The large number sailing of vessels cast away on the shores of the Falklands during the 1800’s inevitably led to a lucrative ‘wrecking’ businesses  in the islands. Hulks and their cargoes were eagerly traded to provide necessities and luxuries, normally unavailable, thus in great demand by the settlers. A cargo could be anything from coal and wood to wine, spirits, silks or toys.
By 1853 the government felt it necessary make wrecking more respectable and introduced an Auctioneers Ordinance by which wrecks and cargo had to be sold by a licenced auctioneer. Dean, agent for Lloyds and the FIC, became auctioneers. Taxes were imposed on wrecked cargoes and there were bitter struggles. Much of the cargoes probably never reached the sales rooms.
It was not unusual for masters to oblige by wrecking a ship and the sale of the cargoes would be sold to the satisfaction of all parties, but very often a master would do the right thing and helplessly object on behalf of his ship’s owners when his foundered ship and cargo was claimed as wrecked. The port of Stanley became notorious and the islands were avoided if at all possible. This led to a Wreck and Salvage Ordinance in 1871 by which the government held charge of all wrecks and wrecked cargoes in bond for a year giving shipping owners a chance to make claims. This brought the wrecking trade to an abrupt end.  

Wrecking was still probably alive and thriving though, in 1891 there were three cases brought before the Magistrate' s Court where persons were charged with concealing wrecked goods.

The Cargo of Helen A Miller

The dubious Captain William Horton Smyley a North American sealer and master of the Nancy apparently was previously acquainted with the captain of the Helen A Miller, Captain Sweeney. Smyley had set himself up as a US Commercial Agent. He coincidentally arrived at the scene of the Helen A Miller's wrecking at San Carlos in 1859. (This was noticed by Mr Lane, the islands only lawyer). Captain Sweeney, with Smyley, had offered part of her cargo for sale in Stanley. Smyley became involved in the exchanges and despatches of claims/ counter- claims of the cargo of the wreck, much of it luxury items such as canned peaches, hams and carpeting. The sale of Helen A Miller's cargo involved rival parties with many suspicions and doubts. Governor Moore himself became involved and the whole sorry episode ended in court. Mr Lane reported that canned peaches had been consumed at the table of Government House itself.

Sources include: Colonial Reports. Condemned at Stanley- John Smith 1969 Wikipedia website,www.boatregister, The Falkland Islands Journal, The Falkland Islands- Ian J Strange, Jane Cameron nationalarchives/shipping casualties wrecks

Photographic credits: , Jean Sinclair

Photographs and Images Copyright: The images on this site have been bought under licence or have been used with the permission of their owners. They may not be copied or downloaded in any form without their owner's consent.