The 42 ton Fleetwood smack OSPREY was fishing in an area that was known as "The Hole", some 14 to 16 miles to the south of Douglas Bay, Isle of Man. It was 3:30pm when the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. Steamer, Snaefell, appeared out of the thick mist and ran the unfortunate smack down. The skipper of the smack, Mr. J. Wright, and the crew of 5 managed to scramble aboard the steamer. OSPREY, built in 1866, was owned by Mr. R. Wright of Fleetwood.