Images Dated 22nd June 2004

The Battle of Pacocha'; Action between HMS Shah and Ameth

Engraving showing the battle between HMS Shah and Amethyst and the Peruvian Ironclad turret ship Huascar on the 29th May 1877. The Huascar had been taken over by some Peruvian revolutionaries and declared a pirate by the Peruvian government. The Shah and Amethyst were ordered to protect British Merchant Shipping and after the Huascar had stopped several British merchant ships, the Royal Navy decided to hunt down the Huascar'. In the action depicted, the 70 guns of the British ships were unable to do much damage to the Huascar as she was an heavily-built ironclad. In return the gunnery crew of the Huascar was not well drilled enough to hit the British ships much. In desperation the Shah launched a Whitehead torpedo at the Huascar, but the Peruvian ship was able to dodge it with some ease. The battle became a stalemate and the two sides slipped away after the fall of darkness. Reputedly this was the last action by a wooden warship, firing a broadside of muzzle-loading guns and the first use of a torpedo in anger

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10216938

Landing Oranges at Fresh Wharf, London Bridge, 1874

Engraving showing the belly of a cargo ship, being unloaded of oranges at Fresh Wharf, London. The oranges, in rectangular crates, are being lifted out of the hold by winches then carried ashore by dockworkers. In this picture one can clearly see the large cushions the dockers wore over their head and shoulders, in order to protect them from the crates that they carried on their heads. The oranges were a special cargo brought to London, from warmer climes, just in time for Christmas

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10216919

Mission to Seamen Chaplain distributing Papers, 1906

Photograph showing a Mission to Seamen Chaplain distributing papers and magazines to a merchant ship crew, on their vessel, 1906. Mission boats were at work in many of the world's largest ports, at this time. They visited ships to hold church services and distribute gifts. There were also Seaman's Institutes in many ports, where visiting merchant sailors could spend evenings playing games, listening to music or just relaxing in sober, upstanding surroundings

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10216951