The Eilean Mòr Lighthouse Vanishing

On December 26, 1900, a relief boat arrived at the Flannan Isles lighthouse to find it abandoned. The three keepers—Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and Donald MacArthur—were gone. No bodies were ever found. The mystery has never been solved.

The Arrival

Captain James Harvey of the relief vessel Hesperus noticed the lighthouse was dark as he approached. No keepers appeared to meet the boat. The relief keeper, Joseph Moore, went ashore alone.

The Scene

Moore found the entrance gate closed. Inside, the clock had stopped. A meal was prepared but untouched. Two of three sets of oilskins were missing. The lighthouse was otherwise in order.

The Log

The final log entry was dated December 15. Strangely, it described severe storms and mentioned one keeper crying and another praying, with all three huddling together. This was unusual behavior for experienced seamen.

The Weather

Records showed no severe storms on December 15. However, damage to equipment at the west landing suggested massive waves had struck at some point. The sea around Eilean Mòr is known for sudden, violent swells.

The Theories

The keepers may have been swept away by a rogue wave while securing equipment. They may have suffered a psychological break. Murder, kidnapping, and supernatural abduction have all been proposed.

Assessment

The Flannan Isles mystery endures because the facts don’t fit together. The log entries, the weather records, the missing oilskins—none of it makes complete sense. Three men simply vanished.