Wsadnik - Russian visit to Gotska sandön

As Wsadnik approached Gotska Sandön, the east-north-east winds whipped up into a heavy rainstorm. With the strong winds, poor visibility and powerful currents, she ran aground at Franska Bukten. The ship took on a heavy list, forcing the crew to cut the masts. Wsadnik righted herself to a nearly even keel in the breakers a short distance from the shore.

The Russian crew immediately made attempts to get ashore, but with less success. About 20 crewmen died before a man managed to get ashore unscathed and then approach the lighthouse village where the lighthouse staff were alerted.

By the time the lighthouse crew arrived at Franska Bukten, more crewmen had disembarked. After much trouble, they managed to bring a hawser ashore that could be used to haul the crew to shore one by one.

After a few days, several Russian ships arrived at the scene to prepare for salvaging Wsadnik. The three large cannons, cannon balls, gunpowder, bombs, coal, huge engines and more were thrown overboard to make the ship lighter.

In the end, it was possible to pump the water out of the ship, and five Russian ships together managed to pull Wsadnik loose and begin towing her to Kronstadt, where the ship was later repaired. Most of Wsadnik’s crew accompanied the frigate Svetlana home to Russia.

The dead Russian sailors were buried by the lighthouse crew, who also salvaged the three cannons. Today, two of them are located near the Russian cemetery, with the third one at the lighthouse village.