Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
On receipt of Captain Harvie's telegram of the 26th December reporting that the three
keepers on Flannan Islands, viz., James Ducat, Principal, Thomas Marshall, second
Assistant, and Donald Macarthur, Occasional Keeper (doing duty for William Ross,
first Assistant, on sick leave), had disappeared, and that they must have been blown
over the cliffs, or drowned, I made the following arrangements with the Secretary for
the temporary working of the station - James Ferrier, Principal Keeper, was sent from
StornowayLighthousetoTiumpanHeadLighthouse,andJohnMilne,PrincipalKeeper
at Tiumpan Head was sent to take charge at Flannan Islands. Donald Jack, the second
Assistant Storekeeper, was also despatched to Flannan Islands, the intention being that
these two men, along with Joseph Moore, the third Assistant at Flannan Islands, who
was ashore when the accident took place, should do duty pending permanent arrange-
ments being made.
I also proceeded to Flannan Islands, where I was landed, along with Milne and Jack,
early on the 29th also.
After satisfying myself that everything connected with the light was in good order,
and that the men landed would be able to maintain the light, I proceeded to ascertain,
if possible, the cause of the disaster, and also took statements from Captain Harvie and
MrMcCormackthesecondmateoftheHesperus,JosephMoorethirdAssistantKeeper
Flannan Islands, and Allan MacDonald, Buoymaster, and the following is the result of
my investigations:
The Hesperus arrived at Flannan Islands for the purpose of making the ordinary re-
lief about noon on Wednesday, the 26th December, and, as neither signals were shown,
noranyoftheusualpreparationsforlandingmade,CaptainHarvieblewboththesteam
whistle and the siren to call the attention of the keepers. As this had no effect, he fired
arocket,whichalsoevokednoresponse,andaboatwasloweredandsentashoretothe
East landing, with Joseph Moore, Assistant Keeper. When the boat reached the land-
ing, there being still no sign of the keepers, the boat was backed into the landing, and
with some difficulty Moore managed to jump ashore. When he went up to the station,
he found the entrance gate and outside doors closed, the clock stopped, no fire lit, and,
looking into the bedrooms, he found the beds empty. He became alarmed at this, and
ran down to the boat and informed Mr McCormack, the second mate, that the keepers
were missing. McCormack and one of the seamen managed to jump ashore, and with
Moore made a thorough search of the Station, but could discover nothing. They then
returnedtotheshipandinformedCaptainHarvie,whotoldMoorehewouldhavetore-
turn to the island to keep the light going pending instructions, and called for volunteers
from his crew to assist in this. He met with a ready response, and two seamen, Lamont
and Campbell, were selected, and Mr McDonald, the Buoymaster, who was on board,
