Introduction / The Island / Accidents and Wrecks / The "Hope"

Dramatic Rescue

There was a complete lack of lifeboat or rocket apparatus. Five men were picked to man William Burgar of Cott’s boat, the “Mary”, in an attempt to cross.

A long rope was attached to the boat so that the rest of the islanders could pull the boat back to Pharay. Unfortunately, this strategy did not work as the rope fouled on the bottom and it had to be abandoned. A heavy sea half filled the boat but they managed to bail out and reach the Holm.

The ship’s crew had found what shelter they could in a quoy on the lee side of the Holm. They had managed to get a fire going with some old wood. Some were looking for help when they spotted the boat coming.

The boat made two trips with a Pharayman on each of the four oars and one at the tiller. It taxed their strength to the full. Five of the Hope’s crew were taken off on the first trip and four on the second. Some of them were so weak by this time that they had to be lifted into the boat.

It had been a dangerous rescue and they were close to death on more than one occasion. Darkness was falling by then. The Hope’s crew were split up between the houses and given dry clothing, food and drink, Captain Youngson and the cook, William Mutch, staying at Cott.

One of the crew, James Ray, stayed with the Seatters at Quoy, which was the closest house to the Holm. A son subsequently born there was named James Ray Seatter.