During the period of 4 - 6 March 1881 a great storm battered the north-east coast and at least sixteen vessels were wrecked, with the tragic loss of over seventy lives. Two of those vessels were lost off the Caithness coast, the Concordia and the Flower of Buchan.
The Peterhead registered schooner, Flower of Buchan was sighted off Wick at midday on 5 March steering erratically through the breakers in the direction of Noss Head, with her sails in tatters and flying a flag of distress from the foremast head. She brought up under the lee of Sinclair Girnigoe Castle and dropped anchor. As it was obvious that her position was extremely precarious the Board of Trade Rocket Apparatus stationed at Wick was mustered. Some carter's horses were requisitioned when those ordered did not arrive. By the time the rocket cart reached Ackergill shore the schooner had dragged her anchors and was riding just out of range off the lifeboat slip. The captain finally slipped both anchors, hoisted a staysail and steered for the shore. The schooner being in ballast and therefore light, drove well up the beach and came to rest broadside-on to the shore. The first rocket fired fell short but the second passed through the rigging and the crew of five were quickly brought to land. The master, Captain Alexander Collie, reported that he had sailed from Peterhead on 2 March bound for Sunderland to load a cargo of lime. When they were between the Bell Rock and the Isle of May the weather had deteriorated, the wind coming away from south-south-east and rising rapidly to a severe gale. Unable to carry any canvas which would have helped keep the schooner to windward, the captain was forced to run before the weather until the Caithness coast was sighted. In the end, with his anchors dragging, Captain Collie had little option but to run the schooner ashore.
Once on dry land the crew were taken to Ackergill Tower "where their comforts were attended to" by the proprietor, Mr Duff Dunbar.
The Peterhead registered schooner, Flower of Buchan was sighted off Wick at midday on 5 March steering erratically through the breakers in the direction of Noss Head, with her sails in tatters and flying a flag of distress from the foremast head. She brought up under the lee of Sinclair Girnigoe Castle and dropped anchor. As it was obvious that her position was extremely precarious the Board of Trade Rocket Apparatus stationed at Wick was mustered. Some carter's horses were requisitioned when those ordered did not arrive. By the time the rocket cart reached Ackergill shore the schooner had dragged her anchors and was riding just out of range off the lifeboat slip. The captain finally slipped both anchors, hoisted a staysail and steered for the shore. The schooner being in ballast and therefore light, drove well up the beach and came to rest broadside-on to the shore. The first rocket fired fell short but the second passed through the rigging and the crew of five were quickly brought to land. The master, Captain Alexander Collie, reported that he had sailed from Peterhead on 2 March bound for Sunderland to load a cargo of lime. When they were between the Bell Rock and the Isle of May the weather had deteriorated, the wind coming away from south-south-east and rising rapidly to a severe gale. Unable to carry any canvas which would have helped keep the schooner to windward, the captain was forced to run before the weather until the Caithness coast was sighted. In the end, with his anchors dragging, Captain Collie had little option but to run the schooner ashore.
Once on dry land the crew were taken to Ackergill Tower "where their comforts were attended to" by the proprietor, Mr Duff Dunbar.