On the 9^th February 1876 the Arriero left the Mersey bound for New Calabar. Captain Archibald Russell decided on a south-about passage of Ireland, but owing to a severe southerly gale off the Tuskar Rock, he put about and ran back up the Irish Sea. The crew complained of leaks in their accommodation in the fo’c’stle and Captain  Russell put into Campbeltown, where he had the vessel surveyed and pronounced seaworthy by the harbour master. Still five hands refused to continue on the passage for which they had signed articles. They were taken before a local court and each jailed for a month. With replacements engaged, the Arriero proceeded, rounding the Mull of Kintyre and running before an increasingly fierce south-south easterly gale, finally dropping anchor at about 8am on the 25^th in Church Bay sixteen days out from the Mersey. Here she lay for a week but when the wind suddenly veered  to the south west, she attempted to sail out of Church Bay but drove ashore and became a total loss. The subsequent inquiry declared that Captain Russell being in an ‘unfortunate anchorage’ should have taken his first chance to heave up and leave.

The Arriero was wrecked on the south side of Church Bay at a point called ‘Beinog’. An interesting incident occurred at the time of her wrecking when one of her crew swam ashore with a line. Much to the amazement of the islanders on the shore, the man was black and for many this was the first time they had seen a black person.