In revenge, a large MacLeod party under Alasdair Crotach landed. The islanders hid in the Cave of Francis, the Ribbed Cave, on the south coast. The MacLeods searched without success and left, but saw a scout's footprints in the snow, which led to the cave mouth. They piled thatch and heather at the entrance and lit it. A waterfall dampened the flames, but the smoke killed the 395 inside. Bones were found there for centuries and most were buried by 1854.
The tradition has weaknesses. Alasdair Crotach and his son Uilleam had died long before 1577, similar tales are told about Coll and Ardnamurchan, and 1588 Privy Council papers describe massacres on all the Small Isles by Lachlan MacLean of Duart and Spanish soldiers. The Trumpan church burning of 1578 is said to have been revenge for this event.
Comments