On the morning of July 2nd, 1905, Halifax Harbour was shrouded in a dense fog and the 92 metre SS Salerno was approaching the harbour after crossing the Atlantic from Spain. Outside Halifax Harbour, a pilot came aboard to guide her through the entrance and around the perilous reefs and shoals of the inner harbour. But, in the dense fog, landmarks were hard to distinguish and at five o'clock in the morning, and within sight of the docks on a clear day, the Salerno ground hard upon Litchfield Shoals. Word of the grounding quickly reached the city and tugs were dispatched. After a few hours, men were also sent to the site to help unload the 2700 ton, iron hulled ship of her cargo of salt. Several tugs tried to pull the Salerno free, but their attempts were futile.