Top, the hulks Vicar of Bray, Egeria (1858) , William Shand (1839) and Snow Squall (1851) lie together at Port Stanley late in the last century . The Vicar moved on to Goose Green, but the other three remain at Port Stanley as seen here, abutting the East Jetty of the Falkland Island Company. The Vicar's name on her bow here (and in the painting , page 15) was probably lettered in by some Falklander unknown . Both photographs were given to the National Maritime Museum , San Francisco, by the Falklands historian Carl Lellman . Courtesy, the National Maritime Museum , San Francisco. Today, (lower left) under the low slate skies of the Falklands, the Vicar serves as a pier for ships offloading at Goose Green. At right, one can see her full length and her cant to port. Foreward, her capstan remains firmly fixed . Photo at right by Nicholas Dean.
National Maritime Historical Society and the Falkland Island Company, the Vicar was purchased by the National Society for $1, with the stipulation that funds be forthcoming to repair the Company's dock when she is removed . This transaction was celebrated in 1976 with a luncheon hosted by the National Society's president, Peter Stanford, aboard the National Maritime Museum's ship, Balclutha, and attended by Mayor George Moscone, representatives of California government and British dignitaries who had helped effect the purchase. Most prominent of these was Alan Burrough, distiller of Beefeater Gin, who brought a letter to Karl Kortum from Prince Philip, a long-time supporterofthe cause . Despite this enthusiasm to lift the Vicar from the Falklands, a lull ensued following the US bicentennial. In 1982, a new leader of the effort emerged in the person of Edward Zelinsky, an antiquarian and former member of the Advisory Board of the Museum. Leaming of and sharing in Kortum ' s distress that nothing more had been done to move the Vicar , he formed the not-for-profit Bring the Vicar Home Committee in 1984. 16
Zelinsky , who is known for his sweat-of-the-brow approach to preservation , recently travelled to the Falklands to see the vessel for himself. Accompanying him on that odyssey were Christopher Martin, president of The Cannery and vice chairman of the Committee; Donna Ewald , president of a public relations company and herself an antiquarian; and the San Francisco Examiner's piratical columnist , Warren Hinckle , whose coverage of the expedition was front-page news for two weeks . Zelinsky has martialled a wide constituency to support this project, which has been commended by San Francisco ' s Mayor Diane Feinstein , Senator Alan Cranston , and Congresswoman Sala Burton , to name a few. At this writing , a new survey of the Vicar of Bray is being made, and a report on the pier is due from the Falkland Island Company . A major fund-raising event is planned for early 1986. For additional information about this historic process , write the Committee at 975 Bryant Street , San Francisco , California 94103; 415/621-7400 . And help bring home the Vicar! J,
J,
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SEA HISTORY, WINTER 1985-86