Three men. One isolated lighthouse. And a disappearance that has remained a mystery for more than 125 years.

On December 26, 1900, a relief ship approached the Flannan Isles Lighthouse on Eilean Mòr, a remote island off the western coast of Scotland.

Nobody was waiting.

The lighthouse keepers didn't answer the ship's signals. The lighthouse was deserted. And the three men assigned to maintain its light, James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald MacArthur, were nowhere to be found.

No bodies were ever recovered.

But investigators discovered something extraordinary.

At the island's west landing, iron railings had been damaged, equipment had been scattered, and a lifebuoy positioned approximately 110 feet above sea level had been torn away.

Had an enormous Atlantic wave swept the men into the ocean? Did one keeper rush outside to help the others? And why did all three disappear?

This week on the Yore Town Podcast, Matt and Meg travel back to December 1900 to investigate one of Scotland's most enduring historical mysteries.

In this episode:

• The remote Flannan Isles and the lighthouse on Eilean Mòr
• The lives of James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald MacArthur
• The final known lighthouse records
• The ship that noticed the light had gone dark
• Joseph Moore's discovery of the deserted station
• The missing outdoor clothing and the damaged west landing
• Superintendent Robert Muirhead's investigation
• The enormous waves that may explain the disappearance
• The myths about mysterious diary entries, abandoned meals, ghosts, and sea monsters
• The families left behind and the unanswered questions

And because it's Yore Town, Meg has a few theories of her own. Let's just say pirates, waterspouts, and a kraken enter the conversation.

The question remains: What happened to the three lighthouse keepers?

Was this a tragic maritime accident, or is there a piece of the story we'll never know?

Listen, decide for yourself, and tell us your theory.

About Yore Town

The Yore Town Podcast explores the strange, dark, and unbelievable true stories of real places. From forgotten disasters and unexplained disappearances to bizarre moments in history, every location has a story worth telling.

Follow the Yore Town Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and wherever you listen.

Historical sources and further reading:

Northern Lighthouse Board: https://www.nlb.org.uk/

National Records of Scotland: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/

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