It was 137 years ago today on October 14, 1881, that Scotland’s worst fishing disaster occurred off the south east coast when a violent storm swallowed up 29 fishing boats, most of them from Eyemouth in Berwickshire. A total of 189 men lost their lives, 129 of them from Eyemouth.

The sheer scale of the Eyemouth disaster is very difficult for us to contemplate as we now live in a safety-conscious world where, thankfully, maritime workers no longer face death on a daily basis. Put it this way – the Eyemouth disaster claimed 22 more lives than the catastrophe of Piper Alpha in 1988, yet many Scots have never heard of the former.

There had been similar fishing disasters off the east coast of Scotland earlier in the 19th century, most notably the Stotfield fishing disaster of 1806 – every able-bodied man and youth from that village was killed – and the Moray Firth disaster of 1848 which claimed the lives of 100 fishermen.

A government report after the latter event led to improvements to harbours and changes in fishing boat design, but by 1881, east coast fishermen were still going to sea in sail and oar-powered boats that were known to be deathtraps in severe storms.

The fishermen of Eyemouth ignored the weather forecast on that fateful day, which is still known locally as Black Friday. Eyemouth had been the boom town of the fishing industry, landing huge catches of haddock and herring, but its harbour was one of the few not to be improved after the Moray Firth disaster. That’s because in 1841, Eyemouth’s people, led by William Spears, had rebelled against a tithe imposed on them by the Church of Scotland and thus the town was viewed dimly by the authorities of the time.

That row had simmered for nearly 40 years until a deal was brokered that saw the tithes withdrawn, but the Kirk demanded substantial compensation, which left the fishermen of Eyemouth substantially worse off by comparison with the likes of Peterhead. So despite that poor weather forecast, they put out to sea to fish as normal, and indeed the early conditions were not bad at all.

At lunchtime, however, the whole fishing fleet was engulfed in what would now be classed as a hurricane. The boats that could be controlled headed for harbour, while some began to sink miles out to sea.

The National Records of Scotland has the following telegram sent on October 15, 1881: “From the Fishery Officer, Eyemouth, to the Honourable B F Primrose, C.B. Fishery Board, Edinburgh.

“Exceedingly sorry to say that about 60 Eyemouth, 3 Coldingham and some Burnmouth fishermen lost in yesterday’s fearful hurricane. Upwards of 20 Boats still missing. Will write further particulars today.”

That fishery officer, John Doull, had the sad task of telling the board later that day the full horrific details of the events of the day before. It was from him that we learn of many people on shore having to watch their menfolk drown just yards from safety.

“Between one and four o’clock, four boats got safely into Eyemouth harbour and three were swamped a little east of the entrance when running to it and their crews of 20 men were all drowned in the sight of many hundreds of people on shore who could not render any assistance in any way whatever owing to the severity of the gale and force of the sea. The boats were at once broken into fragments on the rocks, one being a new boat launched here lately and out on her first trip.

“Another boat came in and ran up among the rocks on the west side of the bay, the crew were all saved but the boat is partially wrecked, no other boat ventured in after this. These were all Eyemouth boats.

“About the same time of day two Eyemouth boats were overwhelmed close to the entrance of Burnmouth harbour and their crews of 13 men drowned. Other two boats ran ashore about half a mile east of that harbour; their crews were saved; another Eyemouth boat went down near Berwick breakwater and all hands lost. Two Eyemouth and two Burnmouth boats got safely into Burnmouth harbour.

“A Coldingham open boat foundered near that place and the crew of three men drowned. Several hands were lost from the boats which got into harbour. It is now certain that 54 Eyemouth, eight Burnmouth and three Coldingham fishermen are drowned whilst 15 Eyemouth boats with 100 men and five Burnmouth boats with about 25 men are still unaccounted for and the gravest fears are now entertained for their safety.”

The fears proved fully justified. In all some 129 men from Eyemouth perished – 10% of the male population – along with 24 from Burnmouth, 15 from Newhaven by Edinburgh, 11 from Cove, seven from Fisherrow in Musselburgh and three from Coldingham.

A huge relief operation got under way and the equivalent of more than £5 million in today’s money was raised. Yet Eyemouth’s days as an industry leader were over, and the town took a century to regain the population it had in 1881.