The Trifolium was destined to descend into the pits of despair and her crew along with her. The three masted iron barque under Master John Olssen, set off from Cardiff to Bahia, a cargo of coal clay and bricks. She was owned by JE Olson of Göteborg. Out in the approaches, 16 days into voyage, through a gale, she developed a severe leak. Captain Olsson took the Trifolium into Falmouth for repairs, leaving again on the 10th March 1914. But, 50 miles off the Lizard, fighting for 4 days against the WNW gale, the cargo dislodged and she was on her beam. She continued on drifting like a spectre through the gloom, passing Pedmendu and then to Gwenver. Captain Olsson ordered a beaching, but four men were swept overboard by a breaking wave, the chief mate was held back, his leg broken, Captain Olsson was hurled across and killed. The ship rolled and swept in the breakers, the surviving crew up the rigging, attempting hopelessly to secure rocket lines. The ship just disintegrated in an instant. It appears that six men were saved. Gustav Ollerberg a young man was saved by a coastguard officer, James George (a local fisherman) saved another. Four other crew managed to pull themselves along the rocket lines, twisted through the timbers and metalwork, they were badly gashed, but survived. It took an hour to become the wreckage shown here.
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