was smashed on the rocks, launching further boats was deemed unsafe. Tayleur was so close to land that the crew were able to collapse a mast onto the shore, and some people aboard were able to jump onto land by clambering along the collapsed mast. Some who reached shore had carried ropes from the ship, allowing others to pull themselves to safety on the ropes. Captain Noble waited on board Tayleur until the last minute, then jumped towards shore, being rescued by one of the passengers. With the storm and high seas continuing, the ship was then washed into deeper water. She sank to the bottom with only the tops of her masts showing. A surviving passenger alerted the coastguard station on the island. This passenger and four coast guards launched the coastguard galley. When they reached the wreck they found the last survivor, William Vivers, who had climbed to the tops of the rigging, and had spent 14 hours there. He was rescued by the coastguards. On 2 March 1854, George Finlay, the chief boatman, was awarded an RNLI silver medal for this rescue. Newspaper accounts blamed the crew for negligence, but the official Coroner's Inquest absolved Captain Noble and placed the blame on the ship's owners, accusing them of neglect for allowing the ship to depart without its compasses being properly adjusted. The Board of Trade, however, did fault the captain for not taking soundings, a standard practice when sailing in low visibility. The causes of the wreck were complex and included: Compass problems due to the placing of an iron river steamer on the deck after the compasses had been swung. Absence of a mast head compass placed at a distance from the iron hull. Northerly current in the Irish sea similar to that which drove the Great Britain northward. Slotting effect of the wind in the sails driving the ship sideways. Small untried crew to manage the sails. Large turning circle making ship un-maneuverable. The anchor chains broke when they were dropped in final efforts to save the ship. The captain had been injured in a serious fall and may have had head injuries. Lack of lifebelts - then uncommon and panic led to increased loss of life, those who kept their heads or could swim, escaped. Tayleur has been compared with RMS Titanic. They shared similarities in their separate times. Both were RMS ships and