lay about thirty ships...The Retribution, which was furthest in the bay, had lost all power over her steam by the loss of her rudder...large pieces of mast and wreck were to be seen floating about, with biscuit and rum casks, and bales of hay, chests of goods, all knocking together, and rendering the chances of life in the midst worthless...The number of lives lost has been immense, and at present cannot be calculated'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.