Between 22 and 23 December 1876 a great storm battered the North East coast of Scotland leading to the loss of at least 32 vessels and many lives. One of those lost was the Russian barque, Au Revoir, which was on her way from Havre to Riga in ballast.
The Au Revoir was sighted close inshore off Wick at about 4pm when the rocket brigade were summoned. Although she managed to clear Noss Head the barque was finally driven ashore on the north side of Sinclair's Bay close to Keiss Castle. In spite of a line being successfully fired aboard, her crew seemed quite unable to work the gear and three of them jumped overboard to be pulled from the surf more dead than alive. The eight remaining men clung throughout the night to the rigging of the wrecked ship, which by some miracle did not break up. By dawn the Au Revoir had been driven further inshore and they jumped overboard one by one to be rescued by a crowd of onlookers.
The rescuers didn't have much time to recover as by now the Prussian schooner, Emelie, had dragged ashore at Ackergill.
The Au Revoir was made of wood and built in 1857. She was 341 tons and had a crew of 11. Her Master was J. Bode and her owner was Bode, Wesbberg, & Co., Riga.
The Au Revoir was sighted close inshore off Wick at about 4pm when the rocket brigade were summoned. Although she managed to clear Noss Head the barque was finally driven ashore on the north side of Sinclair's Bay close to Keiss Castle. In spite of a line being successfully fired aboard, her crew seemed quite unable to work the gear and three of them jumped overboard to be pulled from the surf more dead than alive. The eight remaining men clung throughout the night to the rigging of the wrecked ship, which by some miracle did not break up. By dawn the Au Revoir had been driven further inshore and they jumped overboard one by one to be rescued by a crowd of onlookers.
The rescuers didn't have much time to recover as by now the Prussian schooner, Emelie, had dragged ashore at Ackergill.
The Au Revoir was made of wood and built in 1857. She was 341 tons and had a crew of 11. Her Master was J. Bode and her owner was Bode, Wesbberg, & Co., Riga.