The Tragedy at Spiggie 1887
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
December 9th 1887 - The night that Mouat was lost.
Four men lost their lives when sudden storm force winds developed on what was a calm day. The men were, John Mouat,(b.10/12/1829) and his son Sinclair Mouat, (b.14/8/1865) along with Thomas Sinclair, (b.14/12/1863) and his brother Laurence Sinclair,(b.1860) all from Scousburgh, Dunrossness.
The day started fair, so along with several other boats from the beaches at Spiggie, and Rerwick, Mouat and his crew went 10 miles, west north west from Spiggie to a fishing ground known as the North Ship.
When the storm struck some of the yoals which were nearer inshore managed to make it back to either Spiggie, or Rerwick, whilst a few more ran before the wind to Garths Wick, at the south end of Fitful Head.
But Mouat who was furthest northwest decided to head for Spiggie.
Due to the strength of the wind and a south going tide, he failed to make the entrance to the Muckle Sound, between Colsay and Cloki Stack. Eyewitnesses, who watched from the cliffs on Fora Ness, saw Mouat and his crew, with the sail down, trying to row the boat against the maelstrom, in an attempt to round Klokki Stack, but they were making no headway.
The remains of the boat were found in the north geo of Noss (Scousburgh), the next day. There was no sign of Mouat or his crew.
Tom Henderson wrote a story about the tragedy, and called it "The night that Mouat was Lost". It is published in the anthology "Nordern Lichts".
As well as the violent winds, this was the worst snowstorm in twenty years and in total, five boats and 17 men lost their lives, mostly Whalsay men. Laurence Moar of Whalsay brought his boat into Lerwick with 2 crew dead and a third unconscious.
