In thick fog the Kirkcaldy fishing lugger Magdalene Hughes, went ashore on the Little Skerry. Two of the crew swam ashore and the remaining five were taken off together with nets and belongings, by the Huna lifeboat under coxswain John Dunnet. The seven members of her crew, including Captain Hughes, were later landed at Stromness probably by the steam liner Lilian Maud of Peterhead.

Registered as KY 68 and owned by Fergus Hughes, this Pittenweem fishing lugger was built in 1888.  She was 34 gross registered tons and was 17m long.