Harkness – MacGillivray Stories

“Why Our Ship Should Come In” by Alaisdair Fraser August 28, 1996. Daily Express

“Why Our Ship Should Come In” was just before the buyout when various parties were interested. The Eigg islanders made a heroic effort to initiate efforts to buy the island in conjunction with other parties. Of course, the incompetent previous owner Schellenberg remarks that the locals are “rotten, dangerous and barmy”. It might be said here that it takes one to know one.

Schellenberg was actually describing himself, a person who was “rotten, dangerous and barmy”. He had no feelings for the welfare of others, especially those that were negatively impacted by his dealings. Apart from mismanaging the island, and his attempted theft of Eigg’s cultural heritage, he proved his total incompetence, or disregard for the welfare of the people of Eigg. He was verging on vindictiveness, by selling the island to a scam artist, Maruma.

A cursory assessment would have informed even an amateur that Maruma was not a serious buyer. In conclusion, Schellenberg remarked that “it would be a total disaster if the people were to be allowed to purchase the land.” How wrong he was.