WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
The Wreck of the Mail Steamer cover

The Wreck of the Mail Steamer

By Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell
Open in WeRead

About This Book

The narrative recounts a late-season coastal voyage in which an overcrowded small mail steamer attempts to round a long, exposed, rock-bound northern shoreline during worsening weather. Local villagers, including an aging carpenter who has stayed to finish a church and a foundling baby, face a long delay before the steamer finally departs; a fierce Christmas gale then drives the vessel ashore and causes its loss. A crew member later provides an eyewitness account of the struggle below decks—fouled coal, freezing conditions, failing steam—and of improvised efforts, including a dog carrying a line, that aided survivors and shaped the aftermath.

About the Author

Grenfell, Sir Wilfred Thomason portrait

Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell

Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell was a British physician and medical missionary known for his work in Newfoundland and Labrador during the early 20th century. His experiences in the region inspired several notable works, including his autobiography, "A Labrador Doctor," which recounts his medical practice and the challenges faced by the local communities. Grenfell's writings often reflect his deep commitment to improving the lives of the people he served, as well as his adventures in the harsh Arctic environment. He also authored books such as "Adrift on an Ice-Pan" and "Labrador Days," which capture the spirit and resilience of the region's inhabitants.

More Books by This Author

5 picks
A Labrador Doctor / The Autobiography of Wilfred Thomason Grenfell cover A Labrador Doctor / The Autobiography of Wilfred Thomason Grenfell by Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell Adrift on an Ice-Pan cover Adrift on an Ice-Pan by Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell Labrador Days / Tales of the Sea Toilers cover Labrador Days / Tales of the Sea Toilers by Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell Vikings of to-day cover Vikings of to-day by Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell What the Church Means to Me / A Frank Confession and a Friendly Estimate by an Insider cover What the Church Means to Me / A Frank Confession and a Friendly Estimate by an Insider by Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell