His Grace
The Duke of Argyll
Inverary Castle
Island House, Tyree
8th Septemr 1868
My Lord Duke,
I had the honour to receive your Grace’s letter of 29th ultimo…
As requested I send your Grace the names and occupations of the men who rescued the three men who were saved from the wreck of the vessel at Balephuil Bay –
Neil Sinclair Fisherman Balephuil
John Black Fisherman Balephuil, both of whom are on board the “Duchess”
Archibald Brown Crofter Balephuil
Archibald MacLean (Junr) Fisherman Balephuil
Archibald MacLean (Sr) Fisherman Balephuil
Thomas Campbell Fisherman Mannal
Archibald Brown Tenant Mannal
James Macdonald Fisherman Mannal
This vessel was driven with a gale on to the Tyree shore about 4 o’clock on Saturday morning the 8th August. In making for Balephuil Bay she struck on a sunken rock about a mile from the shore. The vessel when she struck lay on her beam ends and the whole of her crew consisting of five men were immersed in the sea. Immediately thereafter the vessel sank and in a few minites [sic] the tops of the masts appeared above the water. Four of the men clung to one of the masts. The captain soon thereafter was washed away by the sea which was breaking over them with great fury. The fifth man was never seen after the vessel lay over. The three men who clung to the mast were seen from the shore in the morning. A number of men gathered there but in consequence of the storm and heavy sea running at the time it was impossible to launch a boat at that place. Archd Brown, Mannal, volunteered to form one of a crew in order to rescue the men and immediately thereafter he succeeded in manning a fishing boat and at the risk of their lives pulled off to the wreck but in consequence of the heavy sea they could not approach the wreck. One of the men in the boat threw a rope to those on the mast which was caught by the mate who got it tied round one of the men and caused him to jump into the water off the mast. This person was dragged thro’ the water to the fishing boat and taken on board. A similar process was followed in saving the other two men and they were landed after being about seven hours clinging to the mast. The bodies of the two that were drowned have since been washed ashore and were burried [sic] in Tyree.
I have the honour to be
My Lord Duke
Your Grace’s
Most obt humble servant
John M. M. Geekie