Sea Wing Disaster

Title: Images of the Sea Wing Wreckage
Type: Photograph
Date: 1890
Source: Goodhue County Historical Society

Description: This photograph was taken of rescuers and recovery workers going through the Sea Wing wreckage. The drawing on page 2 was made from the photograph and published in the local newspaper.

page 1    | page 2

page 1    | page 2

Activities:

1. From these two pictures, what can we learn about what was recovered from the wreck of the Sea Wing?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: It appears that they were able to recover some of the boat's furniture, including chairs and cushions, but most of the things are heavily damaged or destroyed.
2. Why do you think a newspaper would publish a pen drawing of the wreck instead of the photograph?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Pen drawings came out clearer than photographs when they were printed in the newspaper.
3. If you look closely at the photograph, on the right side of the picture is a man whose image is very blurry. Why would that be?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: In the photography of the 1890s, a longer exposure time for the film meant that any movement would be recorded on the film. This man probably was walking around the wreckage at the time the photograph was taken.
4. The photograph and drawing show the Sea Wing tilted to the side in the water instead of being completely submerged. How might this fact help those trying to recover belongings or bodies from the wreckage?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: With the Sea Wing partially above water, another boat could be brought up along its side and used to stabilize the wreck while people worked to salvage what was left. When this photograph was taken, the Sea Wing had been moved closer to the shore to make recovery efforts easier. Many of the bodies had been retrieved the night before.