The Drowning of the Harvesters: A Hebridean Tragedy of 1822

The 1822 tragedy of the Ross of Mull harvesters remains one of the most poignant examples of the precarious nature of 19th century Highland life. This disaster known in Gaelic as Bàthadh nam Buanaichean did more than claim lives. It devastated a community already struggling against the pressures of economic change.

The Search for Hard Cash

During the early 19th century residents of the Ross of Mull and the nearby Isle of Iona faced a grueling existence. As land rents rose and the local economy shifted families were forced to look toward the industrializing Lowlands for survival. Every summer groups would travel south to participate in the harvest. They were motivated by the need for hard cash which was a necessity for paying the landlords and perhaps achieving a slight improvement in their meager quality of life.

On August 9 1822 a vessel named The Mary prepared for this very journey. Built in Tobermory in 1814 the smack was a sturdy sailing boat capable of carrying 50 passengers. The owner Allan MacInnes of Iona had gathered more than 40 paying passengers. The majority of these were young women and men bound for the fields of the south.

Omens and the Journey South

Superstition and tradition were deeply woven into the fabric of Hebridean life. As The Mary made ready to depart on a Friday an omen appeared that would haunt the survivors forever. A cormorant which was widely regarded in the islands as a harbinger of bad luck alighted upon the boat. This sight was enough to terrify at least one potential passenger who refused to set foot on the vessel and stayed behind on the shore.

Despite the rough weather the ship headed south. The route was chosen for efficiency utilizing the Crinan Canal which had been completed only two decades earlier in 1801. After spending a sheltered Friday night in the canal the travelers found Saturday brought much improved weather. The Mary made swift progress passing the island of Bute and entering the Firth of Clyde.

However as evening approached the crew realized they would not reach their destination of Greenock before nightfall. Just before 9:00 PM approximately three quarters of a mile from the Cloch Lighthouse near Gourock the master heaved to. The passengers exhausted from the travel settled down to rest on the quiet water.

A Fatal Collision

While the harvesters slept a modern marvel of the era was steaming toward them. The Hercules a 70 ton steam tug built earlier that year had departed Glasgow’s Broomielaw around 6:00 PM. On board were 50 excursionists bound for Campbeltown via Ailsa Craig.

As darkness descended the command structure of the Hercules became dangerously lax. Captain Blackwood retired to his cabin with two passengers to find his compass leaving William Russell in charge. Two lookouts named MacArthur and McLarty stood at the bow.

Though the lookouts spotted The Mary some distance away no immediate action was taken. On the smack the crew realized the danger and attempted to use oars to move their stationary vessel out of the steamer’s path. It was futile. The Hercules struck The Mary directly through the stern. The force of the impact was so great that the sails of the smack became entangled in the steamer’s paddles and the wooden boat was instantly reduced to splinters.

Most of those on board were asleep when the hull shattered. The quiet night was suddenly filled with the screams of those cast into the Firth of Clyde. Many victims were women whose heavy garments initially provided some buoyancy but eventually dragged them under. Despite the cries being heard from the shore the response from the Hercules was slow. By the time they stopped their engines and lowered a yawl they could only find four people alive.

The Survivors and the Fallen

Only four individuals escaped the freezing waters that night. These were Catherine MacLean, Janet MacLean, Duncan MacCallum, and Angus Campbell. Campbell was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo who would eventually return to Bunessan, remarry, and live to the age of 95.

A week later relatives of the deceased arrived from the islands to begin the grim task of trawling for the wreckage. They located the site and raised the vessel discovering nine bodies immediately. These were the master and eight women. Four were found in the forecastle caught in the sleep of death. Others were found still clinging to the rigging.

The tragedy claimed 42 lives in total. This included 14 men and 28 women. Among the dead were two girls only 13 years old. The loss was a demographic catastrophe for the Ross and Iona leaving 47 orphans behind who were now entirely dependent on the charity of a community that had very little to give.

The Absence of Justice

The legal battle that followed was as cold as the waters of the Clyde. James Anderson the Deputy Procurator Fiscal pushed for a prosecution of Culpable Homicide against the crew of the Hercules. Statements were taken from the survivors though their testimony was complicated by the fact that they spoke little English and were illiterate.

The Office of the Lord Advocate of Scotland noted that while the crew of the steamer appeared sober there was an obvious neglect in failing to alter their course sooner. He argued that a trial was necessary to satisfy the public and the grieving families. However in 1823 the Court of Judiciary threw out the indictments. The defense successfully argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over the deaths. The defendants were released and the 42 Gaelic speaking victims were denied their day in court.

A Lost Memorial

The people of Gourock raised funds to bury the islanders in a local cemetery but they were laid to rest without headstones. Over time the cemetery was transformed. Today the site is occupied by high rise flats and a park. There is no physical monument to mark the passing of the harvesters. Their names remain the only true record of a journey that began with the hope of survival and ended in a silent grave far from home.