Letter on mystery of three missing lighthouse keepers to go on display

A letter detailing the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers more than 120 years ago is to be exhibited for the first time. Thomas Marshall, James Ducat and Donald McArthur vanished from the Flannan Isles lighthouse, on Eilean Mòr west of Lewis, in December 1900. It was assumed they had been blown over cliffs or washed into the sea by a powerful wave while attempting to rescue equipment in bad weather. In a letter dated 28 December, assistant keeper Joseph Moore said he and other members of relief staff arrived at the islands on a steam ship and found the lighthouse deserted, and metal railings outside damaged. National Records of Scotland (NRS) is to display the letter as part of an exhibition in Edinburgh in August. The three keepers disappeared on 15 December 1900. Their last written entry that morning recorded that routine duties had been completed. Around midnight the steam ship Archtor passed en route from Philadelphia in the US and reported that no light was visible from the lighthouse. The men's relief team arrived on 26 December and were immediately concerned because the lighthouse flag was not flying as it should be. Moore was the first to land on Eilean Mò

Jun 3, 2026 → Jun 3, 2026