Wreck of the Susan H. Ritchie

The Susan H Ritchie was a total loss, and it was wrecked near Bridge Ave in April 1894. In the 19th century the sandbars of Long Island and NJ formed a treacherous gauntlet for sailing ships passing to and from the NY harbor. The dark, uninhabited stretch called Squan Beach (from the Manasquan Inlet to present-day Seaside Park) was a particularly deceptive area. In 1848 life-saving stations were constructed averaging 10 miles apart along the stretch. (See "Running Out" by the artist). In this painting, the artist shows a breeches buoy set up on the beach, which worked like a tram to rescue lives. A line was fired to the ship by cannon, attached to the ship, and the person being rescued was pulled to shore in the breeches buoy which rode the line similar to a zip line. The artist rarely painted dark, stormy scenes. This scene shows the two Bridge Avenue houses with silhouettes in the background and lightning in the sky.

Image size: 15x19.

Giclee print. Limited edition of 150. Unsigned.

$125

A small print of this is available in gallery stores only. It is approximately 7 x 10 inches. It is an offset print and sells for $35. Click here for a list of galleries where this print can be purchased.