Bay of Wodowara (Type II)

Click the picture for image
of complete lithograph

Commodore Perry departed Okinawa for Japan on February 7, 1854 on his mission to conclude a treaty with Japan. The Macedonian, Vandalia, Lexington and Southampton were dispatched to Edo Bay a few days earlier. Perry followed with the Susquehanna, Powhatan and Mississippi. The Plymouth and Saratoga were to follow from Shanghai via Okinawa. On entering the Gulf of Edo on February 11 the ships encountered a "severe blow."

This lithograph shows two of the steam frigates (I believe the Susquehanna and the Powhatan) in rough seas in Wodowara Bay. Two other sails ships are seen in the right background. Another sails ship is seen very faintly off the bow of the steam frigate in the foreground. The sails ships to the right are probably the Macedonian and Vandalia. During the late hours of the 11th and early hours of the 12th, the Macedonian ran around. The Vandalia stood by until she was pulled free by the Mississippi. Samuel Morison described the grounding of the Macedonian this way in "Old Bruin":

Macedonian was found to be aground, as Captain Abbot had mistaken a cove on the Sagami Penisula for the entrance to Edo Bay. She kedged off after extensive jettisoning of coal and other weighty objects (which the honest Japanese retrieved and returned), and Mississippi towed her clear, undamaged. (page 355)

This lithograph could well depict the storm and the grounding of the Macedonian as seen from the perspective of the Mississippi (not in the picture).

The titles/lettering read:

• From Nature by Heine Shipping by Walke (Type I)
• From Nature by Heine Shipping by Walker (Type II)
• Lith of SARONY & Co. New York
• BAY OF WODOWARA

Condition. Very Clean lithograph.

I have noticed two types of this lithograph. I call this one Type II. To see the differences, click here.

Landscape Format

Page Size (cm): 28.7x22.4cm

Image Size (cm): Width-24.1, Height-16.9, Diagonal-29.4