The Lighthouse: The Mystery of the Eilean Mor Lighthouse KeepersOn 26 December 1900, the vessel Hesperus arrived at Eilean Mor in the remote Outer Hebrides with a relief lighthouseman and fresh provisions. The lighthouse had been in operation for a year, but it had been noted that no light had been seen from Eilean Mor for several days. The relief keeper, Joseph Moore, found the lighthouse to be completely deserted, and a subsequent search of the island failed to reveal any sign of what had happened to the three keepers. The last entry in the logbook had been made on 15 December and contained a number of strange and distressing clues as to the mental states of the men. One was reported to have been crying, while another had become ‘very quiet’. When it was revealed that the men’s oilskin coats were missing and the clock in the lighthouse had stopped, theories surrounding the keepers’ fates inevitably proliferated. These included a giant wave washing them away, murder or suicide. Others favoured more esoteric explanations – Eilean Mor was believed to have mystical properties. In The Lighthouse, Keith McCloskey explores this mysterious and chilling story in depth for the first time and reveals a shocking conclusion. |
Contents
The Lightkeepers and a Reconstruction of 15 December 1900 | |
Aftermath | |
Giant Wave | |
Murder | |
Supernatural | |
Conclusions | |
Recollections of the Eilean Mor Lighthouse by Norrie | |
Other editions - View all
The Lighthouse: The Mystery of the Eilean Mor Lighthouse Keepers Keith McCloskey Limited preview - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
15 December 26 December 84 George Street Archtor arrived ashore boat Breasclete Butt of Lewis Callanish Captain Harvey Captain Holman chapel cliff coast crew damage David Alan Stevenson Despite disappearance disaster Donald Macarthur duty east Edinburgh Edmund Fitzgerald Eilean Mor Lighthouse felt Flannan Islands Flannan Isles Flannan Isles Lighthouse gale giant wave gratuity Hesperus Ibid Island Lighthouse James Ducat James Murdoch January Joseph Moore light tower lighthouse keepers lighthouse on Eilean lightkeepers lightroom Liz Turner Luchruban mainland Marshall and Macarthur Marshall’s missing lightkeepers Moore’s München National Archives file night Northern Lighthouse Northern Lighthouse Board northwest Pigmie Isle relief rock Roderick Mackenzie rogue waves Ron Ireland Ross Scotland Scottish National Archives seen ship shore station signals stone storm Stronsay beast Superintendent Robert Muirhead Thomas Marshall three lightkeepers Tiumpan Head tragedy Tregenza vessel west landing Whilst wind Yates