SS Benbrack

In December 1888 the ship was driven ashore at Savannah, Georgia, United States. She was refloated and put back to Savannah.[11] On 2 January 1889 she was again driven ashore at Savannah.[12] She was floated on tide and continued voyage.[13]

After refloating, while on voyage with linnen to Bremen, she ran aground near Texel, the Netherlands on 23 January 1889. A tugboat was not able to refloat her.[14] A later attempt with four tugboats was also unsuccessfull. Part of the cargo, 250 bales of cotton, were at that time recovered.[15] After few days, her condition was said to be hopeless.[16]

Given the high position of the ship, it was very difficult to salvage the rest of the cargo, approximately 5,000 bales of cotton.[16] A tender for the transport was made for 2.25 guilder per bale.[17] A steamboat company took the job to salvage the ship. The company had over 20 boats available for the job and over 150 employees, including a few divers. A wooden house was built on the beach of Eierland to provide shelter for the workers and to store the cargo.[18] The ship moved higher and higher on the beach, the rudder broke off and more and more water came on board.[19][20] As of 6 February 1889, 1000 bales were salvaged.[21] During a storm in February 1889, the ship blew onto its side and sank further into the sand. Three workers had to be rescued with a rescue boat.[22] As of 7 March 1889, still 1000 bales had to be salvaged.[23]

The ship was finally completely salvaged on 27 April 1889.[24]

In the months following March 1889 the cotton was shipped to Bremen.[25][26]

From mid-March 1889 when the ship was almost completely salvaged,[27] plans were made to break down the ship. But there were strong doubts about the chance of success of breaking down the ship.[28] Ultimately it was not possible to get the ship off the beach. The inventory was auctioned on 6 May 1889.[29] The ship was bought by J. Richardson from England for 5400 Guilder. The inventory had a total revenue of 222,75 Guilder.[30] In Bremen the salvaged cotton was sold for a total of 460,000 Mark.[31]

Remainings of the wreck in 1952

On 24 April 1890 British people moved to the Netherlands and started with the break-up of the ship.[32] The work went very slowly.[33] Due to high costs and low returns, the wreck was offered for sale again.[34][35] However, no buyer was found. The mast was destroyed by dynamite.[36] The workers returned back to England.[37] The break-up of the wreck was continued the next month by workers from Den Helder.[38] In October the wreck broke again and sank further into the sand.[39]

In 1891 the wreck was sold to A. Dros from Texel,[40] and started selling over 100.000 kg of iron of the ship.[41][42] In late 1892 the wreck was almost completely into the sand. The iron was transported to Amsterdam.[43] Untill 1894 parts could be excavated, after which the ship disappeared into the sand.[44] Over ten years later some parts became visible again in January 1904.[45]

The wreck also turned out to be an obstacle to shipping. [46] [47]

Almost another 50 years later the wreck became visible again in April 1952.[48] In 1953 company W. Scholte & Co. from Diemen continued to salvage the wreck, including with the help of explosives.[49][50] The wreck was completely salvaged in 1954, 65 years after the ship wrecked.[47]