The Fair Isle Disaster 1897

“On the morning of the 2nd September four yoals set out to barter goods with passing vessels seen coming over the horizon. Ships returning from whaling were eager to exchange salt beef, spirits and tobacco for fresh vegetables and chickens. During the day the weather worsened considerably and, by nightfall, with the boats still not back, it was blowing a gale.

Two of the yoals eventually returned that night. Another boat was sighted next morning and was brought to the shore by a rescue party. All five of the crew, including a fifteen year old, Alex Eunson, at the tiller, were dead. The other boat with its crew of four was never recovered. The men had left twenty six dependents.

John Eunson whose brother William and nephew Alex had been lost, together with his brother in law George Stout. Altogether, eight fishermen lost their lives, four of them under 23 years of age, in what became known as the Fair Isle Disaster of 1897. It was a blow from which the island never really recovered.”

Emigration

from

Fair Isle by Jerry Eunson edited by George Stout

The loss of the 8 men combined with the poor crop yield compounded an already terrible situation. It’s almost certain that the lack of able hands would have affected the viability of the crops creating a vicious cycle. “The land and sea turned sour”Rita Deans.

The island had passed between various owners non of whom had ever managed to monetise their investment. Croft owners had to pay rents to the land owners and many of the fishermen were forced to sell their produce to the owners at a fixed rate.