The brigantine Duchess was on her maiden voyage from her builders on Prince Edward Island to her Glasgow owners when she was wrecked on the north side of Rathlin.  For almost two days, the islanders watched the frantic efforts of the crew trying to sail their vessel clear of the rocks.  It was on the morning of 19^th September 1878 that the Duchess was first seen to be in trouble.  At this time, she was almost two miles off the west end of the island and caught in an increasingly north-westerly gale.  Her Captain, fearing he was going to become trapped in Church Bay, attempted to run down the north side of the island.  Unfortunately, in putting his vessel about, the deck cargo of timber shifted, and this left the vessel unmanageable for some time.  By this time, night had closed in and all visual contact with the Duchess was lost.  During the night, the wind backed round to the north and increased.  This no doubt sealed the fate of the Duchess for she now had no hope of getting clear of the island.  With the value of hindsight, the Captain no doubt regretted his earlier decision to attempt to clear the island by the north and had he instead sought anchorage in Church Bay, he would have been quite safe.

On the morning of the 20^th, the Duchess was next seen riding at anchor in Altahorra Bay, just west of Altacarry lighthouse, with every passing hour dragging closer to the shore.  Later that afternoon, the islanders watched amazed as the crew of the stricken vessel began to hoist sail.  By this time they were less than a quarter of a maile from the shore and had no hope of getting clear.  Unknown to those watching from the shore, the Captain, realising he had no hope of saving his ship, was desperately trying to now save his crew. When all sail was set the anchor was cut away and the Duchess turned towards the shore under full sail and with a following wind and sea drove onto the beach.  Heavy seas were now breaking over the vessel and she quickly began breaking up but not before the valiant Captain and his crew were rescued by the islanders.  But for the gallant efforts of the Captain, many of his crew, if not all, would have been drowned.