An Old Mug Survives - Exmouth Museum and Heritage Centre registered charity 1216717

By: Museum
Added: 27 August 2014

Many years ago the Edwardes family from Exeter found a mug buried deep in the sand at Orcombe Point. They believed it was from the wreck of the ill-fated Tehwija back in 1907.

The family have recently donated this china mug to us. It has a picture of a Russian peasant driving geese to market and Pre-Revolution Russian script on the reverse.

Our research tells us that it depicts the fable "Geese" by Ivan Andreyevich Krylov (1769-1844).

Story of the Tehwija

Thls ill-fated three-masted sailing ship was smashed to pieces on Exmouth beach in October 1907 after a long voyage from the Baltic.

Leaving Finland on August 29^th with a cargo of timber she was forced to take shelter due to bad weather but set off again and eventually arrived off Exmouth in a storm about 4pm on the evening of October 9^th. Captain Baarman signalled for a pilot but it was impossible for the pilot boat to reach the ship so the captain stood out to sea and set his anchors.

When the port anchor chain snapped the ship headed towards Pole Sands – her rudder smashed and the crew were forced to take to the rigging.

Despite valiant efforts the Exmouth lifeboat could not reach her but the Teignmouth lifeboat was able to approach the Bar on a fair wind and take off the crew.

The ship itself split into three and was washed on to the sands at Orcombe Point surrounded by her cargo of timber.

The captain’s Pomeranian dog was so terrified that it could not be persuaded in to the lifeboat.

Miraculously, the dog survived the wreck and was re-united with the captain after being found on the beach.