On 19 December 1862 Northern Scotland was struck by a storm which caused immense damage both ashore and at sea.  At Thurso six vessels were driven ashore, although apparently without loss of life.  They were the Eagle, schooner of Wick, with a cargo of tiles for Forss; the Elfin, brigantine of Girvan coal-laden for Dublin; the Matilda of Thurso (type unknown), laden with oilcake and coal; the Sisters, a Wick schooner; the Norwegian schooner Sunderland timber-laden for Whitehaven and the Dunrobin (type and cargo un-known).  The Dunrobin was driven so far ashore that she ended up in a field, but was described as being repairable!