On the night of 15 December 1900 a squall broke out in the vicinity of the islands. The crew of a passing ship. The Fairwind, were angry and disturbed that no guiding light from the newly-built Flannan Isles lighthouse appeared to be in operation. Nothing appears to have been done about it. Perhaps the authorities felt that it was best to wait a few days, as the relief ship, the Hesperus, was due to sail out to the islands on the 20th December.

However, bad weather delayed the sailing and the Hesperus didn't set out until dawn on December 26th, carrying fresh supplies for the lighthouse, and Joseph Moore, who was due to relieve one of the other keepers on watch duty. Moore was anxious about the mystery of the dead light. He knew that it was virtually unheard of for lighthouse-keepers to allow a light to go out like that. On the short voyage to the islands he was restless, filled with foreboding, pacing the deck and refusing any breakfast.

Things were mysterious on the lighthouse island from the moment they arrived. There was no welcoming committee from the three men, no provisions boxes had been put out to be re-stocked, and the flag wasn't up on the flagstaff. The Hesperus anchored in silence, and Joseph Moore headed for the lighthouse, calling out as he did so, trying to break the eerie silence that enveloped the island.

Inside the lighthouse nothing looked out of the ordinary. The oil lamps were ready to use, the beds were untidy, as if the men had just got up, the washing-up done, cold ashes in the grate. Other reports state that a chair was overturned in the kitchen (although some observers believe this was a later, journalistic. exaggeration), and the clocks had all stopped. What is agreed is that two sets of outdoor clothing were missing. and only one set of oilskins remained. This meant one of the men had gone out without his protective weather gear on something that would have been virtually unheard of. Not only was this wholly impractical, but for all three men to leave the light unattended at once went against the rules laid down by the Northern Lighthouse Board.

So much myth and folklore has grown up over the Flannan Isles mystery, that some have reported that odd strands of seaweed were found on the stairs and when Joseph Moore first opened the main door, three strange birds flew out.

The Hesperus was sailing to the Flannan Isles Lighthouse to

supply relief materials to the lighthouse

The correct answer is Option (3) → supply relief materials to the lighthouse

Explanation: The passage mentions that the Hesperus was carrying fresh supplies for the lighthouse, including supplies for the keepers and Joseph Moore, who was due to relieve one of the other keepers on watch duty. Therefore, the main purpose of the Hesperus' sailing was to supply relief materials to the lighthouse.