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Muirhead further acknowledges in the report that whilst he was aware of Moore's men-
tal state, he needed him on Eilean Mor, at least for the first short period after the disas-
ter, as he knew the station and its workings intimately. This would at least give Muir-
head time to reorganise and plan a new schedule/roster, as with the loss of three exper-
ienced lightkeepers it was not going to be an easy task. On 15 January 1901 Muirhead
wrote a memo forthe NLB Commissioners entitled 'Memorandum bythe Superintend-
ent regarding the necessity for transferring J. Moore Assistant Keeper Flannan Isles'.
The memo stated:
In my report of 8th Inst., on the Flannan Islands disaster I stated that Moore Assistant
Keeper at that Station was very much upset by the unfortunate circumstances and in a
high state of nervousness.
When at Flannan Islands on the 29th Ulto Moore informed me that he could not re-
main at that Station, but on my pointing out to him the great disadvantage of having all
the staff new men, he agreed to continue doing duty in the meantime, in the hope that
thisnervousnesswouldwearoff.Istatedatthesametimethatunderthecircumstances,
IfeltassuredthattheCommissionerswouldnotinsistonhisbeingkeptthereshouldhe
consider it necessary to be transferred. Moore has written me requesting a transfer, but
agreeing to remain at the Flannans until the new men are up to the work of the Station.
I do not consider it advisable to retain him at the Flannans, either in his own interest
or in that of the Station, and would recommend that A. McEachern, Stourhead and he
exchange places, and would suggest that the transfer be made on 22nd February, by
which time I expect the new men will be into the working of the Station.
Robt. Muirhead
Superintendent
15th January 1901 4
Muirhead's primary concern, above all else, was that the light continued to work and
Joseph Moore was therefore the best man for the job, at least until he (Muirhead) could
find somebody suitable to replace him. Moore stayed on Eilean Mor until 9 March
1901, when he was transferred to Stourhead Lighthouse, no doubt much to Moore's re-
lief, having served a total of one and a half years on the Flannan Isles.
With his investigations over and the presentation of his report dated 8 January 1900
to the NLB Commissioners, Muirhead then turned his attention to the problem of find-
ing suitable long-term replacements for the Eilean Mor Lighthouse. There was also a
pyschological barrier for the replacements to overcome, being sent to a remote station
20 miles out in the north-west Atlantic where three lightkeepers had vanished into thin
 
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