On the 19th February, while a strong easterly wind was blowing, accompanied by a heavy sea and snow showers, the barque Ebenezer, of Porsgrund, bound from G-rimsby for Norway, with a cargo of coal, was seen to the eastward of Banff with her sails in ribbons. As she was drifting towards the shore, the Life-boat was manned and proceeded from Macduff Harbour, where she was lying, to her assistance. Before she could be reached, however, the vessel struck the rocks at Whitehills and immediately broke up.

Seven of her crew were picked up from the wreckage and were landed at Whitehills in a terribly exhausted condition.

It being ascertained that the crew had consisted of ten men the Life-boat returned to the scene of the casualty andremained in the vicinity for an hour and a half, but unfortunately nothing could be seen of the other three men..