Monday, October 20, 2014

A Lighthouse Tale For Monday Mystery...!

Probably fewer buildings in the world lend themselves to mysterious stories than the lighthouses.

While appearing peaceful and quiet on the outside during calm weather, many tales of hauntings and strange happenings during or after storms is not uncommon. This is one such tale, straight from the pages of Listverse!

The Eilean Mor Lighthouse Mystery

In 1900, the only living souls on the Scottish island of Eilean Mor were three lighthouse keepers, alone in the vast ocean.

The day after Christmas, a supply ship arrived at the island. To the crew’s surprise, the lighthouse keepers were not waiting for them on the island’s small dock. After blowing the ship’s horn and sending up a flare, there was still no activity on the island. A replacement lighthouse keeper named Joseph Moore was eventually sent to investigate.

As he climbed the narrow, rocky stairs leading up to the lighthouse, Moore recalled being struck with a sense of nameless dread. As he neared the door, he saw that it was unlocked. Stepping carefully inside, he also noticed that two of the three waterproof jackets usually kept in the hall were missing. Reaching the kitchen, he found the remains of a meal and a chair lying on the floor. The clock in the kitchen had stopped working. The lighthouse keepers were nowhere to be seen.

A further investigation revealed the disturbing final entries in the lighthouse log. The entry for December 12 was written by a keeper named Thomas Marshall. In it, Marshall claimed the island had been struck by severe winds, worse than anything he had experienced in his career. Even though the lighthouse was solid enough to outlast any storm, Marshall wrote that the Principal Keeper, James Ducat, was very quiet. The third keeper, William McArthur, was an experienced sailor and a famously tough tavern brawler. The log entry ended by noting that he had been crying.

Further entries recorded that the storm continued to rage for a few days. Secure in their lighthouse, the three men had nonetheless begun praying. The last entry stated: “Storm ended, sea calm. God is over all.”

Though the lighthouse was visible from the nearby island of Lewis, no storms were reported in the Eilean Mor area during the days noted in the log entry.

Strange that no record of any storms near the lighthouse could be found. Stranger still is the fact that no trace has ever been found of any of the three keepers. Strange things going on, I'd say!

Coffee out on the patio this morning. Kinda cool, but not cold enough to stay inside.

7 comments:

Mamahen said...

I had read this before and it always gives me the chills.....I think some fresh baked apple oatmeal muffins sound good this morning...I'll share :))

Chickenmom said...

Maybe too much whiskey? Good mystery! Muffins sound good, Mamahen. Went down to 29 overnight.

linda m said...

You sure this island isn't in the Bermuda Triangle? Creepy enough for it to be located there. Coffee outside sounds great to mean. Apple oatmeal muffins sound good, Mamahen

JO said...

Love these mysteries. So many of the Light Houses have these great stories.

It was pretty chilly here this morning too. Loved it, but sure does call for some nice hot coffee.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Isolation, even when there are three people, can cause all sorts of mental problems, unless you are a Hermit, of course (grin).

HermitJim said...

Hey Mamahen...
Muffins are always a good thing to go with coffee!

Chilling is a good way to describe it! Thanks for dropping by today!



Hey Phyllis...
The whiskey might explain part of it, but where did the men go? Never found, remember?

Thanks for stopping in today!



Hey Linda M...
Does sound like something that would be associated with that area, doesn't it?

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Jo...
Lighthouses have probably had more ghost stories attached than any other kind of building. Reckon it's because they are mostly isolated.

Thanks, sweetie, for the visit today!



Hey Dizzy...
Being isolated does really disturb some folks, I hear. Me...? I kinda like it! But then, I'm a little weird!

Thanks for coming over today!

Anonymous said...

There are always good mysteries when it comes to lighthouses!My only guess is that they all had eaten something that gave them hallucinations but then again, why should all three of them have the same ones?

Good one today!

Have a great day!
Christer.