Oakey L. Alexander Rescue

A framed painting of the Oakey L. Alexander (built 1915 New York Shipbuilding Corp), aground with breeches buoy rescue underway. Seas are pounding over her stern to the left and the bow is gone. The event was witnessed by the artist as a child, and painted from memory in 1991. The breeches buoy has a sailor halfway between ship and shore. Two figures are in the foreground, the left one in yellow slicker, the right one in blue. A figure seen from the shoulders up is seen at the base of a tall pole anchoring the shore end of the breeches buoy. It is labelled in the lower right corner,"OAKIE L. ALEXANDER, MARCH 3, 1947." It is signed in the lower left corner, "DANA / 4/91" It is also signed on the back, "Dana G. Willard" The frame is rough lath the same width as the stretcher and nailed to it. The back has "Fredrix" branded into the wood on three sides. On the short side the number 24 follows the name, and on one long side a 30 has been stamped on it.