The iron steamship Margaret was launched from the Barrow-in-Furness yard of Barrow Shipbuilding Co Ltd (Yard No 56) on 16th May 1878. She measured 160.0′ x 24.2′ x 14.0′ and her tonnage was 408 gross tons, 255 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by Barrow Shipbuilding delivering 90 nominal horse power. She was built for the Carron Company of Grangemouth and operated for them until she was sold to Mr D Rowan of Glasgow in 1889 who renamed her Mona. Two years later she was purchased by the Ayr Steam Shipping Co Ltd.
She left Ayr at 6am on Sunday 16th August, 1908 and by nightfall that same day she had steamed to Bunessan, Mull and had taken on board around 1000 sheep and 65 bullocks for a farmer in Wigtownshire. At 8am the following morning Captain Todd crept out of Loch na Lathaich, round Iona and set a course for the Sound of Islay. His seven crew and the cattlemen aboard settled down for a leisurely return voyage to the mainland.
The peace of the summer’s day was shattered some four hours later when they heard a loud grating sound beneath the ship and they shuddered to a halt. The Mona had run aground on an isolated rock called Bogha Chubaidth, approximately four miles south west of the Island of Oronsay. The sea was calm but the captain ordered all passengers into the boats and they were taken ashore to Oronsay and on to Colonsay where a telegram was sent calling for assistance. Meanwhile, aboard the Mona, Captain Todd was alarmed to see his ship filling with water and, deciding that she was in some danger of capsizing, the crew also disembarked from the ship and stood by on a nearby rock. Some time later the Mona heeled over but remained jammed on the rock. Most of the animals aboard either spilled out into the sea or were drowned, trapped on the ship. Only around 80 sheep made it to the shore.
Initially it was hoped that the Mona could be refloated but the salvage team knew that they were working against time as her position was very exposed and the first spell of bad weather would probably see her lost. The following Saturday (22nd), the wind changed to a westerly and increased in force and, as night fell and the salvors packed up for the day, the swell was beginning to build. When they returned the next morning the Mona had disappeared. We have assigned a position for this wreck of 55° 59.394’N, 006° 17.690’W which lies on the NE corner of Bogha Chubaidth, this is not based on any detailed observation at time of loss nor underwater discovery.