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NewsThe mystery of Flannan Isle Lighthouse was first discovered when the steamer Anchtor made a note in its log that the light was not working in bad weather conditions. This was further confirmed when the relief vessel Hesperus arrived at the island and found the island in a mysterious state of disarray.
There was no welcome from the lighthouse keepers, no flag on the flagstaff, and no provision boxes left for them as was customary.
The relief keeper Joseph Moore was sent to investigate further and found the main door and gate to the compound closed, the beds unmade and the clock stopped. They also found a set of oilskins, suggesting one of the keepers to have left without them – unusual and worrying considering the poor weather conditions that had been recorded in the log.
The island was scoured for clues or any sign of the keepers, but nothing was found. The west landing had received considerable damage, with turf ripped up and a box of supplies destroyed, with its contents strewn about. The keeper’s log proved that this damage had occurred before the disappearance.
The log leading up to the men’s disappearance included some strange entries, with descriptions of an awful storm, high winds, and low spirits amongst the keepers. There were however no reports of storms in the area in the days leading up to the disappearance, meaning that the poor weather conditions recorded in the log were either made up or localized.
To this day no one knows what took place in the lighthouse that night, but many theories have developed over the years.
The more far-fetched of these theories suggest they had been carried away by a giant seabird, had been abducted by spies, or had simply escaped starting new lives. The perhaps more plausible theories suggest that the keepers had been swept away when trying to secure a box in a crevice above sea level. Other theories suggest the psychology of the lighthouse keepers played a part. MacArthur had a reputation for brawling and was known to be violent. It is suggested by some that a fight broke out on the cliff edge, causing the men to fall to their deaths.
The Flannan Isles Lighthouse, a towering 23-metre (75 ft) structure, was designed by the renowned David Alan Stevenson for the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB). Its construction spanned from 1895 to 1899, undertaken by George Lawson of Rutherglen at a cost of £1,899 (equivalent to £277,066 in 2023), inclusive of the building, landing places, stairs, and railway tracks.
All materials used in the lighthouse’s construction had to be hauled up the formidable 45-metre (148 ft) cliffs directly from supply boats, a testament to the engineering feat of the time. An additional £3,526 (£514,447 in 2023) was invested in the shore station at Breasclete on the Isle of Lewis.
The railway tracks played a crucial role in facilitating the transport of provisions for the keepers and fuel for the light (paraffin, at that date; the light consumed twenty barrels a year) up the steep gradients from the landing places by means of a cable-hauled railway. This system was powered by a small steam engine housed in a shed adjoining the lighthouse.
In 1925, the Flannan Isles Lighthouse became one of the first Scottish lights to receive communications from the shore by wireless telegraphy, marking a significant technological advancement. In the 1960s, the island’s transport system underwent modernization. The railway was removed, leaving behind the concrete bed on which it had been laid to serve as a roadway for a “Gnat” – a three-wheeled, rubber-tyred cross-country vehicle powered by a 400-cubic-centimetre (24 cu in) four-stroke engine, built by Aimers McLean of Galashiels.
On September 28, 1971, the lighthouse was automated, and a reinforced concrete helipad was constructed to enable maintenance visits during heavy weather conditions. The light, produced by burning acetylene gas, has a range of 17 nautical miles (20 mi; 31 km) and is now monitored from the Butt of Lewis, while the shore station has been converted into flats.
In 1896, sanction was received from the Board of Trade for the construction of the Flannan Isles Lighthouse, though work did not commence until December 7, 1899. To ensure communication between the Flannans and Lewis, a gamekeeper, Mr. Roderick MacKenzie, was appointed as an observer to the light, receiving payment of £8 per annum. His duties involved watching for any signals from the lighthouse 18 miles northwest of his vantage point at Gallan Head, Lewis, and reporting any failure in the exhibition of the light.
Just over a year after the light was first exhibited, on December 15, 1900, a disaster occurred that captured the public’s imagination in much the same way as the “Mary Celeste” mystery – the disappearance of the three keepers, an event that would become known as the Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery.
On the night of December 15, 1900, the transatlantic steamer Archtor was sailing past the Flannan Isles when the crew noticed an unsettling observation – the lighthouse’s light was not operational, despite the poor weather conditions. This sighting was duly recorded in the ship’s log and reported to the Northern Lighthouse Board upon docking at Leith on December 18.
The relief vessel Hesperus, scheduled to sail from Breasclete, Lewis, on December 20, was delayed due to adverse weather. It finally reached the Flannan Isles on December 26, carrying Joseph Moore, the relief keeper. Upon arrival, the crew was met with an eerie silence – no flag flying, no provision boxes left on the landing stage, and no keepers to greet them.
Captain Jim Harvie of the Hesperus attempted to alert the keepers by sounding the ship’s horn and firing a flare, but there was no response. Joseph Moore was sent ashore alone, where he discovered the entrance gate and main door closed, beds unmade, and the clock stopped – clear signs that something was amiss.
Returning to the Hesperus with this grim news, Moore went back to the lighthouse with the second mate and a seaman. Their search revealed that the lamps had been cleaned and refilled, and a set of oilskins was found, suggesting one of the keepers had ventured out without proper attire.
Moore and three volunteer seamen were left on the island to attend to the light while the Hesperus returned to Lewis. Captain Harvie sent a telegram to the Northern Lighthouse Board, stating that a “dreadful accident” had occurred, and the three keepers – James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald McArthur – had disappeared, likely “blown over the cliffs or drowned.”
On December 29, Robert Muirhead, a Northern Lighthouse Board superintendent who had personally recruited the missing keepers, arrived to conduct an official investigation. Examining the clothing left behind, Muirhead concluded that Ducat and Marshall had gone down to the western landing stage, while McArthur had left the lighthouse in his shirtsleeves during heavy rain.
The search party scoured the island for clues, finding significant damage at the west landing – a broken box, bent railings, and a displaced rock weighing over a ton. Turf had been ripped away as far as 10 meters from the cliff edge, more than 60 meters above sea level.
Muirhead believed the most likely explanation was that the keepers had gone to secure a box containing mooring ropes near the west landing when an unexpectedly large wave rushed up the rock face, sweeping them away with “resistless force.” He noted that leaving the light unattended was a breach of Northern Lighthouse Board rules.
To this day, no one knows what truly transpired on the fateful night of December 15, 1900, when the three keepers of the Flannan Isle Lighthouse vanished without a trace. However, the enduring mystery has spawned numerous theories over the years, ranging from the plausible to the far-fetched.
One of the more plausible theories suggests that the keepers, James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald McArthur, had been swept away by an unexpectedly large wave while trying to secure a box in a crevice above sea level. This theory is supported by the evidence of significant damage found at the west landing, including a broken box, bent railings, and a displaced rock weighing over a ton. The ripped turf, extending up to 10 meters from the cliff edge, further corroborates the possibility of a powerful wave rushing up the rock face.
Other theories delve into the psychological aspects and interpersonal dynamics of the lighthouse keepers. MacArthur had a reputation for brawling and was known to be violent. Some speculate that a fight might have broken out on the cliff edge, causing the men to fall to their deaths. Another theory suggests that one of the keepers, likely MacArthur, murdered the other two and subsequently threw himself off the cliffs, though there is no evidence to support this claim.
The more far-fetched theories surrounding the Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery venture into the realms of the supernatural and unconventional. Some suggest that the keepers were carried away by a giant seabird or abducted by spies. Others propose that they had simply escaped to start new lives elsewhere. Folklore even hints at the involvement of a sea monster or a supernatural presence, with reports of strange seaweed strands and odd birds flying out of the lighthouse upon the initial investigation.
While the true events of that night may never be fully unraveled, the Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery continues to captivate and intrigue, inspiring a myriad of theories that span the spectrum from the rational to the fantastical.
The enduring mystery of the Flannan Isle Lighthouse has left an indelible mark on popular culture, inspiring various artistic and literary works that explore the enigma surrounding the disappearance of the three keepers in 1900.
The haunting tale has captivated writers and poets, leading to poignant literary representations. In 1912, the poet Wilfrid Wilson Gibson penned “Flannan Isle,” a poetic reimagining of the search party’s horror upon discovering the empty lighthouse with no trace of “three men dead.” The mystery also served as the inspiration for the composer Peter Maxwell Davies’s modern chamber opera “The Lighthouse” in 1979.
The Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery has transcended literature and found its way into various media forms. The British rock group Genesis wrote and recorded “The Mystery of Flannan Isle Lighthouse” in 1968 while working on their first album, though it was not released until 1998 in “Genesis Archive 1967–75.” The 2018 film “The Vanishing,” directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, is also based on the enigmatic event, with actors Gerard Butler, Peter Mullan, and Connor Swindells portraying the three missing keepers.
The mystery has also made its mark in the realm of television and video games. In the season 7 premiere of “BuzzFeed Unsolved True Crime,” hosts Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej covered the disappearance, further fueling public interest. The indie horror video game “Dark Fall II: Lights Out” drew partial inspiration from the occurrence, referencing both the “Doctor Who” episode and W.W. Gibson’s poem.
The Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery has also been the subject of several documentaries and films. Emma Stonex’s novel “The Lamplighters” is a fictionalized account of the events at the Eilean Mor lighthouse, while Keith McCloskey’s 2014 book “The Lighthouse: The Mystery of the Missing Eilean Mor Lighthouse Keepers” delves into the historical details of the disappearance.
Furthermore, the Flannan Isles and the Lighthouse are featured in the 2021 Mark Dawson book “Never Let Me Down Again,” the nineteenth installment of the John Milton series, and Natasha Pulley’s 2021 novel “The Kingdoms” also makes reference to the disappearance, initiating the events of the novel.
The Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery remains one of history’s most perplexing maritime enigmas, capturing the imagination of writers, artists, and the general public alike. Despite the passage of over a century, the inexplicable disappearance of the three keepers continues to perplex and intrigue, fueling endless speculation and theories. While the true events of that fateful night may never be conclusively unraveled, the enduring allure of this mystery lies in its ability to spark curiosity and ignite debates across generations.
Ultimately, the Flannan Isle Lighthouse stands as a testament to the unrelenting power of nature, the resilience of human spirit, and the enduring fascination with the unknown. As we ponder the various theories and interpretations, this enigmatic tale serves as a reminder that some mysteries are meant to endure, inspiring us to embrace the unexplained and appreciate the captivating allure of the unsolved.
The Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery has captured the imagination of people worldwide, inspiring various theories and speculations that attempt to unravel the enigma surrounding the disappearance of the three keepers in 1900. While the true events of that fateful night may never be fully known, the enduring allure of this mystery lies in its ability to spark curiosity and ignite debates across generations.
Among the more far-fetched theories surrounding the Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery are those that venture into the realms of the supernatural and unconventional. Some suggest that the keepers were carried away by a giant seabird or abducted by spies. Others propose that they had simply escaped to start new lives elsewhere. Folklore even hints at the involvement of a sea monster or a supernatural presence, with reports of strange seaweed strands and odd birds flying out of the lighthouse upon the initial investigation.
Other theories delve into the psychological aspects and interpersonal dynamics of the lighthouse keepers. Donald McArthur had a reputation for brawling and was known to be violent. Some speculate that a fight might have broken out on the cliff edge, causing the men to fall to their deaths. Another theory suggests that one of the keepers, likely McArthur, murdered the other two and subsequently threw himself off the cliffs, though there is no evidence to support this claim.
One of the more plausible theories suggests that the keepers, James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald McArthur, had been swept away by an unexpectedly large wave while trying to secure a box in a crevice above sea level. This theory is supported by the evidence of significant damage found at the west landing, including a broken box, bent railings, and a displaced rock weighing over a ton. The ripped turf, extending up to 10 meters from the cliff edge, further corroborates the possibility of a powerful wave rushing up the rock face.
While the true events of that night may never be fully unraveled, the Flannan Isle Lighthouse mystery continues to captivate and intrigue, inspiring a myriad of theories that span the spectrum from the rational to the fantastical.
