Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
down, fish, etc., they make the best of their way home. It is observed of the sheep of
these islands that they are exceedingly fat and have long horns.
I had this superstitious account not only from several natives of the Lewis, but like-
wise from two who had been in the Flannan Islands the preceding year. I asked one of
them if he prayed at home as often and as frequently as he did in the Flannan Islands,
andheplainlyconfessedtomethathedidnot,adding,further,thattheseremoteislands
were places of inherent sanctity, and that there was none ever yet landed in them but
found himself more disposed to there than anywhere else. The Island of Pigmies - or,
as the natives call it, the Island of Little Men - is but of small extent. There has been
many small bone dug out of the ground here, resembling those of human kind more
than any other. This gave ground to a tradition which the natives have of a very low-
statured people, living once here, called Losbirdan - i.e. Pigmies.
18
In response to this lengthy article regarding the disaster and the Flannan Isles, the fol-
lowing day a letter was published in the same paper from the NLB Secretary James
Murdoch. He was quick to point out an error in the article:
Sir
In the account in today's 'Scotsman' of the lamentable disaster to the lighthouse keep-
ers,ontheFlannan Islands, itisstated, ontheauthority ofyourStornoway correspond-
ent, that 'The people of that part of the Lewis which is nearest to the Flannan Islands
were alarmed when for two or three nights past they could see no trace of the Flannan
light - a fact which was communicated by telegraph to the Lighthouse Commission-
ers.'
I shall be obliged by your correcting this statement. The news of the disaster was
telegraphedtotheCommissionersontheeveningofthe26thinst.bythemasteroftheir
steamer 'Hesperus.' Prior to that date the Commissioners had received no communic-
ation of any kind relating to the Flannan Island Lighthouse or lighthouse keepers since
the last relief was effected on the 7th inst., when all was well.
I may add that, owing to the distance of the lighthouse and the prevalence of haze at
this season of year, there would be nothing remarkable in the light not being observed
from the mainland for several nights in succession.
I am etc.
James Murdoch
Scy.
19
printed related to a visit made in April 1900, to the lighthouse on the Flannan Islands
