In September 1878, a series of powerful storms that eventually eventually developed into a typhoon claimed a number of ships in the waters around Korea and Japan - one such ship was the Barbara Taylor.
Although the weather had been foul when the ship departed, it had experienced few problems until it was passing through the Korean Strait on Sept. 20 and encountered the typhoon. Soon the sails were ripped asunder or blown away and the ship found itself at the mercy of the sea and was steadily driven north towards the southern rocky coast of Jeju Island.
Fortunately for the crew, the ship grounded upon some submerged rocks a short distance from a sandy beach. It was through the heroics of Chief Mate George Grieve that a lifeline was belayed to shore in which the crew members, one by one, were able to rescue themselves. Of course their arrival did not go unobserved. As they were struggling for shore a group of Koreans appeared and made it clear by drawing their hands across their neck that the foreigners were not welcomed. Captain Taylor was convinced that the Koreans were “going to cut our heads off at once” but there were no other options but go ashore.
You can read the rest here at Jeju Weekly.
Photo Credit – Nagasaki in the mid 1890s – my collection.
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That is a great photo Robert. I see why you collected it.
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