Transcription of the police report on the Ruaig drowning of 1860.
Courtesy of Argyll & Bute Archives
In February 1860, Charles MacLean and brothers Duncan and Archibald MacInnes left Skipnish, the harbour in Ruaig, to check their lobster traps. Their skiff measured just over sixteen feet. With Duncan at the helm and Charles and Archibald on the oars, they rowed four or five hundred yards to the south-east.
They then put three reefs in the sail, hoisted it and steered to the west of Soay. The wind was from the south, very strong but steady. As the sea was so heavy, they decided to shorten sail. While Archibald was doing this, water came aboard. They dropped the sail and in a moment the boat capsized.
Duncan managed to struggle ashore but the other two were drowned. When found by two Ruaig men, he was so weak he was unable to speak and had to be assisted home.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings four Gaelic songs two of them love songs, tells two Fenian tales, three stories about ghosts, two about second sight, stories about his uncle Niall Òg, talks about Island House and Baca na Croicheadh, tells a story about a fairy cow and a cattle thief from Islay, sings a milking song, talks about good and bad luck, the superstitions of fishermen, how to heal the evil eye, weather forecasting and gives the names of the inside of a small boat.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings four Gaelic songs two of them love songs, tells two Fenian tales, three stories about ghosts, two about second sight, stories about his uncle Niall Òg, talks about Island House and Baca na Croicheadh, tells a story about a fairy cow and a cattle thief from Islay, sings a milking song, talks about good and bad luck, the superstitions of fishermen, how to heal the evil eye, weather forecasting and gives the names of the inside of a small boat.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings a Gaelic love song, recites a fragment of ‘Ruaig ’s an Caolas’, gives popular sayings used on Tiree, sings ‘Air Lorg an Fheidh’, ‘Oran an t-Saighdeir’, ‘Mo Bhreacan’, ‘O ho ro ’ille dhuinn’, ‘Duthaich Mhic Leoid’ and another love song, gives the meanings of words used on Tiree, sings a sea-faring song, talks about harvest customs, sings a song about a Mull man looking for a wife, talks about different birds, sings ‘Oran na Tì’ and a cradle song, talks about wind direction when going to sea, a belief that there’s gold buried in Dùn Shiadair, sings a humorous song about a man needing help with spring work, tells a story about a horse in a bard’s house, talks about thatched houses, sings a song for a teacher, talks about tuberculosis, sings a sailor’s song and talks about fishermen’s landmarks.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings a Gaelic love song, recites a fragment of ‘Ruaig ’s an Caolas’, gives popular sayings used on Tiree, sings ‘Air Lorg an Fheidh’, ‘Oran an t-Saighdeir’, ‘Mo Bhreacan’, ‘O ho ro ’ille dhuinn’, ‘Duthaich Mhic Leoid’ and another love song, gives the meanings of words used on Tiree, sings a sea-faring song, talks about harvest customs, sings a song about a Mull man looking for a wife, talks about different birds, sings ‘Oran na Tì’ and a cradle song, talks about wind direction when going to sea, a belief that there’s gold buried in Dùn Shiadair, sings a humorous song about a man needing help with spring work, tells a story about a horse in a bard’s house, talks about thatched houses, sings a song for a teacher, talks about tuberculosis, sings a sailor’s song and talks about fishermen’s landmarks.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil talks about meeting a Barra bard, playing board games, sings six Gaelic songs, talks about the meaning of some Tiree words, sings a love song, talks about poverty, paying the miller with flour, herring fishing, second sight, the use of querns and kilns, the mill as social centre and sings a grinding song and a rowing song.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil talks about meeting a Barra bard, playing board games, sings six Gaelic songs, talks about the meaning of some Tiree words, sings a love song, talks about poverty, paying the miller with flour, herring fishing, second sight, the use of querns and kilns, the mill as social centre and sings a grinding song and a rowing song.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings a lament, a lullaby and a song about a wedding, talks about his great-grandfather, ghosts, fairies and fairy dogs, sings a sailor’s song, the weather, fishing grounds, tells a fairy story, talks about Tiree peat bogs in the Ross, strange happenings, the Balemartine area, sings a Gaelic songs, tells a story about William Ross’s broken heart and sings a love song.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings a lament, a lullaby and a song about a wedding, talks about his great-grandfather, ghosts, fairies and fairy dogs, sings a sailor’s song, the weather, fishing grounds, tells a fairy story, talks about Tiree peat bogs in the Ross, strange happenings, the Balemartine area, sings a Gaelic songs, tells a story about William Ross’s broken heart and sings a love song.
Hector Kennedy of Kilkenneth talks about the first electric torch on the island, weather forecasting, using burning peat as a torch, Donald Kennedy – Rìgh na Mòintich, Land Leagues, Rev. MacNiven, the occupations of his family, crofting, kelp, food, the shops, Anna Dhuireach and describes two farmers.
