UUUif!cpbut!gspn!CvdljfUif!cpbut!gspn!Cvdljfif!cpbut!gspn!Cvdljf!!!! The Buckie boats Just a brisk walk along the coast from Portknockie and you reach Buckie the largest fishing port in the area, most of the boats that had been out that day come from Buckie and the small villages adjacent. Buckie was quite a lot smaller in those days but was a thriving and burgeoning fishing port. It was to gather in the small villages in its vicinity as the century progressed. Each village holding on to its independence from its larger neighbour on the hill but each inexorably moving into the out environs of what became the town of Buckie. At the time however the last thing on the minds of the people were who belonged to where, all they knew was that their men were at sea, a terrible gale was blowing and their men faced the greatest danger. In Buckie, the results of the gale were scarcely less disastrous than at Portknockie. The number of fishermen here, however, is larger than in any other town in Scotland. Buckie has a population of upwards of 3000 and the fishing is its main support. No fewer than twenty-nine large boats were out here; and like the Portknockie boats, the fishermen ventured far out to sea. They cast their lines from 25 to 30 miles off the land, about north-east from the Bin Hill of Cullen. The boats lay all pretty close together, and seeing the morning getting rather rough, they commenced to haul about seven o’clock. They proceeded as fast as possible, and by half past eleven, when the wind was getting very high, they were all nearly ready to proceed home. Some, however, had a few lines to draw. These were cut and left, the crews finding it necessary to run for the shore. By this time however, several were a considerable distance on the way homeward; but most of them left the fishing ground just as the gale began, or very shortly previous. A little before twelve the wind was getting very high; in fact, it blew little higher even in the height of th gale, but continued without abatement at the extraordinary violence to which it rose almost in an instant, the sea comparatively peaceful at first, gradually becoming more and more agitated, till the waves were perfectly terrific. © John Crawford The Storm of 23 rd November 1857 1 This map dates from 1870 and is a bit difficult to locate the various parts of the town. The Nook is clearly visible and it is here that one of the boats was tragically lost. By the time this map was drawn a Lifeboat shed had been built and can barely be made at almost the extreme left of the Nook. Unfortunately this was not in place when the disaster overtook the fishing fleet. Some succeeded in taking a far more direct course homeward than others; hence the difference in the time of their arrivals. Two boats came in sight shortly after 12 o’clock, and got into the new harbour without much difficulty ere the wind had taken much effect in raising the waves. The full strength of the gale only overtook these early boasts when about a mile from shore, but all who noticed from the land the rise of the hurricane agree in this – that a boat a couple of mile behind these two, or twenty minutes later in reaching the land, could not have approached the harbour with any but the merest chance of being saved. From Portessie to Buckie, it may be stated, is a mile, and the coast between the two towns is chiefly sands. It is divided into three or four separate sections by comparatively narrow ledges of rocks jutting out from the land a little way into the sea. One of these divisions, close to the Coastguard Station, is known as “The Neuk”, the next, eastwards, as the “Sauters”, the next being known as the “Burn of Rathven” etc. When a storm at sea rises, which renders it dangerous to approach such harbours as they have in that locality, the fishermen’s only safe alternative is to run their boats ashore on these broad sandy beaches, where they stick fast, and there is nothing against which the sea can dash and break or damage their bottoms . © John Crawford The Storm of 23 rd November 1857 2 Just along the coast from Buckie is the port of Portessie, the corner of the Nook can be seen at the top right of the picture. It was in this area that many of the boats came ashore. The men of Portessie had taken a vote on the morning of the storm having looked at their barometers (glass) and decided that it was likely the weather would worsen swiftly that day. When it was seen how the sea rose, the greatest possible excitement was created in Buckie. People seemed disposed to run everywhere, and no one knew where to run. It was nearly an hour after the first two boats got into the harbour ere the others came in sight. Bye and Bye however, they began to appear, most of them evidently making for these sands opposite and east of the new town of Buckie – some for “Craigenroan”. The place of shelter already alluded to east of Portessie. The attention of the Buckie people was chiefly centred in the arrivals at their own shore, as the others were scarcely seen; and while their own boats were every now and then, from two to three o’clock, dropping in at home, there was the chance of those running for “Craigenroan” belonged to other to other towns. The media of the day describes it as the ‘greatest possible excitement’ but reading it in the cold light of day some 150 years later it was nothing short of mass panic as people did not seem to know what to do for the best. It would be easy of us today to dismiss it as just that, but we must remember how much man has progressed since that time, not very long in terms of mankind but the progression in technology and education to name but two have been nothing short of staggering. © John Crawford The Storm of 23 rd November 1857 3 Portessie Bay on a quiet summer morning is one of the most beautiful sights imaginable, a sight which is common along most of the Moray coast which is a place of outstanding natural beauty. The sea however can be fickle; it can turn into a savage beast within hours. With danger riding with baleful menace on the top of every wave. The wind screaming like a banshee when just hours before it was whispering softly. Men scurrying around on their suddenly rather flimsy boats to make things fast as it seemed all hell had broken loose among them. The tempest was nearly at its full height by two o’clock, and as boats came each in sight (they were only seen a short way off land) there was a shriek, while the utmost anxiety prevailed till they were each ashore and the men landed, everyone providing themselves with ropes and whatever could be supposed likely to be useful in putting forth efforts to save life. The crowd ran from one point to another along the coast to whatever place it was likely the boats would strike, and most enthusiastic were the exertions made by one and all, to let the imperilled men out of jeopardy as soon as ever they came in reach. The boats, as they arrived, were secured with mooring ropes, and a hand or two left to take care of each, while the spare men spread themselves along the beach to assist in saving the lives and property of their fellows in distress. © John Crawford The Storm of 23 rd November 1857 4 The newspaper reporter of the day then follows the story of the crew of a boat which foundered about 20 yards off shore at Buckie at around 1.30 – 2 pm on the day. The men had fought strenuously to get back to safety but were overwhelmed when it was swamped by a series of huge waves and all the crew were washed over the side. They were all lost within minutes. Most were recovered from the sea. Name Age M/S Parents Regd By 1. James Clark 36 M John Clark (Dec) Body found John Clark Helen Murray Brother 2. George Thomson 43 M George Thomson (Dec) Body found Alexander Thomson ‘Caukie’ Ann Reid (Dec) Brother 3. William Thomson 24 S John Thomson Body found Alexander Thomson ‘Caukie’ Helen Murray Cousin 4. John Jappy 23 S George Jappy (Dec) Body found James Jappy ‘Turley’ Margaret Wilson Brother 5. William Main 32 M Hugh Main (Dec) Body found George Main Mary Murray (21/12/1857) Brother 6. Peter Murray 28 M James Murray Body found James Murray ‘Costie’ Jane Murray (Dec) (04/01/1858) ‘Costie’ – brother 7. John Murray 19 M George Murray ‘Gouk’ Body not found George Murray Mary Flett Father 8. George Murray 22 M George Murray ‘Gouk’ Body not found George Murray ‘Gouk’ Mary Flett Father Reading of their death in such circumstances it is quite difficult to come to terms with it all, they were so near to safety; they had battled their way almost to shore only to be plucked from life when safety was just a stones throw away. It must have been terrible for the men to die in such circumstances, elation one minute on seeing how close they were to complete safety and the next moment they were gone.