Sudden death of Charles McLean & Archd McInnes Fishermen, Ruaig 24th February 1860
Baugh Island of Tyree 24th Feby. 1860
Police Report
Between the hours of one and two o’clock P.M. upon Thursday the 23rd current the following parties had been drowned off Soay, a little Island on the South side of Ruaig, parish and Island of Tyree & County of Argyll, viz. Charles McLean Aged 20 years a Fisherman residing at Ruaig aforesaid and Archibald McInnes a Fisherman residing also at said Ruaig. This took place at a place called Bealach na Chiest on the South West point of said Island of Soay whilst fishing lobsters in a boat.
Finlay Fraser D.C.
Evidence
1st. Duncan McInnes Aged 28 years, son of and residing with John McInnes, a Tailor residing at Ruaig aforesaid, states I along with the deceased Charles McLean and my own brother Archibald McInnes left Ruaig about 12 o’clock noon upon Thursday (the 23rd current) in a little skiff and went out to Soay in order to fish Lobsters having previously set traps on the south side of said Soay for catching them. After being little more than an hour out going around at a place called Bealach na Cheist on the South West point of Soay, Charles McLean before designed called to me to take care of the boat, the water is coming behind (meaning a breaker). I had been steering at the time. Then in an instant the water came in on us and upset the boat. We were in water below the skiff then but we all scrambled up on top of the boat & then another heavy wave came and the boat turned and we were all a second time below her and scrambled up again on her. I then got hold of our mast and an oar and swimed [sic] on the same to the rocks on land which was only about 15 yards from us. After getting to land weary and exhausted I looked to the other 2 & observed them on the Boat. Then the deceased Charles McLean swimed [sic] from the boat to a Boat hook that had been swiming [sic] near them but as soon as he got to the same he sunk and I saw him no more. The said Boathook was so little it would render him no assistance. My own brother Archd. had been still on the boat and he called to me to push out an oar for him but I had been so weak and fatigued at the time that I could not do so, he being further from land at the time. The heavy sea took the boat further from the land then in a few seconds he sunk & I saw him no more.
2nd. Alexander McLean Aged 38 years, a shoemaker residing at Ruaig aforesaid, states the aforesaid parties left Ruaig about 12 noon upon Thursday with a skiff belonging to me and the aforesaid Duncan McInnes & being working on seawreck myself & seeing the day so stormy I got uneasy as I did not observe them coming round on the West side of Soay as they used to do. So I went over and and upon being near the South side of the Island of Soay I met Duncan McInnes before designed & he was clapping his hands on each other. He then tumbled himself on the ground, appearing very sad. I asked him where is the rest (meaning his companions). He then stated to me, oh, I left them. I asked where, he said Bealach na Chiest. I ran to said place & observed the Boat in pieces at said Bealach na Chiest.
Remarks
I only got information of the above case upon Friday & proceeded direct to the place, diligent search had been made for the bodies with hooks & also with a trawl net upon that day but without avail.
Finlay Fraser D.C.
Baugh 28th Feby. 1860
Police Report
The bodies of the within described parties viz Charles Mclean & Archd. McInnes had been found on the shore opposite the spot or place where they were drowned between the hours of 1 & 3 o’clock P.M. upon the Monday the 27th current. The former viz. McLean had been found by Neil McLeod Aged 33 years, a fisherman residing at Ruaig & the latter viz. McInnes by Donald McInnes, Aged 30 years, also a fisherman residing at said place.
I took Dr. Anderson to examine the bodies as requested.
Finlay Fraser D.C.