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 ;l ' !^r,v^>,'j';f'jifi^yfji •r«s'-a/^'-i^f%iff^]!iT*!i;».:"'iV>"mfi 
 
 M 
 
a, 
 
 • . ' - 
 
 SABLE ISLAND, 
 
 ITS 
 
 HISTORY AND PHENOMENA. 
 
 REV. GEORGE PATTERSON. D.D., F.R.S.C, 
 
 MONTREAL : 
 W. DRYSDALE A CO. ; HALIiTAX, KNIGHT U CO. ; PICTOU. N.S.. JAMES 
 
 1894. 
 
 McLEAN & CO. 
 
l^l^^ 
 
 A 
 
 t- toz'=t 
 
 o 
 
 SI3 PH 
 
Section II,, 1894. 
 
 [ a 1 
 
 Trans. Roy. See. Can 
 
 ADA. 
 
 l.—Sahle Ixlaiul: [h Ui>ih>nj and Phnmm, 
 
 im. 
 
 ]{v the Rev. Geobue Pattekson, D.D. 
 
 (Read May 25, 1H04.) 
 
 I. Description op the Island. 
 
 From the great hunk ..f Nevvf.,mulhm.l westward, oft' the nouth coast of Vova S..nti„ 
 ahnost to the shores of the United States, the oeean-hed presents a seri s .1 '2' 
 
 c-on,>osed ot sand, pehhles and fragments of shells an.l eo'rals, with a depth of v t n t em 
 
 nearly three hundre.l .n length, with proportionate breadth ^ 
 
 One ot the largest of these subnmrine sand-be<ls is Sable islan.l bank two hnndrod 
 nules m length from east to west, and about ninety in brea.lth fron. n<, h !<> mt The 
 
 n i IrCX-; ,"^^^ "'' ^° """^' ^"'^ --'•-^'--- It is sitnat;.! abont'e ght^; 
 
 n.les from Wlutehead, the nearest point on the Nova Scotia shore, in a sontheasterlv dirJc 
 
 latitude ;;": '"::'"" r'"*^ ""•«« >-'^' '>^ «'-"* -- -i'e wide, and t r nd i i ; 
 
 atitude 43^ 59' north and in longitude 59° 45' west. By Capt. Bayfield's survev in VsV 
 
 iatnlrrpZ r "7"',"''^'" """ •""" '«.>l>e whole being ,h„. .evjern ,*: 
 which *; Z 1 areTv"' / "" ^ "" """"""' ■""•'"-'"1^ «" '-"e™ mile., „ 
 
 Be..de, the.e bar,, at each extremity of the i,l.„d there a,;, three ,hoaI. or ridge, paral- 
 
 5'43M. 
 
^'itw^ ''? ****'.' 
 
 I'''fi 
 
 3^ 
 
 P 
 
 4 HKV. (iROIMfR PATTKRSON 
 
 U'l with tlic »*li<iri' (HI fiuli h'uK', i>vor whii-li Hit- si-ii Im-iiks lu-avily, wlicn tlu-iv \h any nca 
 k-uimiii)r, n'luU'riiijr laiuliiig witli lioatn ditHrult aii*l ofti'ii (laiijioroiiH. 
 
 TIk'ho Imri* aro iiiort' (laiijjrcnMis than thi' irthiml itHolf. It' a vcshi'I Ktrikfs on tlit- hittt-r, 
 thortt'oii hoaril may 1h' navt'd, an, coniuionly, whc will not hrnik \iii lor two or thrw dayrt. 
 Unt, in hail weather, thi> rent in- of a vi'skoI Ktiiking on one of the harK in ini|>oHHihh'. Their 
 HiiU'rt are noniewhat nteep, thirty fathonjs of water heinjf foniul on tho north wide of the eaHt 
 har and as nuuh as one hundred and neventy ott" its eastern extremity, so that a few minntes, 
 after findinj; no sonndinjrs a vessel may strike, and then, forjfing over, he «>ntireiy enj^iilfed 
 in the waters heyond. After a fjale or fojffry weather some wreckage or hodies drifting 
 ashore will he the or.iy memorial of such an event. The wreeks that have taken place on 
 the island since the fonnding of the relief estahlishment in IHOl are known and recorded, 
 h\it they are «ui»iiosed to he considerahly ex»'eeded in nnmher hy the nnknown. 
 
 On the south side the water deepens gradually, and such is the swell and the distance 
 to he traversed, that landing is attempted only alter a succession of northerly winds and in 
 fine weather. Hence vessels seldom anchor on this side. On the north vessels anchor from 
 one to two miles otf, where there is good holding-ground of tine sand, hut it the wind arises 
 from the north they must put to sea. Landing can only he effected after a continuance of 
 tine weather, and with the wind otf shore. PiVen in such favouring eirenmatances it is sel- 
 dom attempted hut in the surf-lutats helonging to the station on shore. 
 
 Another circumstance greatly increasing the danger connected with the island is the 
 strength and irregularity of the currents. Of three ot these it seems to he the centre and 
 meeting place. On the south the gulf stream passes it on its eastward course. Then, of the 
 great Arctic current, the main portion, passing down the east coast of Lahrador and New- 
 foundland till it reaches the great hank of Newfoundland, is there detlocted to the west, and 
 vessels are carried forward so rapidly that sometimes they are upon Sahle island hefore tliose 
 on hoard are conscious of their danger.' Another portion of this current, passing through 
 the straits of Belleisle, heing joined hy the outflow of the St. Lawrence, passes down the 
 east coast of Cape Breton, and, meeting the last mentioued, is deflected westward to the 
 .^hores of this island. From these, and perhaps other causes, the currents round tlie islantl 
 are terrihly conflicting and uncertain, sometimes heing in the opposite direction to the pre- 
 vailing winds, and sometimes passing round the whole circuit of the compass in twenty-four 
 hours. As currents of water like currents of air meeting from different directions, produce 
 eddies, these produce unirvellous swirls round the island. An empty cask will he carried 
 round and round the island, making the circuit several times, and the same is the case with 
 hodies from wrecks. 
 
 Nor arc these all the dangers which heset the mariner in the neighbourhood of this ill- 
 fated isle. Fogs of a density rarely experienced elsewhere prevail at all seasons of the year. 
 Then the northern edge ot the gulf stream is noted for the severity of its storms. Mr. 
 Maury says that the most terrific storms that rage on the ocean have been known to spend 
 their fury on its northern border. The suddenness with which they arise and their awful 
 violence are among the most striking phenomena of the island. 
 
 ' Capt. Darliy, a former superintendent on the island, thus writes to 'Blunt's Coast Pilot ' : " The most of the 
 wrecks occurring here arise from error in longitude. I have known vessels from Europe that had not made an 
 error of one-half degree in their longitude till they came to the banks of Newfoundland, and from there, in mwl- 
 erate weather and light winds, have made errors from sixty to one hundred miles." This shows the strength of 
 the cuiiBut westerly. 
 
ON SAHIiK ISl.ANIi. 
 
 B 
 
 "Tl... Hill, ort.,, Hh,.. ..I,,,r. jrivinvr i.Hli.nfion. uf....itiMM...| ^„n,l w,.ntli,.r aii.l witl. .1 
 
 a ...K .1... si...,., ,lu..v i. no .......oniti... oftl nnn, .ton... S„.I.U.,.,v a , . 
 
 ..•-nn. H... s,.,., ,. 0...1. ,..tl...r .Vo... all .11....! Tl.c, .kv n".,. a . I ^ 
 
 l.pnua...... Th. w...,l 1.^1... to .-i.. i„ titful ,..Hts, ..an-vi,., .wi..|. .„• ! i 
 
 ;larkn.ss „,...... an tl.. low, .irivi..^ ...ts in all .lintant oLj...,. X...- tl. ^ i",.,. 
 
 ... "W.U1 t.n-, wl.i,,.n.Kotf tl.o ...n.n.it. of tl.. In.n., k. ....n-vinK I.W U T I. h ; 
 
 '•I'."lmK sa,.«lHlnft. Darkn.HH ...LIh to tho l.orror of tl... .■..„.. wliil.. tl.. n. , I 
 
 •-•'-^ '•'•••'K- X .n.an vol... ..n he i..anl al.ovo tl... t.n. . ' k Tr" : '" " 
 
 nn.n ...snos... .tnu.K. as ........ A ,,w sl.o,.t ,...ts at ti..st l„...ak tl.i. ,.,. ,: ' 
 
 .... ht,, an.i .n a tow M.n.utos tl.o l.,„.,i..„n.. |„„..tH .....in tVon. tin- o,.,,o..it.. ........tV " 
 
 "l".-k.u.sK ,K Ht.ll ...tens, ,-oIi.v..,l onlyl.vtlu. ml d.nv of th. lid.tn . .. u • 
 
 ;;:t.;;:::::;H,r::;:i::.z:;t:;;;it,::;;": > ^ > - "^ ' ^ 
 
 ;::«::;;':-■;: ;:;i'i;i;::?;^::r.:xt; ^ '■'^'■' '• -' - " 
 
 At tunos the weather is so ealm and the sea so still that a lu.l n.ight lan.l in a flat hnt 
 UKan. when the wuul is high, landing i. „ot atten.pted ; hut even in :,rdi e th • i 
 
 a work ot .hffieulty an.l sometinios of danger. *>r«ima.> n> cathe, it .s 
 
 As the visitor lands he sees here the shore cut hy the sea into sand-clifts and ther 
 
 water i, ,„,„„1 anpvheror ," „ 1 2 '■^"':,""':''- , " ™"^ '" ■"«"'i<'-l *at f,.,!, 
 .ho interior arou, 1 tW ake re « , vi ^f ''"if' f •"«•"' -«"<-. i-W-.. Fn 
 
 Wrri...„.^^^^^^ 
 
 ^:^^:^^^ 
 
REV. Oi:()|{(iK I'ATTKRMOX 
 
 J 
 
 rjTK'* inv>*Mm.'tiiiu'H .•oIK.fff.l in tlirii- ^..11^011. (lull-*. .liv«TH iiml ..fhrr wil.l fowl arriv.- in 
 Miiy, iiimI tliriiT^rir-* inav lie ^'utli.Tc.l.w.- mi^lit miy, l.y flu- l.oat-loail. (inaiititii-M ufthoiii ur« 
 Humctiiiuv .(.ll.vtr.l lor iiH.. or oxpori. I'lovcrs ami .iiri.'w, .liiriiiK tlifinnKiiiiiii ini>fniHoiirt, 
 iii.|»iir ill lai>.'f iiiiiiilifiH, iiH Coriiicily <li«l \\w wild |.iju'.oii. A K|KMi..H of nparrow in alMiiiil- 
 
 imf . n-iiiaiiiiiiK Hie ynir i-ouii.l. Stray HiH..iiiu'iiM of tin- laii<l-i>ii-<lH comii on tlio .ontinoiit 
 
 limy soiiu'tiiiit'H li(> sc.Mi. Two rt|u'iicM of Kiiipo, liowovcr, hrccil on tlif iKJaiKl. 
 
 The walniH wan foniifrly foiiinl Ihtc, doulitK'ss Itroii^lif liy tin- Art-tif curroiit, l»ut- it 
 liiis lon^r HiiK.r lu'cn i-xtiii.t, tlioiij^li tlii'ir tiiKks aiv ntill tonml in tlio saml. SwUm ntill roHort 
 liitluT. Tlu'y arc of two spocicn, tin- larjfc j,'iay or (irc-cnlaixl seal and tlu- conimon or liar- 
 Ixiiir sciil. Thf forim-r arrive in Dci'iiiln'r or January, liriiiK fortli tlioir yomiK' in Fflirmiry 
 (•r .N[aiv|i, and Icuvi" in Aiijfiist. Tin- nialf in sonictiiiioM i-i^lit foi't lonj;, and may v/vx^h HOO 
 |ionnds. When on nliort' tlii-y livoin familii's, t'ath malf attended liy neveral femaieH. Tiiey 
 are sometimes Imiited l»y residents, tliongli thin is not without <laiiger. The eommon or 
 harbour seal is a permanent dweller. In the waters around, imrtieiihirly to tho south, it in 
 found in ^rreat numliers, hut it delights to husk on the samis, or, when the sea has formed 
 an opening; into tin- lake, to play in its shallows. It sometimes reaches a length of six feet, 
 though five is more common. It iirings forth its young in May, v.'hieii in about twenty 
 days take to the water." 
 
 Of niollusca found on the island the following list was preparetl hy Mr. .1. Willis in 
 
 1858: 
 
 .1 ntiiiiiii iitlili>i>iiiii. 
 
 HI/IKIIIIIllll. 
 
 Aafitrtr nulviilii. 
 
 aisliiiiiii. 
 .1 nil f hill liaiiii, 
 Hiiiiiiiiiin iiiiihitiiiii, 
 
 fririftiifiiiii. 
 ('ri/iiihilii conir.rii. 
 
 /iiniiiiitii. 
 Ciirilium ciliili: 
 Caruni'lii lMiliiiiiirin. 
 
 ilinilvmii. 
 ('!//triii IIH iilii iiiliciiti, 
 Ci/t/ii'riii I'lin II. nt. 
 Krii in iiK (fra n nliiliin. 
 Kihuiai\icluiiiis j)iiniiia. 
 Fusil n ili'vemriiHtiitiix, 
 
 vi'iitrivu.iiis. 
 Olyrhii'rin Hilii/iia. 
 
 Dkift Siiei.i.s. 
 
 fMrt'ii hoiYiitis. 
 
 Ciii-iliiiin \ iiyiniiinii, W. Iiulit's, U. Sliiti-s. 
 
 Siruinhiix piii/ilin, West Indies. 
 
 Ilell.r milti/lohomi. 
 Mj/tiliis liiiiiiiliH, 
 Aliiiliotii A iiiiririiiia, 
 
 pliriifiilii. 
 Miiiirii fiiijiiiitrit. 
 Mj/ii iiri'iiiirin. 
 Nut lea rlautid. 
 
 Iitron, 
 I'liitiiln iltiiti/lim, 
 JWi-n Afiti/i'llii It iciis. 
 
 isliitiiliciis. 
 
 roiKVitfrii'iix, 
 liusfellaria ocriifenfiiliM. 
 Suleii rimis. 
 Sitxicara vih/ohii. 
 S/jiriila Peronii. 
 spfrilliiiii. 
 
 Si-rptiln . 
 
 \'riiun merveniirin. 
 
 CiilnmMln mi'rmtoriii. West Indies. 
 UUi-H porp/iyrin, I'nnamii. 
 
 Of crustaeoa there are three varieties of crabs and lobsters of immenae size. There are 
 also a inimber of shrimps, sandhopj)ers, etc, 
 
 11. Early Notices of Sable Island, 1500-1600. 
 
 "Who first of European voyagers sighted this island is unknown. Mr, S. D. McDonald 
 supposes that it was to it that Cabot refers, when on his first voyage, starting to return 
 
 ' See Dr. Gilpin on "Seals of Nova Scotia," 'Transactions of N. S. Institute of Science,' iii-, 377; McDonald's 
 " Notes on Sable Island," ibid., vi., 22. 
 
ON HAHIiK ISliANh. . 
 
 ;;:;;""''■••'• |'".; ' •"" '^'"•"'^- - •• •"■ ...iKi.t 1...1,. ,1... u,u. ,., ,,.. „• „.;. 
 
 ""^ ♦'"•' '■''"' '^ " •"•"• ".i-t..r.., with H...,r.vlv .mvtl.ir.K to Hupporf ir 
 
 It .H ...rta.n, l„.w..v..,.. ,|,„t at tlu- hr^tluulut, uf tlu- .ixt....ntl, .....m.rv ,l„. fi.h.,,.,.,,, .,• 
 ,. ,' " ""l"ii".'"l with .t. Ilii-* I-* mIi(»\vii l.v iiuiiM .if t If nrriu,! ( ). ,. 
 
 ^U^:;;;:,,,,::;;;;;;r::r's:;;;;:.■::;'■ " •■ - ■ ■- 
 
 :".:; ^^'""' ' ^""' •" ''"^-^ •' -•"•' ' I- - v..,a,., an.l a.non, tl...... is !l2 
 
 rn.K.r thin nan... it al... appoarn i,. tl.., ,...|..|.n.t...l n.api.nn..n.|.. dato.l |.^44, a.l,il,.,i...l 
 
 ;:::':;;:;;::::: ""•'•-- ■ '>'*'^'> » • .•. -^ -......• H:..t:,;:; 
 
 (JM.taMi a .listin^M.isI.Hl Italian n,rt.,Kraplu.r. in . n.ap of 1.^48, ,vp,vs..nt. it nn.l.r tl... 
 
 c". Iv as 1..4b .[,>a,.Mos Froiro, a l'.,rt.,^,u.s,. n.apn.akor, rails it [. .jc SaM. A ,-nn I .• • 
 ol.-n.aps<,f this ..ontnn- show an island unna ...l i„ a pusitiun i Mc-a ti ,. /ha 
 
 ;;;:;:;:: •^"•' - "^ - • - -- ■--•• '^ -- ^ ' -^^ ^.:;: :::;:z.:jtr ;; 
 
 >h ., t tlH..v .1,. not porn.anontlv n.si.k. npon it, place! npon it .attl., which Imv, ... ' 
 
 iiicmn^ to ija Koi'l c s cmi'Tants ill fiOS. imf ,. , . i.- .. . 
 
 N t er does Chan^phun, who was on th.^ san.e oxpo.liti.in as Lcscarhot to IWt R. v.' d.o 
 ha the «an.e means of n.tbrn.ati..,, an.l is n.ore reliahle as a historian. He Jt n^ ^ t. ^ 
 fee of cattle be,ng upon the island, but sayB they were left th.-.v al...nt sixt e s , j' 
 he wrote, or about the year 1552, by the Poi-tny.i..Ko All .1 • ' 
 
 S:,::.:;r:rr;c, ;;■■»•:;•;-• •'?-•- • ■■- 
 
 *\. iA V, 1 . . , ^'*^"^*^' »"T "ie> «lul not favour colonizaton. Indeed at that fimo 
 
8 
 
 RRV. (JRORGK PATTKBSON 
 
 ^ 
 
 Wlu'tlKT till. FiTiuli Imd pliUTd cattli. up.... it so early its alK-go«l, it is ,...,-tain, hnw^'Vi-r 
 tl...t this was (ioi.e a little later l.y the Port.iguese. Not oi.ly does Chanipiaii. n,e..tio.. the 
 tact, hut we find the same asserted hy the historian of Sir Hiimi.hrev Gilhert's expedition 
 That.i..trepi<l mari.ier sailed from mnvfou.idlan<l in 1583 for the AmJriean coast, intendi...r* 
 after making Cape Breton, to go to Sable island, as the writer says, " upon intelligenee we 
 had of H Portugal who was himself present wlien the Portugals, above thirty years past," 
 eonsequently before 1553, "did put into the same island neat and swine to breed, which 
 wei-e since exceedingly m.iltiplied." Charlevoix, indeed, says that the cattle and she'ep had 
 escape<l from some Spa.iish veasels which had sailed to settle Cape Breton, but which had 
 been wrecked on the isla.id. It seems evident that the good father was mistaken as to the 
 mitionality of these vessels. History gives us no record of the Spaniards attempting settle- 
 me.it so tar north, but it is known that the Tortuguese did attempt u settlement in Cape 
 .t>reton as describe!. As the latter had for some time been subject to the former, he migiit 
 easily liave confounded the two. 
 
 The isla.-.d and the cattle upjn it next come into notice by the expedition of Troilus du 
 Mesgouez, Maniuis de la Koche. lie was a Catholic nobleman of Brittany, who had from 
 his youth been connected with the French court. He agreed with the king to found a 
 eolo.iy in America, and for that purpose received from him a commission in which he was 
 named lie.itenant-ge.ieral of Canada, Ilochelaga, Xewfoundland, Labradoi-, and the cou..tries 
 adjacent, with sovereign power over this vast domain. Tliis commission was first issued in 
 1578, but not having been acted on, it was renewed in 1598. 
 
 In that year' he set out with one small vessel, under Chefd'h6tel, a distinguished 
 Norman pilot, and having on board fifty or sixty convicts. He reached Sable island and 
 landed them there. Leaving a small supply of provisions and goods, lie sailed away to 
 explore the neighbouring coast of Acadia, and to select a site for settlement to which he 
 proposed afterward to remove them. On his return he was caught by a tempest, which 
 drove him eastward. His frail bark was obliged to run before the storm, and at last he 
 reached France, inte.uling soon to return. But misfortune attended him. The Due de 
 Moncoeur is said to have east him into prison. At all events five years elapsed before any- 
 thing could be done for the relief of the unfortunate creatures he had left behind. 
 
 In the meantime tliey had formed a shelter for themselves from the timber of wrecks, 
 had killed seals and the cattle which they found upon the island, using their skins for 
 clothing and their flesh for food, modifying their animal diet with berries, which were 
 abundant. Their miseries did not subdue their passions. Quarrels broke out among them, 
 which led to fatal affrays. 
 
 At length, in 1603, Chefd'hfttel was despatched to bring them home. He arrived at 
 the island on the 20th September, but found only eleven survivors. They were brouglit 
 back to Fra.ice, and wei-e presented to the king, clothed from head to foot in shaggy skins, 
 and their hair of prodigious length. They had accumulated a qua.itity of valuable furs, 
 which, with a bounty from the king, enabled them to engage on their own account in 
 Canadia.i trade.'' 
 
 ' Paul de Cazes (• Transactions of Royal Society of Canada,' vol. ii., and again vol. x., sec i., p. 7) has endea- 
 voured to place this expedition in 1588. His main reflson for this is that Moncreur, having made peace with the 
 king in 1598, could not after that date have imprisoned La Rociie. But the documents quoted by Parkman 
 (" Pioneers," page 234) seem to leave no doubt that it took place in that year. 
 
 » There were till recently, and probably are yet, grounds incloaed by an embankment of sods, known as the 
 
ON SABLE ISLAND. 
 
 d 
 
 -ntinK tho reports roc-eived of iV „ ho V ' ^''"' '" ''''' "''•^•'' ">"-^- '^ '-"''l - -.ro- 
 
 t...i. about thirt, ,ea„.os .on. ^i:^:^^^:^:^:: ^i r '''''"' •""■^" '"^'■ 
 
 s..uti,. It is about fiftoeu leagues (over fortv milo /."^?"'';^' '^^ ^^- T^«"'renee, toxvanl the 
 tl.e sea surrouu.ling it bei,... sh-.I o v , ^ \"' ?"'""' """•'' '""^'^"' ^'"'" '^ '^^ '"•<>"<!, 
 
 -any thiekets ,>f bushes, ^^Z^^ZtZr^ 'f '"^ ^^'""'^^ ^'' -'^^■•' ^ ^"^ i^''- 
 ""<• the lau.liHK i« <liflioult.'' ' "'" '"''"' '"• '"'* ^"^''^b- covered with grass, 
 
 The iiositioii here assitrnod to fin. ; i i • 
 
 )-e been in error as to its ii;:!!:^ J i^-Sr"'? '■'''''■'' ''' ""^"- ^^^ 
 tort.v niik's he represents it as seareelv ..- I "' '"^'^ '^ '"* '"^^'"'J? " »"-^">t <'f n little over 
 -l.i.lity with wbieh it is ^^ L ""^'ir '^ '\l " • ' '^ '' '"'^''^"^- «"^' '-'" ^''^' 
 '-" '"..eh hu-ger. Fron t- .?' ' ' """ '" ''"'"' ^'"'•'>' ^""^ '^ '""-^t have 
 
 oi^hteenth ee -y it 1,"!^. b 7""?'"'^ '' " '""^"•' ^'"^^ -'- ^'- -•' -f th 
 
 ''-•'n^^>twent/n-.:;tt"j;:;;/;^^^^^ 'T '"'•' ^"•^' -' ^'^'^^ 
 
 <li>m..isl.cMl fron. two Innulre.l ttet V<, eid tv n b * t, ' """"" "'"^ ^''^' '""^ ''"^-^^ 
 
 - >-K l.-ions to that date, it t ^ f h^ '^^t^' f "^ ^'f ^''^ -^^'"^ ''-' '-. .oing 
 M<-Donahl, fron. the rate of lisintel . ' " T"" '""" ""'^■'' '"•'^'*^''- ^^f'"' «• •>• 
 
 tl.roe hundred years ago the i^ ^^^ .^T "V" '^ ^'"'"'^" ^•^'''••"' ^■"'-'"^- ^''"t 
 "1">.' it eight hundred'eet high "'" '"" '"•"'"'•' '"''^'^ '-^' -"^ *!- LiUs 
 
 tu^ " n.::t:: :: ::.:i;;::;;^;;:: 'Tt^ " "- v^'-^'^ ^"^^^ - ^^^ ^'---^ -■- 
 
 water and o.. tho edge of he g f 1 .f T"' ''"" ''^ ^"•^'^''•"' -•'•-""''-> ''y 
 -i-""^^ *•"." that of the n.a hu Z!';'' ^"''T':.^ '"'"* '""'''' '^^ ""'"- "-1 -o- 
 I)e Laet represents it us haZ ^ke^ of bu 7 " , 7'"" '' '"' ''''^ ^'"^^^ '« ^^ — 
 kind ..ow, and it would be in er^^.J^l "'""';' '' T" '""• '''""' '^^ ""^^""^ -^' ^^e 
 pointornot. Ti.e is.an<n,eing I ,' ::\;;; ;t^^ V'^^^^ --tly informed on this 
 
 .'.ft-orded a shelter under whieh bushes « r ^" "" ""''"'' '"^'>^''' '* "''g^** ^'^ve 
 
 1-ty .nould, whieh n.ust l^J^^CZ^'f^ T'""^' ^^ "" ^^^'^'"^^ *''« -' ^^ 
 
 uf the sand, it has sinee .>eeon.e h die sTh t f 'T'" ^ ""' """^ ^^^ '''' -u.,-ouchment 
 of a eopious vegetation. Th tot. W " '";^''?'"' ^'""'^ '' ''''' '-'» *'- ^^e 
 
 .ra.ing not aftoLd o.. tl.e n.^lh ^ thm::^ h^ 17' ^'""^r "'^""^^^^^ ^- 
 where wl.-at was fertile was eovered v^ith woo to t^ . ' T '''"^' "'"' ""''''''' -"^ 
 
 will aeeount for the fi.et of parties n adnt Tej' 1 " • • "'^" ^^''"'' ---^-'ees 
 ont settlen.ent, ut least for tLpoLrloIpatln ' "'"" "' ' "' "'' " "^" *^ ^^«'"'"- 
 auJaS^ri-:--^^^^^^ -W our 
 
 this early perio.l to indicate anything omekhKl """"• ''"^ *'"'" '« -*'""/«* 
 
 ^J^eLaet^ell^^ ,^,^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ 
 
 trench gardens, said to have been the work of I a R^i - • ' ~ " — _ 
 
 hshment on the island, and .he tradition 41 .e^I^^^^^^^^^^ ^''^ -''^ - older than the present estab- 
 
 Sec. II., 1894. 2. 
 
10 
 
 RKV. GKORGB PATTERSON 
 
 wrecks. In si.rii..ij the fields of iee, whieh gathere.1 on the Houtheni shores of Cape Breton, 
 then as now would require the navijyator hound for the gulf of St. Lawrence, or the fisher- 
 man coniinK to ply his eraft on the shores of Aea.lia, in ai-proaehing land, to run southward 
 and then work up to the coast. They were thus necessarily l.rought into dose proximity to 
 the island, and amid the winds and currents, treachen.us and uncertain then as now, n'lust 
 have often heen driven upon it, to their utter destruction, sometimes striking on the hars 
 and hemg engulie.l in the pitiless sea, leaving no trace hehind ; or at other times striking the 
 island Itself, tlie vessels scattered in fragments on its shore, their crews perhai.s perishing in 
 the catastrophe, or landing to linger out existence on the island, till either death came or 
 possihly in some instances they might he rescued hy some passing vessel. 
 
 One instance of this kind was hn. tight to ligh't some years ago. One of the men con- 
 nected with the humane estahlishment on the island having his attention directed to a 
 hla,-kened line .>n the face ot a sand-clitt; the sand was removed, when there was found the 
 site of an old encampment. Scattered ahout were rusty guns and bayonets, knives made 
 from iron hoops, broken glass, a tattered English ensign, human hones mingled with those 
 ot cattle and seals, and an English shilling of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, as sharp as when 
 It came fn.m the die. Nothing more could be learned as t...who the partv were who left 
 these memorials than that they were Englishmen, but tlie coin and some i.f the other articles 
 might indicate that they were some English sea-rovers of the davs of Goi.d Queen Bess. 
 But if the weapons were really bayonets, the party must have belonged to a subse.pient age. 
 What their fate was cannot be known. The bones of cattle showed that from the stock of 
 these left upon the island they had been »vble to prolong life, but the human bones seemed 
 to show that at length they had succumbed to the hard circumstances of their lot and 
 perished on the island. How many more met a similar fate can only be known when the 
 sea gives up the dead which are in it.' 
 
 III. From the Removal of La Roche's Colonists till the Establishment of the 
 First Life-saving Station, 1601-1801. 
 
 From the time of the removal of La Roche's colonists, for a period of two hundred 
 years, there is little recorded of this island. We know little more of it than that it was the 
 same scene of wreck and destruction as before, only more extensive as commerce with 
 America had increased. 
 
 There are several notices of it in Winthrop's "Journal," from which it appears that in 
 the early part of the seventeenth century it was resorted to hoth by English and French 
 fishermen, especially for the capture of the walrus and the seal. The former were then 
 abundant, and were eagerly sought, their carcasses affording a large quantity of oil, their 
 skins forming the toughest leather, and tlieir tusks being of the best ivory and worth from 
 three to four dollars a pair. 
 
 From the same source we learn that in the year 1633 John Rose of Boston, in his ship, 
 the "Mary and Jane," was wrecked on the island. He was three months upon it, during 
 which he constructed a yawl out of the remains of his vessel, in which he was able to reach 
 the mainland. He reported that he had seen upon it "more than eight hundred head of 
 
 Some writers have supposed that it was here that Sir Humphrey Gilbert's principal ship was wrecked. 
 But a closer observation of Hayes's narrative shows that, while he sailed from Newfoundland intending to reach 
 sable island, he first directed his course to Cape Breton, where he lost his leading vessel. 
 
ON SABLE ISIAND 
 
 1 t 
 
 11 
 
 villi cattle, anil a great many fbxc.. many of which were H-iiW " TT, i , 
 
 l.erimiia exaiarcrateil • anil w,. ..r. , . , . , . The mimbor iif entt e i» 
 
 reeeiveil f ■„,„ I,™ a Z ; " ' 1 T *"""'' "'"'• ''■"'" "'" i"t"">.«'io,> 
 
 K.u.„i that the Aca;iL;;::i'iri: : r: , ;,:;;r,,;';;:::::::'- 1>" "r -r' "->■ 
 
 .er an,e,,g the oattle „„,y a„„„t „„. hand 1'^ ^^l ! , ■"*:, " '""f " 
 
 X. , >.ioi.Mii,. '"<- g"\L'rii(»iTC'i'(.iniiioiHk'( a "•rant otT) Ono .1,...-.. i...f ^i • 
 
 came of tlie project. ' "* 'cs, hut Jiotliinjr 
 
 Ma,,t:m«;';:;c;;t''w:::'r T" "'-r' ."-"■" «■"■'" ^-i > i ..n ,he «ti, 
 
 ■1 "til- animal- a- n,if-ht he n»fnl in . , „ h T "'"*-' '" ""'* " "'"' ™* 
 
 «-on, .hi„w,.ee..; th„:,i„ „,nn the :i':;:;z. n.::; i':';i;: :,! "■*'" tt 
 
 ..piioMnnities atforileil tor seal hnntin.. thev n„ ,h,„l„ I . ■ ^ '"'•' "'"' "'" 
 
 volenee. The „eti,ion wa. a,„.rov .In h .„:';: '" ''";"■;'"■ "■-«' "'•" '-'«■ 
 
 cittle to the .Hland, preparatory to re.noving hi.s tanulv tl.itl.er "^ 
 
 ".i.«^'C a;:.t;Xi;:i:r^::i t±;:;:: xr" *'■»';? •": '- ^' 
 
 flowing of the tides he tliinkfl the uoL! settlings ot \\ater occasioned l,y the over- 
 
 on thf ,0th Aagi't orn:,:'r:L:xt.r:t: ;:.'':;,:rt:::,r''''n 
 
 the ailvantage of the jathlic to eneonrage the »ettle,nent T,v ,«■ '° '" 
 
 wreokoil, ami ,.ti.«tahle to the nroprietoS hy ^^^^M^^^ "r''','!; """ 'l' '"" .«'"1- 
 and skins. Lo Mercier I'oe. not ev„„ .!,„ »""^ "(■• nmung, ami killnig seals for their oil 
 
 to have cattle upon th i;Z L s „ 3; " '"™ '■°"'™' '™ ''""". ""' "« -'"--l . 
 many live, were saveil But he eZl„-T,' Z'"""" """""' '""' ""■»"«'' '"' "ff""' 
 
 discovery of the depredators. ""'"■""""« '" Bo"<>" l'«P™ a reward of ^40 for the 
 
 year m/the Dn" TL^ ::^Z::!^^rt ""'" °' '-" """'"" "'»• I" ">' 
 
 ' See Appeudis, p. 43. 
 
 " Murdoch's " Nova ScoUa," ii., 403. 
 
12 
 
 EKV. GEORGE PATTERSON 
 
 1842, (lurii)g a severe gale, an old litixlinark in the form of a pyramid, said to be one hun- 
 dred teet high, was completely blown away, exposing some small huts built of the timbers 
 and jilanks of i vessel. On examination they were found to contain quite a number of 
 articles of furniture, stores put in boxes, bales of blankets, a (piantity <tf military shoes, and, 
 among other articles, a dog-collar of brass, on which was engraved the name of Major 
 Elliott, 43rd regiment. On referring to the records of tlu' reginient, however, it was found 
 that the party had been taken oft' the island. The site of the encampment is now under at 
 least five fathoms of water. 
 
 In the year 1774 mention is nuide of permiseiou granted by Governor Legge, and 
 approved by the king, to Michael Plannigan and his associates to reside on the island.' IJut 
 we know nothing of the purpose for which they went there or how long they renuiine<l. 
 
 But we fti.<l that the island continued to be occupied. In the year 1788 menti(»n is 
 made ()f one Jesse Lawrence as residing there to receive wrecked people and to carry on the 
 seal fishery. tSomc pe(»ple from Massachusetts landing there wantoidy i)illaged and destroyed 
 his liouse and eftects, and compelled him to leave the island. He received some compen- 
 sation from Governor Hancock and the council of Massachusetts, but not equal to his losses. 
 
 I'robably not a year elapsed without one or more vessels being wrecked and a number 
 of lives lost. But some disasters of this kind that occurred at the close of the century 
 directed the attention of the authorities to the subject. On the 9th November, 1797, the 
 brig " Princess Amelia," (^apt. Wyatt, from London, was wrecked on the south side of the 
 island. Provisions and passengers' baggage were saved, and a hut fouiul on the island, by 
 which those saved were enabled to live. On the 4th December tlie schooner " Hero," Thomas 
 Cunningham, master, being in the neighbourhood, he saw over thirty men on the islaiul, 
 making signals. But the tempestuous weather drove him oft". He arrived at Cole Harboiir 
 about the new year, in great destitution and distress. Tliere he and his crew were 
 received by a Mr. Mundy, an aged nuin iiduibiting a cottage there, who gave them all the 
 provisions he had laid up for his family for the winter, after which Cunningham put to sea 
 again, leaving a written memorandum respecting the wrecked people he had found on Sable 
 island. The governor on receiving the infornnition, by advice of liis council, hired a 
 schooner belonging U) Liveriiool, the '• Black Sinike," Capt. Thomas Parker, and sent her to 
 the island with provisions, blankets ami clothing, which the iidud»itants of Halifax contri- 
 buted for the benefit of the wrecked men. Meanwhile Capt. ^Vyatt, witli the Hon. Lieut. 
 Cochrane- and four of the crew, left the island in the long boat, which they had decked 
 with canvas, and made one of our eastern harbours. The " Black Snake " left Halifax on the 
 12th January, 1798, and returned with the rest of the crew and jtassengers on the 28th, 
 leaving some men on the island during the winter to save proi)erty and assist vessels.' 
 
 In the year 1799, the " Francis," bringing the equipage of his royal highness the Duke 
 of Kent, valued at £11,000, was lost here, and every soul on board perished. She had been 
 detained in England owing to an embargo imposed on shipping on account of the Helder 
 exi)edition, so that she was late in the season in leaving, and reached the coast toward the 
 close of aut nn, when, among the storms of that season, she met this untimely fate. The 
 
 ' Murdoc; " Nova Scotia," ii., 526. 
 
 ^ It is said of the 7th regiment, but I think it probable that it was Lieut. Cochrane of the navy, afterward the 
 Earl of DiindonaK , who at that time was serving on the North American station with that rank. 
 
 ' The above is "rom Murdoch's " History of Nova Scotia." He gives the details so fully that It is plain he had 
 before him some contemporary narrative, and there is every reason to regard it aa correct. 
 
ON SABLE ISLAND. 
 
 13 
 
 
 on ht ot the ,lukc. wa. very valuable, including furniture, ,.lato, a select lil.rarv, an.l a c.l- 
 Ieet.o.i otuy, ccllected on the cntinent, of nn.ch value. Among tl.ose fost were the 
 
 Ins Ro al H ghnesH s coaelunan and gardener, neveral otHcer.s, and a crew of nineteen nu-n ' 
 Ahou tins tune reports were ..urrent of the island l.eing the resort of wreckers an.l 
 
 .u teso the worst desor.pt.on, but these becan.e nn.re prevalent in connection with this 
 event. Jewels and rare artu-les were seen in the cabins of tishenuen on the shores of Nova 
 Sc..t.a and report, as connng Iron, Sable island, sonu- of then, nueh as excited suspicion 
 o. then- belongn.g to Ins royal highness's outHt. St.,ries were circulated even of nu nler 
 and tt was beheved that son.e belonging to this vessel ha<l reached the shore in sa " ut' 
 
 ver^ attenvard murdered for the sake of their property. The attention of the authorili:' 
 
 Ldu W ^; \r';, T : ^'•^""■'""^''•^•' '" -1-"- ^'> ■- •— ^c. fron> the governor. Sir 
 . In AVentworth, the leg,slature at its session in 1801 passed an act for the protection of 
 
 specially t , Sable island. By these the governor was authorised to appoint a person from 
 Un. o t,n.e to mspoct the islan.l, who should have power to ren.ove Z. it ^J^^Z. w 
 n y luue gonethere voluntarily, withouta license under the hand and seal of the governor 
 enant-governor or .,nunander-in-chiet; together with all goods tound in his ^..Zi 
 Just es were empowere.I t<, order such t.> be in.prisoned for a period of not less than s x 
 months, he goods foun.l in their possession to be sold, and the surplus, if anv, i ai. r o 
 
 the rightful owner if known, or, if not, into the treasury to be held tor his bem.fit 
 
 ..n, ^''7'";"";"^" '''''' ■''^"-' to tJ'i'^ ^^ft^^-t, a.ul it having been reported that a man and 
 wo^^nu. ot bad character had taken np their ab.de on the island for etil purposes, M Se 
 Colman was sent there with power to remove them, which we understand was done 
 
 In connection with this affair there hangs a tale of tlie marvellous, wluch as it has 
 
 I, " r "' l:lT\ '■"*""'"'" ""'"'"^ '"^ Yankee dialect and pruning his verbiage • 
 'I. the year 1802 the ' Princess Amelia ' was wrecked here, having the Lniture of fhc^ 
 queen's father. Prince Edward, on board, and a mnnber of recruits, ofi^cer,: i ' 
 
 and won.en servants. There were two iuindre.l souls of then, altogether, and t h 1 er 
 ished About that tune piratical vagabomls used to frequent there, for th^re was n 'luLr 
 stabhshment kept upon the island then; and it is generally supposed some of the C 
 peop e of tha unfortunate ship reached the shore in safety, and were nmrdered by he 
 wreckers for their property. The prince sent .lown Capt. Torrens of the 29th rc^^^ment t 
 nqu.c. after the nussing ship.^ But he was wrecked, and nearly lost his life in e^dltn! 
 2 to ave others. There were few that could be rescued before the vessel went to piece 
 
 e sta loned he survivors at one eml of the island, and went to the other to exten h ^ 
 ookout for aid as far as he oouhl ; but first they had to bury the dea.l that floated from he 
 troopship and gather up such parts of the prince's effects as can.e ashore and were wo t^^ 
 Having. t was an awful task, and took a long time, for the grave was almost as ge a 
 cdlar. Having .lone this, and finding firearms in the government slielter-hut, 1 "Sarto 
 oft a one to the other end of the islan.l. One day, having made the circuit of the low^ 
 half (we presuu,e the western,, he returned about dusk to where there was a hut tha had 
 
 ' Neale's "Life of the Duke of Kent." 
 
 ^ In the brig « Harlot " of Newcastle, not the gunbrig " Harriet." as sometimea averted. 
 
14 
 
 RKV. GKORGB PATTKJiSOX 
 
 fireworks in it. an.l s.>,m. f.H.,1 hh.1 rl.airs and tahlos tlmt had l)eon saved from wrookH 
 wlneh were placed tl.ere tor dintressed people, and tl.ere were printed instruetions telling 
 them what to do to keep themselves alive till they conld he taken ott'. Jle made a fire- 
 drew some hav out of the loft, n.ade up a hed in one corner, and went out to take a walk 
 along the sule of the lake hefore turning in. A« ho returned lie was suri.rised to see his 
 dog at the .loor, seemingly thoroughly scared an.l harking furiously. The first thing lie 
 saw insHle was a lady sitting o... one side of the fire, with long, dripping hair hanging over 
 her shoulders, her face pale as death, and having no clothes on but a loose, soiled white 
 dress, wet as if it had .!ome out ot tlie sea and with sand sticking to it. ' Good heavens, 
 madam,' he exclaimed, ' who are you, and where did you come from ? ' 
 
 " She (li.l not speak to him, hut only held n,. her Inmd hefore her, when ho saw that one 
 ..f the fingers was cut off an.l was still hlee.ling. Re turne.l roun.I an.l opened a case that 
 he had picked up in the morning from tin- drift ship, in which were materials fi.r handagin- 
 the wound, an.l was al.out offering her assistance, when she suddenly slipped hy him un.l 
 passed out ..f the .l.M.r. He toll.nve.l her, .ailing her an.l begging her t<. stop, but on she 
 went, an.l thinking that she was ..ut of her min.l, he ran after her, and the faster he went 
 the swifter she went till she reache.l the lake, when she phmge.l in hea.l foremost. 
 
 "He puzzle.l himself ..ver the affair, an.l coMclu.lc.l that it was neither a ghost nor a 
 dcmente.l person, but a munlered w..man, an.l he vowe.l vengeance on the piratical villain 
 wl... ha.l done the .leed, if be sh.uil.l fin.l him. Ueturning t.. the hut, he found her in the 
 same place. She hel.l up the mutilated han.l again. He pause.l before speaking, and 
 lo..ke(l intently up.)n her, when he rcc.gni/.c.l her as the wife ..f Dr. Cipeland, the surgeon 
 of the 7th, the prince's .)wn regiment, a la.ly well known to him and well known \nd 
 beloved in Ilalitiix. 'Why, Mrs. Copelan.I, is that y..u !' he exclaimed. She bowed her 
 hea.l, and then held up her band, showing the bloo.ly stump of a finger. ' I have it,' said 
 he; 'mur.lercd for the sake of your ring.' She Ixnvc.l her head. 'Well, I'll track the 
 villain out, till be is shot or hange.l.' She lo..ked sad and made no sign. ' Well,' said ho, 
 ' ri! leave no sioiie unturned t.i recover that ring and restore it to your family.' She 
 smiled, bowed her head, and waving her han.l for him to keep out of the way, as he did 
 she slipped past him. She then turned and hel.l up both hands as pushing some one back. 
 She retreated in this manner, and he di.l ii.»t attempt to fi)llow lier. 
 
 '"Xow that story is a positive fact,' said the superintendent. 'Them is the real 
 names. Afy lather heard Torrens tell it word for word, and there is people now living to 
 Halifax who know him well, for he was a great favourite with everybody. Just after that 
 there was an awful storm, and another wreck, an.l he was mainly the means of saving the 
 people, at the risk of his own life. His name is on the chart as the ' brave Captain Tor- 
 rens.' The House of Assembly voted him a large sum of money, and the prince thought 
 every tiling of him.' 
 
 " Captain Torrens got hold of the names of three of the most noted wreckers, and on his 
 return to Nova Scotia set to work to trace them out. One of them lived at Salmon river 
 whither the captain went. Ho found him away at the Labrador, hut he became intimate 
 with the family by staying with them while fishing and hunting in the neighbourhood. One 
 evening he put on u splendid ring wliidi he had brought down for the purpose of directing 
 conversation to the subject in which ho was interested. The eldest girl admired it greatly, 
 and he took it ott' and it was handed round, when one of the daughters said that she did not 
 
ON SAHLB ISLAND. 
 
 18 
 
 Innk „ hall an ,.,•..,,• as tl.. .m. Imt fatlnT l.a.l taken ufi" th. hulv's hand at Sahio i.Ian.l 
 No, „,v -In..-, Ha,.l the n.otlH.,., who ..an... h..hin.I hi. ..hai.- to ...l..,..aph, ^ h.- ...t it ,V. i 
 
 Frondnnan, wh., ..i.-kH it n th.. san.i th..,...." M,h. I l,..li..v.. it was' s:i.| th .' ■ 
 
 ;:''.""""'^;."!* ""•• ^'"'^' -"»■-•• ''^'- '•■••',. ^.s han.h..l ha..k, an.I h.. ask...l fo,- a .i.^rt f 
 
 tlK-rs, oth.nnj, t.> ,. ,.,•...... it if it was as han M.. w.,s t..l.l that i, was in th..?.an.ls 
 
 .• " ;vat..hn.ak..r ... r..hti,.K, with wl..,n. it was h.,t t.. s..|i, un.l who ha.l a-lvan.-.l twenty 
 sh, hn^rs ni,.,n ,t. The next n..,,-..!,.,,, he sta.-ted on his return to Halifax. There w..,.e the ,' 
 only two watelunakers in t.nvn, un.l in the shop of the first he visit...l he f.M.n.l the ri,... an.I 
 on "..,,nn,.^ .ts h.stor, reeeive.l the san.e a.-.-nnt as he h...l l.eanl. He i,..n.e.liat..lv':ai.l ' 
 b.ve . to n.e ; he.-e are the twenty shiHin..s .ulvan.-e.l ; an.I if the owner wa,.ts n.,;,e tell 
 l"m to hru..,. the tin^^er (hat w..s e„t ..tf t.. .,.et at it, an.I then eon... t.> n.e ' 
 
 Jl.e,.i„^ was i.Ientitie.l at ........ ),• ,h, la.li.. ..f the ,....i,....nt a...l s.„......f ,h .,..'. 
 
 "<'t he, ofh..e,.s A...1 the n.on...nt the ,Mi,.e.. saw it I... k,.,.w it, f..r it w.,s a ......i.M.s ..h| 
 
 a.n.l, n... an.| the ..aptai.. se,.t i, to Hn,h...., t.. M... (;.,...h.n.ls ,Vie...ls. (<apt. 1 n ! 
 
 was or.Iere.l hon.e s.,o,. after that, a,..l tl.e.e the .....tter .l.-opi ' 
 
 J ' ^;?''':'7-^ ^'"'"''' '^'-* ^^"•^- - - "'.e as .ospel, lor I've hea.-.I it .r.,„. Mr. Vol 
 rr* : t^^^ ^: "• ^^^^ -'■' ^^-' !'•-•- "^ ^'- ti.ne, an.l saw the .-i,., ; a...l, tha.. 
 
 «t.l u.n.,. n.l a,-e .leeent pe.^.l... J have seen the ol.l .....„, seve..al ti,..es, un.l nothi... 
 fo.il.l eoax hini out of the h.,use after .laik.' " >'«Hning 
 
 The author evi.lently n.ea..t t., rei..-esent the statenuM.ts of this story as real facts h.r 
 
 r^th "'till 1 ■ : " '' '■'■'' ^^■•'' ''' '"'' "'""^'^' ""•• "•- -"' '^'--' ^<' - <'«i-" f 
 
 7th, St 1 hv,ng who was „.t„nately acpuvinte,! with the parties."' This ean be n.> other 
 
 ha, he Into ch.et jtistieo Ilalihurton, who was an oiHeer ..f the 7th while the ,.,-i,.e.. w... 
 
 httle NNou 1 any who k,.ew h„n ,iuosti.,n the so,„.dness of his .i.,.lKn.e,.t. Aeeust.>n,e.l to 
 ve,gh ev,denco and to torn, eonelusions tro.n facts, he was litt'le irkelv t.> ho le I W 
 ulle tale. In add.t.on, being in a position to know the whole eircun.tanccs of th -, J 
 one e.>,.l., not doubt the story if really told by hhn. At all events it ha« long boo flr^ 
 heho^ d ... a c-cle „. Halifax and on the souther,, shore of X..va Scotia Cu.-ioT y 
 eno..gh Ilal.burto.. gives to o..e of the speake,. i,. whose n.outh he p..ts the st e 
 
 nan- ot .. n.an who was ge..erally regar.led in his neigl.bourh.,o,l, as h ving sl.ar , .' 
 plunder w. .eh had bee,. b.-o..ght from the ish.n.1. Wo ,nay a.ld further, that the sit t « 
 hut .n wh.eh the lady appoa.-ed has bee., till recently, an.I pc-haps is vet pointed o be " 
 
 ^z^z:^^:^i^'' ' '""' " '^^^^^ """"'' " '' '''''^-^-' ''-^ ^— 
 
 A,.d yot his statomont is so full of err.)rs, so mixed up, a,.,l oven co,.t.-adietorv -.s to 
 ^.row d.scrod. upon tha whole na.-rative. I,, the first place, ho represents the v c w 'h 
 was bn„g,ng the tur,.,turo of Prince Edward fi-om Engla..<l as wicked on the y 
 1802. Pass.ng the o.Tor of calling her the " Prh.coss An.elia," which was wrecked i,. 97 
 five years prev.o..s, .t is to be ,.otod that the prince had ti,.ally left Halifax i.. 1800 wo 
 years 1.0V.OUS. IIo received his appointment as eom.na,.dor-i,f.ehiof i.. ; ,.d ! Hv a 
 m Hal.fax .n Soptomber. His equipage followed and was lost, the san.e soaso,. Be il 
 wh.le he states that there was then no regular establishme..t L,. the isla..d, Ze hasten 
 .uoh a,. ...st.tut,on s.nce 1801, an.l the supe.-intend..t .-eporte.l all wrecks ro.. hat .h" 
 
t 
 
 16 
 
 RRV. PrKORGR PATTKI{SON 
 
 a d M.0 wuH .uu., tlK.,n no '• IVImcohh Amelia," no trannport, an.l no vohsoI carrying the 
 good, ot l>nn... K,lwanl. In 1802, too, h. was i„ ....n.n.a.Hl at Gibraltar, and .".uld . t 
 have dc.H,,atcl.o.l (.^,,.t. Torrens fron. Ilalitax to look after his n.issing Hhin 
 
 It nnght he sai.l that this is only an error in date. Hut this still leaves the story in 
 c. t s.on „.. author represents Capt. Torrens as having oeeupied the governn.ent shelte ' 
 ous , hut tus was only ereeted after the foundation of the relief estahlislnnent in 1801, so 
 hat Ins v,s,t nn.st have been after that date. Hut, in fact, we know fron. the records that 
 usv,s.twas „. 1808, .,., that the vessel in which he went, the ^'Hariof of Ne^^^ 
 was wrecked ,n that year. Then his story of burying the .lead floating fron. the trans o.'' 
 HO ..any tha the g.-ave was as .a,-ge as a cellar, is sin.ply absunl. It is n.,-elv tbat th e u 
 n.sts u,.on the .sland bodies once in its e,..b,.ace, but if the,-e was a-.y s ch tn.ns .o,' 
 wrecked , nn.s have een ti.,.ee years befo.-e, and that such a nun.ber were con.h.g as. 
 o long a er ,s ,nc..e.„ble. And what had the n.en of the governn.ent establishn.t..t bee.t 
 doing in the meantin.e? nin-m ntiii 
 
 While the story in its details is so i,.accu.-ate, there .-en.ain the tl.,-ee facts, that tbe 
 vessel con ta.n.ng the prnu-e's c.uipage was lost o,. the island in 1700 and all on hoa,-d 
 
 l.or.sl.ed ; tlmt run.o,.rs <.t pin.cy on the isla..,l followed, which le.l to the acti.n, of the gov- 
 
 .rn...ent ot Nova Scot.a ; and that i,. 1808 it sent dow.. Capt. Tor.-ens, o.. the applicatio.. 
 
 ot the super,nte..dent, for the ren.oval of a fa...ily of bad reputation that he had t!.und o.. 
 ho ,sla,.d. As to the appeann.ce of the wo.,.an we n.ust leave the .luestio,. to the society 
 
 tor psychical research.' ^ 
 
 IV. First Kkmef Kstablisument on thk Island, 1801-1800. 
 
 The same year that the legislature adopted measures for the ren.oval of w,-ecke,-s Iron. 
 tJ.e island they projected an establishment for the saving of life an.l property. On the 25th 
 June, 180 , the House of Assembly a.ldressed the governor recomn.ending the settlement of 
 three families ot goo.l character upon it, under the in.mediate authority and di,-ection of the 
 governnient-also that persons for the situation be a.ivertised for, with the expectatio,. that 
 by securing to them a term of possession and exclusive right to c-ertain advantages, suitable 
 persons might be obtained at little exi.ense, a.,d that H. M. cou..cil draw up i.roner 
 regulations tor their government. To n.eet the expe,.se they granted a vote ot" £600 
 \$J,4UU). 
 
 On the 27tj. the governor replies that he will have great satisfaction in carrving their 
 proi.osal ,nto eftect. Measures were imme.liately a.lopted for the purpose. Commissioners 
 were appointed to have charge of the busi.iess, of whom the treasurer, Hon. Michael Wullace 
 ^Z ;«iT'* '"'!••''•*'"'*• J""'^"* Morris was appoi.ited superintendent at an annual salarv .f 
 £bO (IL40) per annun., afterwards increased to £100 ($400), with board for himself and wife 
 Four nien were engaged at the rate of £2 (afterwards raise.l to £3) per month, to serve under 
 hini, who bound themselves to use their utmost endeavours to protect life and property A 
 little later we find E.lward Il.dgson with his family on the island, acting as assistant t^) the 
 superintendent, and second in command. 
 
 ™. .i " "^lu'i ^ '"'^'^ ^'"'* ^^^"^ ""^ several other ghoat stories connected^h the island. One is of a Paris 
 
 Ja^^ii 1 K .K "^ '°" °' '^' ''^''''^'' °^ ^''»''«« ^- ^''« °'»<'« ""« iol'^nd a hiding place, and 
 
 lived and d.ed he,^. who on the 29th of May marches round with broad-brim med hat on, and singiL psalms 
 through Ins nose so loudly as to be heard above the storm. ^^ ^ 
 
 ' 
 
ON SABLK ISLAND. 
 
 17 
 
 On the f.th ()..t.,l.c.r, the party nailed fn.n. Halifax in twn ve.seln, eurryinc all th. 
 Hnpphe. an n.at..,al .h-en... neeensar, for nneh an e.tahli.hnu.nt. An.onK t ^ te 
 fann. ..t u ho««e 28 x 18 feet, „ne f„r a ntorehoune 1.1 x 12, with hnnher mti . ' 
 completion, a set of earpenter. too,, a ..Heine ehe.t, a wh.l.e hi ::::;•::;.; ^ 
 riK,- alHo earr.e<l the following live «toek : 1 H-year-ol.l hull, 2 young eows i 1^2 o . 
 -WH, 1 young boar, 1 „,ale and 1 fen.de goat, 2 ran,., 8 ewes and 1 horse They I o 
 
 hon " 7Tu' T ""' ^"^'"^ ''"''■ '^''^' -'^"^ -- --P'^'^^'. -ting or t 
 thousand dollars and consuming the greater part of the assembly's grant 
 
 own ex rt.o, s fhe.r hrst care was the ereetion of the houses. Before they eould .'et this 
 
 on the island from some of the wreeks, they must have suflered. -riis,'" nays M Mo 
 J.|nH report, ^^gaye us many han, struggles ere the buildings were in ..rder , 1 Vi .g 
 ».. IH ot the soanthng, and several pieees lost, oeeasioned another .liffieulty But In ti 
 «ub..tun. and by prayer and perseveranee, the store and house were^^in g : ij 
 
 h Noyen.ber But surely the carpenter that fran.e<l the h,>use was either in loy r 
 
 budding, which gave mc a great deal of trouble to affix the fr.mu. L . i -n 
 
 i.Ian.1 should be exceedingly well braced on all angles " ' " '""""'^' "" ^'"" 
 
 end o?tl "• 1 "'i m''' ''"'''""^' ''"' "" '''^' ""'■'^' '^'^' "^^-^"^ fi^'« "'il^'« from where the M^est 
 end ot the island then was, but now some miles at sea. Here was erected a ti^ZfW 
 
 econunen.l.ng the erection <.f three more buihlings, one on the north side at he It Id of 
 
 nund)ering thirteen ^yere all saved. ' ^ ""^^^ 
 
 that we *''^ 'T\"' ^^r^' ''''' ^^'- ^^""'"^ ''•'''''' ^'' tl'« -mndssioners : "All the people 
 tha were landed on the 13th October last, are at present in good health AH l!. ^ !■ 
 
 geneiall^ keeping a distance from us toward the northwest bar in the vn lev T ff 
 
^tf 
 
 18 
 
 itliV. (}KoR(;K pattkrson 
 
 « ....I. lu. .a.l nowly I„„lt, „, tl.o i.opo of her reaching tl.o nuu„l«„,l or hoin. picked „p W 
 
 Wl I r, ; M "^ """'"^ ''"^"^^"" '^"•^•^ "''^'' ^"'-- --""'^ «^- -turned' h 
 Wdd tow had been ncarce. lie proj.o.cH an noon an possible making a trial ti r t^sh hu t 
 -successtu he will try one of the horse, which he tlinks wil, mak'e g.: v L t ' '" " 
 Ih se horses were the only anin.als foun.l on the island, if we except the rats and mice 
 ^hu at one tune became very troubleson.e. When they were plac d there is nncert , ' 
 D . 0. p . supposes hat they are the progeny of -u.imals placed upL. the island by 1 1" 
 ML Mercer, and that they are of the ordinary New England stock. Writi. g a , i 
 ^^; ^UM^o" r "' ''' •'• """""• '^"^"" "aliburtonlrote about 1828, 2,t 
 k^ V IV ;* "■"*' '""" *'"'^' '""" '^^"" ^•""•-"'^' -^"""^-1 "t iron. 150 o 
 ;t r ." T"T •"""^^""" '^-^-^-'^l-^'-g^N «everewinterB,o dentruc ion 
 and capture by resulents, their nun.ber has been reduced at various times As the don 
 .u. gn.n a fu description of then we shall give the substance of wlnlt h has .r ^ ^^'" 
 He des<.rd,es the.n as fron. twelve to fourteen han.ls high, seldom reaching tt^ last 
 figure, head large and ,11 set on, with usually the roun.l Ron.an nose and thick jovh I 
 smal short and s,uare at the top, crest very thick and heavy in the n 1 ' : k '.o k 
 trappled or HWelhng out in front, withers very low, quarters short and sloping, le^s very 
 
 ostrds^ Ihe weight of the mane otten pulls the crest over so that especially in the ina-en 
 
 he ..ek beco.nes cave necked, the foretoe usually turned outward or paddle'tbotl a t ^ 
 
 V nthers seenungly lower than the rump or quarters, although thev are exceedindv l.o and 
 
 Blopn.g. The coat . during winter long and shaggy, espfciall/und^ the S.:!:: ule 
 
 In colour the bays are the most numerous, including the brown with them npvt „r„ .1 
 c^.es.mts. The blacks are t.w and there are no grays, but a .nrn,: :^^::^:Z^ 
 Altogether m appearance and habits they resemble the wild horses of Tartary 
 
 They were <livided i.Uo about six herds or gangs, each gang headed by an old male 
 who was conspicuous by his masses of mane and tail. Each herd had its sejiate ee hI! 
 ground, to which the individuals belonging to the gang seemed equally atta hed 1 o hi 
 eader. On dnvmg over the ishmd and mixing them promiscuously, by the nex n orni I 
 they had retun^d to the r separate feeding-grounds, some of them tnlvc'ling ten o twd^ 
 mdes during the night for the purpose. On approaching them, the leaderlould LTe i 
 family and, ad.u.cing toward the intruder, assume a defiant attitude, as if prepared " 
 fight If a..y interference with those under his charge should be attempts. On b'ng fur h 
 pressed, however he might be seen to drive outlying parties of mare^ and young 1 " 
 the mam herd wd.o woul.l begin a general retreat at a slow trot, he keeping in tl rea U 
 pressed still farther by persons on horseback, he would Join the herd, novf in a gaZ" bu 
 8t.ll always keeping m the rear, the idea of leadership being thus unmistakable. "^ 
 
 1 .. !T' ^"? • y' **"" '^'''*'"'' " '''"'''*' «^ "^'"'''^ ^«^*« «"d young horses. When the 
 latter attain their full growth, the leader generally turns them out. These therwa" d 
 about the island, until they manage to steal a few mares away frou some of the oZr and 
 orm new gangs for themselves. On these occasions severe fighting ensues be ween the 
 
 u g the other till one is overpowered. If the intruder beats the leader of the gang, he takes 
 his place and appropriates to himself the mares or as many as he wants. It sLoLes ha^ 
 
 
 ' 
 
f 
 
 ON SABLH ISLAND. jg 
 
 ,Kj when a youug ntu.I horHo w«,.fs fn for.a a Kang, l.e .....ocxIh .urn,.iM..usl, at, nid.t 
 "••;l ."v-«l- .tway a ...arc to hmmo other part of the iHlan-l. Who,, her .uaHto • ,. h 
 m-.ng, ho soa,vh.. for hor. a„.l if ho H,..l. hor a f..rio..« ti.ht with hor . , r , 
 
 Ti,oy a,-o oxtro.Moly |,a,-.ly, o„.h,ri„K tho mont i„olo„K.„t woathor with ....Iv fl. i u 
 
 :'-;:• "•""!•':"-",■■ ■"• <"« i.-.,, „„„„ „ J ;v : : , tit ';;;■ 
 
 l::x;tr;::;;::::;;^;:::t:r::s!::;;;r 
 
 = ^^r;:;;^ ;:ri::;:;:i;-— .xrz !::r - '' - - 
 
 coinmoi, hoef o„ the eoi)ti,)ent." »"I»trior to ai,y 
 
 I.. «,.bHeque,.t yearn they were used as occamou require,! iu the «an,e way I„ tl,e 
 ourna ot cue of the superinteuclents we find «ueh eutries as the followi,.; ''' Dee 
 
 B^augh ,.,,,„ d.st„,gu,«hed fro,n the ohl horne. by ti,eir superior conditio, , and by ti,e 
 att r havu,g a leg ,„a„e. Tl,ey were usually shot, but they were so wihl that it was 
 easy to approach w.th.u guushot of then,. As ic was desirable that they should ^ot^ 
 
 place unt, a, a,nmal approaelied sufficiently near to render his aim certain, so as to kill 
 
 Lr tbod^brl t;: ' ''' "" "'^ -^--^-^^'ent shooting crippled or disabled animals 
 Very soon after the founding of the establishment it was proposed to render them 
 
 ZZ^lr i?e\o::i f ";? n' T^ "" '''-' ^^'^^^ '■^-" *'^^ eo^mnllssioners to the sup^ 
 
 .ntendent^^^,t he could get hold of a,iy of the horses, to send then to Halifax by the vessel 
 
 .B,tn,g the ,sland, and in June Mr. Wallace, the chief commissioner, m nt 1 ou 
 
 one for h, son. I„ subsequent years the catching and exporting of these animals has 
 formed an important part of the business of the men employed at the station, alt'e sa" 
 aflords a contnbution to the expenses of it. nun, anu meir sale 
 
 Gilpin"" ''''' " '""'"^'"^ •*' ^- '• '"""'"'« '^ «-"-' ••. «0; also pamphlet publlahed in 1858 by Dr. E. 
 
20 
 
 KBV. 'lUIRIlK PATTKIiSON 
 
 ,>.„ivfi,!!i.'r"." T" ' :" '•"•""■'"'' '■"' ""• «■"* ■■'■ ti.« -t«ti ,t ,;,r .,„„.. , ,iu. 
 
 .-i Li., i. ,.„ ,;:,":::„;;:;:";• ;;::,:;; " "«•■ •"■• » "•■ •. wi,..,, 
 
 K,>glW, r„l,H,. were i,„ro,l„c<Kl „„,1 mnleiplicl, „„d ,■„„„„,, „„ „„,,„„|,|„ ,|,„„„^ . ,, 
 
 killing the j.ou„g r«l,l„l, „c.arly amiihilak.,! the «,„,.k aU„.ctl,cr Tl.on fh. ! . 
 
 -CM. c.„.«,wl,„ «... kill,,,, .,, r,,,,a,,.Ul,™«,,i.,,.,Uhe„,b» J ,;:'::''':; 
 
 roui.. „.aii ki„„. „„„:.:,:„ ■ ,:r„ J':„::;,'h::'17" -' "- "" "■- '*'■■ 
 
 D,,,.,,,g ,1,0 „cxt two „r throo jeuw, Mr. Morri, vigorou.ly „ttt.m,,(„.l tho cultiv,eio„ „f 
 tlie soil, hut not verv HUfPi'ssfnllv All +i i i ?- .. "l'^^" i"^ i-iunvaiion ot 
 
 have -dl that In v.. hi ""''''f ""f . ^" ^'^^^ ^'''^'^' ^t every kind that he brought died, as 
 
 all that have been introduced ninoe. Trees have been planted, and grew tof a year or 
 
ONHAHLi: IHLANI), gj 
 
 two but ,l.on died H. rl.„.-,U.H..rila.K the ronulf ..f l.i. .ffortn with ufh.r nhu.t.. •• I hav.. 
 
 »iM((. hiK tiiiio all attfiiipfH f, raine irriin wifli »}.,. .v' ^- .. . 
 
 ;"-■' • An,i „„„ i ; ,;:",„." 2 : '; r ",:;:• '""'• ;."■;■" 
 
 li..r«™ i.,nl i;„ „.i,l hu« l„ l„. i,„„„,„.,] I,.,, ,,. , • "' ' " *"' ""• "">' "' ""' 
 
 fro... .1..,,, .W .!,„ win^.rin; ;,,;-''t \C^^^ n'"""; " ''' " 
 
 ..•l.Tti,.„ „r«„il ll,r |,i, ,.„..ii„.,.,„. 1-7 I: I""l"'l'l.v lm,l „„t „,„„ . „ ,,„,,,„ 
 
 i"...i,,, ::T;:::2'::;rz; ::::;;,;: ":,;;";"" "' ■"" '"■'•'"'• 
 
 ••'""< "1 '■)• I"." aro ,-ai,„,i ,„„i «,„„. ,.,i,„.,„ S,;";;;;;, '''"■ '"' "" ■ ' '■•*•••"'■''- 
 
 j,aK.t, ami ulwaj- r.,.,|ily .,1,,, „,„| «, ,„„„ | , • ,„„ |„ ,|,|„ "In ,," " "'"•'• "■•" 
 
 We „.e.l „„. ,„, „„„. ,.r 1 „ „. , „ ,.,. i " ' "7" . ""■ ™-l- 
 
 ol (lie t,tal,li,h,„o„t, lut i,,,„,.ially in ,„vi„^ li> -. a,„ ■"*.' ',""" "'" J' »■"* 
 
 ".'"' ""'■>, •" »• >■■! ....a ""..;.:" .i:..::;::', ':; 7,;: . ,:,;:r ;;;;, v "" 
 
 monei-rt <lo ,mt nvvui to havo iuHisto.i „iH)n it. 'onuins- 
 
 Biit ho HwuiH t.) liuvu (lone his work a^ ufHti. „tlv an ,.,...1,1 1.. . , ■ . 
 
 -"".-«• I" "- >-- m, oov„ w..,„„. , ,. :' ;,'";':" '" ';." ''■'■ ■ 
 
 rc,,nc.....,l ,l,„ rcnrnval „r a fa.uily „t 1 a,l ,,,„,„., ,„ TL . , ""' '""■ '""' 
 
 ;::c; ^ ---- - ^-^ ..^r ^^^^^^ 
 
 From the Hl,ip " Hannah and Eliza " of Bonton ■, o 
 
 " "Union" 13perflons. 
 
 " "Stark Odder" of Copenhagen.. !...". r [[ 
 
 schooner- of Lunenburg "J ,, 
 
 " l>rig " Hariott " of Newcastle ....'. q 
 
 Total ~ 
 
 From the ship " Hannah and Eliza " ^ „^, 
 
 " "Union" ^ ^^^ * 1<^ 
 
 ' 158 8 4 
 
i 
 
 22 
 
 REV. GEORGE PATTERSON 
 
 From the shii) » Stark Odder " 
 
 brig "Ilariott" .'.....'........ 
 
 And from a tsc-liooDor from Miramiclii about 340 barrels piekle'd 
 
 •saliuon, not yet brought from the island, supposed worth.. 410 
 
 .£ 65 19 
 . 1,458 12 
 
 We 
 
 £2,300 5 
 
 Hhoul<l mention that the same system in regard to the disposal of wrecks was 
 a,1opte.l at the begunnng that has eontinued to the present time. The wreck was taken 
 charge ot in the name oMhe commissioners. The men of the establishment were employed 
 as long as the wreck held together and the weather was fit, in saving anything of her equip- 
 ments or her cargo of value. After that they might also be employed fn saving copper or 
 old u-on rom her remams. The property saved was drawn to the central station, stored 
 tl ero, and at terwanl shipped to Halifax, where with the wreck it was sold for the benefit of 
 all cx>ncerned. A portion of the proceeds, the amount being determined by Halifax 
 merchants, was retained as salvage, from which an allowance was made to the men connected 
 with the establishment. 
 
 At first the arrangements for visiting the island seem to have been imperfect, as might 
 have been expected in a first attempt at the establishment of such an institution. As we 
 have seen, the first winter there was a scarcity of provisions. Two winters afler, the number 
 to be fed being increased owing to a wrecked crew being on the island, Mr. Morris says 
 that no provisions being saved from the wreck, all the cabbages, potatoes, turnips and small 
 stores were ecpially divided, and that he had been under the necessity of killing some of the 
 horned cattle or the wild horses. The government from time to time hired a vessel to visit 
 them carrying supplies and bringing back wrecked goods. But these visits were irre^^ular 
 and far between, so that they were sometimes put to inconvenience for want of necessaries 
 On Jvovember 3, 1808, Mr. Morris complains that he had sent for articles for his family as 
 well as for his men, but that none, not even blankets ordered, had been sent, that he feared 
 the winter for his children, and that it was with difficulty he could persuade the men to 
 remain till spring. He mentions at the same time another trouble : " We have lately been 
 alarmed m a surprising manner by rats and mice in incredible numbers, but with our dogs 
 and a new-invented trap I hope soon to exterminate them. The traps take from fifteen to 
 twenty a night." At this time there were sixteen souls on the island, more than half of 
 tliem women and children. 
 
 For fuel they were dependent upon drift timber which came in considerable quantities 
 to the south side of the island, or the remains of wrecks or their cargoes. But, probably 
 from want of means of hauling it or opportunity of laying it up to dry, he complains some- 
 tnnes of the d.rticulty of obtaining firewood for his family. We may mention that ever 
 since this has been the main, and for the most of the time the only, source of fuel A 
 timber-laden vessel will supply wood for all purposes for years. The shipping of goods from 
 the island is m any case a work of such difficulty and even danger, that it does not pay to 
 ship the timber, and it is therefore purchased for the uses of the establishment. We may 
 add that the timber thus cast upon the island is sometiuies manufactured into shingles or 
 suwn into lumber, and thus proves quite a gain. 
 
 The legislature, for the circumstances of the province at the time, showed a commend- 
 able liberality m the support of this establishment. In 1802 they voted £500 («2,000), 
 
i 
 
 ON SABLE ISLAND. 
 
 28 
 
 I 
 
 le (i oof F ' r ' "'" ^" ^-^^'^"'^"^ '' ^""^' ^^^-^^ I" *^- '"«- ^•-'- the, voted 
 from th t r "" "" "''"""'"' '^' ''■ ''""•'^^ ^^^"'1^^ *« ^he Briti.l. go ve nnu.t "eh 
 present time. Th.s seemed liberal, but a number of years after it was discovered thnt thev 
 had been nl the t.me paying the amount, not out of the Imperial treasury, u o u f t e 
 casual and terntona revenue of Xova Sootia, wind., though then oontroH .1 by ^ I on 
 Governn.ent really belonged to the people of that province. The Xova Scotia gov. rnnu" 
 ontnmed ,ts grant of ^400 currency yearly till confederation, when the o^.l 
 passecl under the control of the Don.inion government. It ma- he n.entiono 
 the American government during the last war issued orders to th. , „. 7'^\*""* 
 
 Mr. Morns contnn.ed to hold his position till the year 1809. During the las p.rt of 
 H.at penod he was unwell, and more than once was absent tor his la-alt^ O t . ;i 
 October of that year, a few hours after he had landed from a trip to the m- inl d Z .1! 
 Dunngthe time that he was superintendent there were known\ ^ J : n'^/: '';it 
 Inland four ships, four brigs and seven schooners. Of the fate of tlie nnk n T 
 
 hint in such a statement as the Kdlowing fVom one of^is ^^ ' 'f : I Z.Uif ^ "I 
 new broken boards, new painted handspokos, tampions for Jannon, ^Za^^tZZ^^' 
 ^ck. for rmnnng rigging, spars, etc., which gave me reason to suppose 1 '" d h ^ 
 heen lost. Conserp.ently I took a horse and examined every „,rt of the i l.. T 
 
 and «outh beaches, but saw nothing more except a potash^;^.::;^^^ :^ .:r w"::;^ 
 made, and one head branded 'First sort potash, J. Eouthellier, Montreal.'" 
 
 V. History of Relief J:stablishment Continued, 1809-1848. 
 
 Mr. Morris was succeeded by Edward Hodgson, who ha.l been his assistant almost fi-on. 
 the commencement of the establishment. He continued in charge till his death 18 
 The work was carried on under him much as it was under his predecessor Eu it w 
 n.creased in efficiency. On the 18th M-ircb 1810 fi,. • l"^"''^^''''^'^- J^nt it was 
 
 l..fn... 4V. . .1 • . 3iaicli, IHIJ, the commissioners report to the lee-is 
 
 hture that heir means were inadecpiate. Though the grant continued the same i would 
 eem that improvements were ma.le in the service. Haliburton, writin. ibo t 807 n 
 tions that the staff consisted, beside the superintendent of his tl e 1827 nien- 
 
 or five others ; that two buildings were erected,^ .:^; J 1 ^ I; Id'Z";: ""' '7' 
 .^h si.le, uninhabited, containing a supply of l^rovisions, a i;:!;:^;:; ; ^^^^^ 
 steel, tinder-box and matches and directions for reaching the house of the superin^en le't ' 
 A vessel sent from Halifax was said to visit the isb.nd tuw-n .. , "-'" ;^»*'«»t. 
 
 ,..ui,,e,. .,.a. ,M. „...„„. .„«,„„ , „„ .„„„ _i;::";;::, :;;;;:.:•;;" - ;-; 
 
 in 1816 (aftor <lo.cnbiiig n „reck the November ,,revi„„,), ,]„, |.,„' .„„ . ., J , . ' "*■ 
 people ,0 „.i,„„i„ „„ „,„,„, „,,„,„ „„, „„,„, J^ provw' ;,?„;„„ w^tZ I 
 
 «1\:t' "r ?''■ >■ """• """ "'° "" »" '- '""">'" "■■■" 1-" -r«o «".-,;;.' 
 
 none left for seed. I „,*, ,ir, that joii wonl.l »en,l Cant. Darin- or ,„„,e ot „.r , i 
 
 !o r'et,:™" ■""'° '"" ""™'""" "■• '•■■ "• '™* "'" ">""■'"""). "l-t wa, obliged 
 
24 
 
 REV. GEORGE PATTERSON 
 
 lo» of the brim •■ ir„,,e " ami " VIar.h 1 w' ■' f " , "'"' '" """ "°'" J*'"- ''^ "'» 
 
 ...have bee,,',, „„ L Z ,lr; U ,a ^ "t:' /" f™ ''>~'"t- »■.. .„W 
 l-i,he.l b,„ for the me,, e„, , , w ' h , t M " ' ^ °;r" " """■"■''' """''' "" I"'™ 
 i" the year 1812, of H. M. .h p'' Barbll • lb 7" ''T'""''' "'"• '''"' ">' '•^' 
 
 of.hK.h.,,t.horeo,,.h.LtriroT..e:^^^^^^ 
 
 ™.rr:::r';:r:::::r:::i^::j;„rtrr:t^;z;;rT''' 
 
 -H-quallj Slid iH tlio following: "Juiip /> ison Air,, v i i 
 wreek,, except the hull of a »el,:.„,.e .tt' j, t rj^, l^^;;;;;'' » '^^ -"'". ™.. .,o 
 
 o„ .hore the 20.h Nove„,hor, without ma,t,, .„il» or r^^ ;o ; ," "LTT /, ' '""" 
 on boar,, except „„e de^ ma„ i„ the h„U, ,vho,„ we^ot'out Z t^i " ' """ "" '""'" 
 
 .co,„-!;i;':s::,o:":e:; «;: jf^rn'"""^ *"" -^ -'■ '"°"'"-^ -"" "»-• •™' 
 
 hu,„l,e* h„.hol, of Itl' ,,tr, *'"','""' '■''"'"■"■'« -' -«»0" that he ha,l rai,e,l two 
 
 ow,,co,,.,,„,p:i.;,, ;,!:;; ;:;:;:!' ::r;;-;,^^^^ 
 
 blighted by the wind complains ot all hm vegetables having been much 
 
 Mr. Iloilguo,, was auceeeiled by Capt. Josciih Dni0.v lr„ ,.„ , , • . , 
 ing the i,l„„,l al,„„,t fro,,, the e„,,,,,,e,, ™™ „, ,T * ' ' '"="" '" "'" '■°'''' "' "'"'*■ 
 
 F,.o„, 1807 „r earlier to ,8„ he ZZZTIJ^ !:Z:rT """'""'"."™' "''°" "■ 
 .aine,l with the island. I>.n.i,,,the.vears 1812.13 l,v! ie .XT'': 'i':: r "^ 
 and m the dockyard at Halifax From 1«iq f. isqa and " Shannon " 
 
 en,p,„,.ed h, the^„ver„,.,e„t of '^ ':Lri„nh?s:;:Lr:i:i:,:;2:r "•"' 
 Nov r:: rst .fz trtr z; 't .i" '" r""'"""°-'-- '™' *^°-"'^-- »^». ^ 
 
 «.eir baggage, a,,,;td: to'ttr f^^itoio^ti- r''x,:;";r"'' r"" ""- 
 
ON SABLE ISLAND. 
 
 28 
 
 more than two years, during which she had made eleven trips to Halifax ; also four larL^e 
 coppor-fastonod boats and two small ones for the use of the estahlislunent, and twenty-Hovtn 
 uuKhngH ot d.fterent si.es. Eight two-wheele.l carts had been constructed an.l two old ones 
 thoroughly repaired, thirty thousand shingles manufactured and two thousan.l feet of boards 
 sawn for the use of the establishment, two large tlagstatfs erected and one snudl one 
 dircct.on-boanls set up in various places, and eight or ten acres inclosed with fences They 
 hud raised during that time about two thousan.l bushels of vegetables, tive thousan.l six 
 hni„lre.l poun.ls ot pork, fourteen thousan.l poun.ls of beef, collocte.l four hun.lre.l an.l 
 twenty cords of wo.).l, an.l ma.le seven thousan.l copper nails 
 
 In like manner, he rep..rts in the year 1844 the work .lone .luring the previ,>us seven 
 ^cars. riierc ha.l been wrecke.l .luring that time upon the islan.l ten ships, two bri^^s an.l 
 our schooners, tnnn which ha.l been save.l one hun.lre.l an.l thirteen passengers an.l .,„. 
 hundred am seu>nty-nine seamen, with their baggage. There ha.l been shipped, as pro.hice 
 o the slan. , hfty-eight horses, thirty-four casks of oil an.l twenty-seven lirr.-ls of skins 
 Ihere had been raise.l one thousan.l eight hundred hushels .>f vegetables, eigi.t th.,usan,l 
 I'oun. s of p,>rk and thirteen thousand of beef. A hun.lre.l th.>u,:uHl shingres ha.l be , 
 nnnmacture,^ twenty-six thousand foet of boanls sawn an.l four hun.lre.l ..nls of woo.l 
 collected. Of the improvements he mentions that he ha.l built three warehouses for wrecke.l 
 goo.ls and four small buil.lings for various purposes, and assisted in putting up two lar^je 
 bin .lings for castaway seamen ; that he had erected one flagstaff sixty-five feet high, wifh 
 look-out, and built a new lifeboat, etc. fe > ' ' 
 
 About the same time he mentions that he had constructs "a portable wharf of fifty 
 feet long, standing on two pair of wheels, with a capstan to heave it out of the water, an.l a 
 house built over it." We have no doubt that this was a most ingeinous eonstructi.m, but 
 we never hear of any attempt to put it to practical use. 
 
 From 1844 to 1847 the number of lives saved was one hundred and thirty-eight, makin. 
 altogether seven hundred and thirteen from the time of his appointment in 1830 
 
 With these known wrecks there were the usual number of unknown, indicated by such 
 records m his journal as the following: 
 
 "April 6.-A man went round the northwest bar and found a new pump belonging t,> 
 ^me small vessel, the upper part painted white, also part of a new chlir, bottom painte.l 
 black-mahogany colour, with bright yellow rings round the legs. 
 
 " 15th._A boat came ashore on the northeast bar having in it five seal gaffs, two pea- 
 .,acketB,two pieces of boiled pork, two spruce oars having J. Herald bran.fe.1 <;n them.'' 
 (lliis probably ha.l merely gone mlrift from some fishing vessel.) 
 
 "27th.— Found a man's leather cap trimme.l with sealskin " 
 
 One of the most interesting incident, of Capt. Darby's incumbency was the saving of a 
 cap tarn and crew of a vessel by the easting of oil upon the troubled waters. We gi^e the 
 particulars, condensed from a report of his at the time : 
 
 first I'b"^" W ' '"'^'1'" '"". -T "" "^■'''' '" '^'' ""'"'^^ '''^' '^^'-^'^ ♦« windward, which we at 
 fir.t tlu^ught was a large binl, but shortly after .liscovered that it was a sail, .listant five or 
 2 -les, and that ^le was running .lown right before this tremendous gale dea.l on I Z 
 
 t:i, directly foi'i:x::ff ' '"' '"'' ^^''''' ^'*i ^ t^'-'-'^' t""'-' -'^ 
 
 ^, °, ^^ oui iiagsran. . . . " 1 he sea was breaking everywhere off the 
 north side as far as the eye coul.l see, and it appearcl almost incre.lible that any vessel eould 
 
 S«'C. II., I8!M. 4. 
 
26 
 
 BRV. GKOKOfE PATTERSON 
 
 ^"- ^^'- I". ,. ...H»,„,,u,!^ i' ; :: :t\ ;:,T' '- "•■''; "■ r-" '"- 
 
 lipaviMt l.mikcn. i.iiil „■,. ,...,,1.1 ,.I„1 i "'"' "l'l'™r<»l t,i 1,e in tlie 
 
 ' '■, "•■•. ^' - i .';::::': .;:.:; r,;:',::'":;-: "'"""'"" "- 
 
 you couh list in'ivcivo tl).> l,<...,lu ->*• J . , "» "• "muicd iior. At one moment 
 
 breaking all to th Jl t ' rL .t /I " "';'""'"" "'^ "^"'^ "^ '-«>- '^^r, i.n.l 
 
 can the oi^ei. B.y, wlir^^ ::;:;;;;: '^ :; '•^^^ f ^ '-' *- '-- -- ^^'-* - 
 
 safety of the ve... 1 was at this IZ Til ,"'' "'"' ""' ^''•■^"^^'^^ ""^•^'*>- *''«• ^^e 
 
 but she passed through untorcie the „ "" '--^ingwith tremendo«,s violence, 
 
 track helmul." . !^ ""*""^h^'^-*'»« -'^ ''^came smooth hefore her, and she left a .hining 
 
 two zt.:;^ z::t:i:.:'^i:-zr:ji -- -- '-- to the hem. and 
 
 on end. We could also see th.t tl l w '''''"''^"•'*^' '^"/l ^y '^'^' "^^^i a large cask standing 
 as if throwing somett g ;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "^'J^'' ^f f ^^^ --^-- -«. their arms' 
 
 place, and hofsafetyseeLT rain AnotLr hi -^^^ *'" ""^* ^^""^<^''-- 
 
 bow struck the sand." . ^'^^ '"''^ '^'■^"^'^* '^«'' *« «^« ^'^«^'h, and lier 
 
 had lost all his headsails, when at daylilt thisn . '"'"T"'''"'"* "^ *^^ ^"'«- "« 
 
 Mow >„u ..v„, „„„ „.„.,;, the' :, "tt "^^ T* "" "• ■""" 
 
 .hrou(i, nnd lashed there lie the,, ,Kr^t.A- . , ^ " P'"""" '"■»■■ *e fore- 
 
 an., ,a,h the„.,ve, Z,y^: ^^l^^^ —^^Z^ "fu J^'*'' "■"- 
 the fleh. They had each a wooden ladle about Z f ! , , '°'''""' ""' °" '^ 
 
 dipped „p the h,„hher and oi, and t,::^,: tZ^^JX^Sl^^ T' ''Z 'T '"'^ 
 
 very M,h, ,et .h;;::ro'" r r o htn7*erhS tr trr- "■' r """"" ''- 
 
 pitching and brealcing cl„,e to her on each side but n„7.K,, ° ""'• " ™ "«'"»• 
 the whole distanee." ' ' " ''°"''' "' "■»'" *"" "P»n her deck 
 
 Capt, Darby »eem« undonbtedlv to have bee,, a «,.„ „<■ 
 energ.,, and .he dutie, ofhi. p„,i, Jhe .ce:: ave c 11^,3^ """. ™"™" 
 
 But var,o,.. e„„,plal,„. „gardi„g .be way i„ which n,atter:werl:;a::d;!red ITZ 
 
ON SABLE ISLAND. 
 
 27 
 
 of those ,n authority. As early as 1836 tl>ey found it necessary to make an investigation, with 
 he result ot aequ.ttu.g h.n. of blame. Rumours, however, still provaile.l an<l as years passed 
 became more clamant and assumed more deHnite form. In the year 184H, responsible 
 g(.ven,ment was establinhecl and a reform government came into power. The energy of 
 Mr. Howe n.fused a new life into every department of public affairs. Light was being 
 thrown into obscure corners, sleepy officials were being awakene.1 to new activity, and 
 abuses which had been sanctione.l by time an.l usage were b.ing exposed ami rectified. By 
 this time the allegations reganling the state of things on Sable Island were so widespread 
 and so positive as to urgently call for investigation 
 
 on J^-rrT'' """* T '''P'- "^^ ''' T*^--'--^ t« --"i- i»to the state of matters 
 on the island. IIis report does not indicate any want of efficiency in the servL-e, but br<,ught 
 out a number ot matters that led to the appointment of a committee of the executive council 
 to make a thorough investigation into the whole condition of the establishment. At the 
 outset ot their inquiries they were met by the palpable tiu.t that the superintendent and the 
 commissioners, not one of whom had ever visited the island, were on such terms that it was 
 nnp<,ss,ble tor the two to work in harmony, ami that his relations with at l.ast some of his 
 subonlinat^^s were not happy. On other matters they entered into a full investigation, many 
 witnesses being examined. It is unnecessary at this date to enter into dehiils of thdr 
 nupnnes. It is sufficient to say that tlie government came to the conclusion that a change 
 was necessary. Ihe old commissioners were superseded and soon after the management of 
 the institution was placed under the charge of the Boanl of Works. Capt. Darby was 
 d^dmrged, and left the island in November, 1848, after having been eighteen yelrs in 
 
 One other matter attracted attention at this time which must be referrcl to as an 
 addition o the tales ot honor of which this isla.ul has been the scene. At that time there 
 was no lunatic asylum in the province, and indeed institutions for the insane, which 
 empoyed kindness in the treatment of this unfortunate class, were only beginning to be 
 established any where. Everywhere they were treated with a brutality that is now scarcely 
 
 SCO i; t'; ^U 7^!'"": '''7 '''' ''"' '""""" '' ^"^*' ^^^"'^ «^"'* ''>' fr>-"l« - N-'t 
 bcotia to Sable Island, where they were detained, and treated either with neglect or cruelty 
 
 When herefore Capt. Townshend was sent down he was instructed to make inquiry into the 
 truth of these allegations, and particularly whether any were detained contrary to their will 
 He found two instances in which insane persons had been sent to the island, and remained' 
 there for a time, who were new removed. But he found one who had been on the island for 
 seventeen years. He was a man of respectable family, heir to some property, and his 
 guardians of the highest standing in the community. According to the report of parties on 
 the island, he was for the first ten years extremely violent and troublesome, so that very 
 harsh measures had to be adopted toward him, but for the last four years he had been 
 qmet, noffensive and useful, and was now employed carrying wood and water, and otherwise 
 doing the drudgery of the kitchen. Capt. Townshend found him in such a state of helpless and 
 hopeless Idiocy as to be unable to give an intelligent answer to the question whether he was 
 detained on the island against his will. And yet he learned that when this man was sent 
 to the island, the commissioners had received a note from the administrator of the govern- 
 ment, authorizing them to permit him to proceed to the island and remain there in the 
 capacity of schoolmaster or any other capacity that might be agreed on. 
 
28 
 
 RKV. GKORttE PATTKRSON 
 
 VI. LiKK ON THE IsLAND-SuPEaiNXENDKxov OP M. D. MoKenna, 1848-1855. 
 Cai)t. Darby was succeeded by Cai)t Matthew B \T..v i 
 
 ^o.. .... «!„„ , - „, - ti,^: -ri;:^ -rr^ ;;;ri -^ 
 
 ..able, „ «„g„ »;:, : °" :xwr ,::n . ^.r, f "'""t*" «"*"''• " '»'«° "»™ »''• 
 
 a «ag«t„ff with an ob erv„t„„ Zl el , !' r "."™ " "f"""''"''"'*- Hero w„. 
 oa.twa.l, at tho ,b„, „, tl: llT wl a ° I n ^7 ™" '"'"'''''•■■''- ''""' ■""«" '" ""= 
 
 wcro a boMo an.I bam occ„„ie,l a, tbo la.r„, 1 f "'"' "'° """' "»"""• 'vboro 
 but, u„occ„pio.I, h,te,u,ea a. , ,1; TJZ'e fc T " T'^' °" "" """" ''"« »-"' " 
 
 »"r producing «r», at thi. time tinder with (tint am IT * ? "■" °''P"'"' 
 
 friction matclw.. A bag of provi.i„,„ Z. T, , ' »"l.er.ede<l by boxe, o( 
 
 rat.. VV-ritte,, dir«tion, were" ed V I T ''""' "" "" ''"J™"' *« ■•«"* "'' 
 
 .night be obtained by digg^^iTtl ^l H„:ir ^^^ '"" 'T "'" "-'- 
 hou.e of the .an.e l<i„„ wa. erected at the ea,t end ofthll.ta.f ' """' "'""''" 
 
 ^^ __The ,„,p„rt„„ee of thi. .rr„„ge,„e„, wil. appear fro. the , Showing ineiden, recorded 
 
 nigh;:';i:ri;::::;f*gat!tr* "■« -■^'— -» 
 
 with water. The erewel gto.lfew "ok 1 1 t^l^t'o 1 1'" ' "'" °""°" "'«"""3' iiUcd 
 away the tmvmast, and gjm, „,° Z«2, * " """ ™"''"«' "'"=" "''y «ut 
 
 "The gale raged wiC 1 i„t ceTh . X"t 7" T'r!°T'' "'-" "" ""'^■ 
 to i,np„»i,,|„ for our ,„e„ to go ,1 rroZl 1 H ,, " "' ",° ""'' """ " "' "«t 
 wind, an,l the house of refuge iu their ro vl'.r , "°, '"'°. """"" '""' ""' '""' " «"■• 
 
 a..d got bread to eat), .on.etf them ,1 " w n T-'l ," " *" "'"' '""■"'"' *™>»«'™« 
 
 — . ^Mo. than ....■«;;C=tt;rt:;:;^rr;i:tr:?;i: 
 
ON SABLE ISLAND. 
 
 29 
 
 vosselB Bome of them American, but some of them Nova Seotian, landing for ninn.ler 
 Generally, the objects souglit were the fittings of vessels wrecked. But on one occasion he 
 had to compmn of men robbing the house of refuge of the fireworks, a„<l an axe of 
 the,rakmg down the directions for the guidance of shipwrecked persons, of their taking 
 tlie latch ofFUie door, an.l robbing the boats whi<.h he was using in saving wrecked goods 
 1 he staff consiste.1 generally of ten men and a foreman, beside the superintendent Of 
 Xbt""\rr.r '''"'^""^■'^''' r^ '"'"^''- ^ -n-ter, who was also boat-builder and wheel- 
 
 nartlc i.n.l Z '""" ''"" ^'"" "' ''" "•"•^'"'^^>' ^^'^^'^ »*" ^'-^ ostablislunent, 
 
 particularly in anything connected with wrecks. 
 
 At the principal station each man in his turn rose early, and after making on the fire 
 the day was clear mounted the flagstaff to the Crow's-nest, and made a survey of thJ 
 «hu.d, all o which IS visible from this point, to ascertain if any vessel had come ashor 
 
 h th u boats to set out tor the spot. If not they prepared for other duties. If, I o Jever 
 th weather was foggy, or it there had been a storm, they prepared to patrol the shZ' 
 A ounto.l on a hardy pony a man set out from each station, east an.l west, sometimes in the 
 a o ot a fierce blast, with it might be snow, hail or rain, or driving the san<l so as to iiak 
 his tace smar ,so that he was sometimes glad to take shelter behind a sancl-duiie and pro ed 
 a^oiig the central valley, ever and anon crossing the sand-hills to look seaward, or descending 
 to the landwash to examine some object cast on shore, or floating in the sur ; it mi^ht be ! 
 «par, a bo tie or an oar. At length he met the roundsman from the next Itation i 
 exe hanged notes, retrace.1 their steps and reported the result at hea<lquarters. They thin 
 made the whole circuit of the island. When the weather was so thick that they couhl i o e 
 over the island, this was done every twenty-four hours. In bad weather th s wat lit of 
 the beach engaged their whole attention. *vHicnin^ ot 
 
 During fine weather the men were not idle. There was always work to be dono 
 There was he daily work of attending to the horses and cattle, while each season hd^ 
 proper employment. During the summer all the ordinary operations of the fa m wel 
 carried on : fencmg putting out manure, ploughing, sowing, weeding, cutting, making ami 
 housmg hay gathering the other crops, making compost, etc. Then there was the rZi " 
 
 S'Te'rer"-"' T- f"''^^^''^^ ^^^ -pairing and painting, and sometimes Slg 
 boat the repairing vehicles or making new ones, repairing saddles, harness, etc hauli f 
 
 tWe w .!V'^' outstations gathering wood and hauling ft to the 'central s'tatm ThJ 
 ther was the ga hering ot cranberries, of which as much as 100 barrels have been shipped 
 at one time and the autumn pursuit of birds. At other times there was fishing tho^r he 
 Buperintendent, from the uncertainty of the winds and sea, was very cautious rb^^tZwbl 
 h s men to go out for this purpose. But sometimes they met wi'h good hau On"^ 
 occasion he speaks of their taking 246 fine codfish. Sometimes they took a few ha ib« 
 
 AneX: T, "* T ""^ "P^^'^"^' "'^"'"^""^ "" -'"-^ *»- -'-^'- Overly 
 
 tz:z tZt r^:;;:: ::: ir. '-^ "'- '- ^'^ -- ^^ -- -- -^ 
 
 wil.lt.'""' "^'rZ r^^'*™*"'*' P'"-ti->'--b' with the young, was the time of gathering the 
 
 which wmg ences extend in opposite directions. Men on horseback drive a gang in o tl^ 
 melosure. Then entering they select the victim and throw a noose over his head by wh eh he 
 
 i 
 
 ; I 
 
80 
 
 REV. GEORGE PATTRRSON 
 
 n.«l aro l..,l „. .|„,j,^,„, ,„ „,„ ,,,„„, J, ^^( ;"'" • Tl,o,. gcera ly .ubmit ,„i„,|y 
 .." a «il,l hor*. TI,oy ,„av l,o ,l,.„u. i 7 y"ni,g.tor« to liuvt tho fir,t ri,l» 
 
 l.oi«tc.,l i„t„.l,c vc,.ol „„„ lowoJ ttl Z hold. ' '"■" ""' ""° " '"""• """ '*«™""'' 
 
 Some winters tlie men aiieiit a sooil deal of fl. ■;, .i™ • 
 upon the i.l„n,l or .plltting i into ,ll jef Til h '" """"* "^ *" ''"»'«' "" 
 
 ..verhanling and „,eLnti„g Inmher d « d tl t ' 1, °",°"° °°°"'°" ^ " ^" ""'"'' 
 
 eight ,l,on,an,l live hnn.lred „,nl tb vol ! ? «awed „nee the 15th Deeemher 
 
 hundred a ne o,' refu." 11/22 ..nT r1""'""""' """ '""' ""•"""'" '"° 
 
 liL;;;::,':::::" """"' •'"'" '"""• •'■" ■'"'-- -'- --ariiAitid"::;;.*:: r 
 
 wild (owl, „n,l a little later eolleeting their Z' ""'"" '°""« "' 
 
 point, when the, ,„ain ^:!:::::^^,:x::!:::::t:""\ ^^""'"" ■" ""°"'*- 
 
 by the .ea and ai-ain bronrf.f l„„.l- I , '"'"' """ " "'"" «»'•"»'' "ff 
 
 remained. The JZaZ^, ^;f"" '''"' '™'» '""« '" '»^« •>* »" «- Wubber that 
 
 .boj":: ::ir::M::/r::i:i:,rt,i:^; t;^/:- - --->-» wu,, ,he 
 
 .bllowin,: ^.Tbe man that went eastward Zn-ZT;!^": ZfST h" *° 
 nearly on shore, the ,e« breaking outside of her" "J C sav X , '"" " f ""■ 
 among the breaker, on the northeast bar thafX, ■ T , ^'"' ■*"' » '"^ 
 
 she must have struck, she stoodHe IthClrd " ""'""' ""' '"' "" ""'* "" '"»^' 
 
 of ti.e';:?:.r:;,x Ttti: '^t ~'""^ :'** "™ " *» -'™' 
 
 own pnrposes, ealled the « Dari 1 ■■ IT ' «";«"™«"t had a vessel b„ilt for their 
 
 fisheries,' but part of her b lis w„ ZZ"' ^'"""""^ "" "" ^'°"''*'""' »'■''- 
 Though the m'en being fully'T^lyTd^: ^.Z^Z'Zt:::^^' f'""'- 
 generally satisfied with the quiet of their situation- it „. .7 7 ' ""' """° 
 
 again brought into eommunlation ^r.h o^ de toT d " " •'" "'""'"' *'"«" "> "' 
 
 thelone'ines ftir uatfonTome: t'"'''°V''°"'°"P'»^^^^^^^ 
 
 lauding so ditfieult a d d,„ 'e „. TTT' ""• "■" ""*<"' ™ ™'''' »' «<> '»'«" 
 
 exoept\y signal, 'c! i:wH;es\ro„:t::r.""r;r°.:' """n """""""""^ 
 
 .igual, that a boat eould uot get o.-that welLu ter.n7hTnTwtk:!r: „^ 
 
ON SABLR ISLAND. gj 
 
 in want of provimoriH, an.I had .iotl.injr u. ooniinunic«t«. nhv trnuh Hail." At „tl,..r tin,,., 
 att,.,- landing imrt „f th,- Hni-plioH „r taking on l.,Mml m.mi. .,f tl„. k„,„|s f,,,- Hl,i,m,..nt ai.'.l 
 
 attor laying ..ft'an,! „n for tw ■ ti,roe dayn, .ho w,M.hl h-avo .,„ hvv .vtu.n. Th„< ,m.Ur 
 
 date 27tl, (),t,.hor, 1840, he writon : ' 
 
 "At 11 a.m. the 'Daring'' ,ai„c" t., anchor ahrniKt ..fthe rtaKHtatt', a.„l we lH,anh.,| h.-r 
 and u.^,un t„ h,n,l .n.r supplien. We e„ntin..ed h.n,ling until H ,..n.., when (r,.n, the violen.,. 
 ..t the .,a we ha.l to .^nit, having got one hoat tilK-.I with nnrf, an.I a harrel .,f s„..,r 
 destroyed an,l neveral other things mneh injured, an.l „„r h.rge hoat net adeaki,,.. 
 
 "N.B._The HnpplieH h.n.led thin ,h,y were h, very ha.l .„n,lition. We hanle.l onr h„at 
 
 ^lllodlr Ilaiil)!::"" ' "'"''' ""'" '""' ^''"' *'"■ '"' '"■ '"^''^- '^"^ ^''^ "^'^^ ""^- "''^' 
 There are indeed tinien when, an hm heen nai-l, a la.l might hmd on a flat, l,„t even in 
 hne weather an.I with the win,l off Hi,ore the vessel must lie to the win,l, with h.-r an.-hor 
 apeak, an.I her man,Hail set, rea.ly to run at a n.omenfs notiee. Even then the h.mlin. 
 requn-es the utm.,st skill of the seamen, partieularly the steersn.an, an.l has sutH.ient sniee 
 ot .hinger to ren.ler the scene exciting. Men an.l h.,rses dot the hea.-h rea.ly to help „,.l 
 eagerly watchmg the approac-hing hoat. All hol.l their hreath, as the crew hen.l to 'thei 
 oars tlje helmsn.an st.u.ding high on the pointe.l stern an.l keeping her true. Ri,ling on 
 the back ot a huge wave, she is carrie.l up on the heach in a nu.ss of struggling water To 
 Bpnng from their seats into the water an.l hold hard the boat, now on the jii.int of being 
 «went back by the reced.ng wave, is the work of an instant. Another mon.ent an.l they 
 are left high and dry on the beach, another and the returning wave and a vigorous run of 
 the crew has borne her high and dry. 
 
 retur?lT' 'T''" ^t ^'^^'^^^/^'-^ '" ««rious danger. His wife, with twin infants, had 
 returned from ^ova Scot.a. Anxious to land, they got into the boat while there was 
 considerable sea. As they approached the shore the boat nearly filled with water, an.l if it 
 had not been for the admirable skill and power of the steersman, together with the eftbrts of 
 the men on the shore, they would all have been lost. 
 
 The difficulty and at times the danger of landing may be seen by another inci.lent 
 Among the records m Halifax is an affidavit of James Millar that, being in the employment 
 of the c»«tom-house, he was engaged to go to the island to take charge of son., wrecked 
 goods, that he obtamed leave of absence for fourteen days, that he sailed on the 22n 
 November in the schooner "Elizabeth," that they made the island, when three of the men 
 attempting to land were lost, leaving on board only the petitioner and one other man That 
 
 „ll . .V "l^ "i ''"^"""^ *"'"' ""''•"^'^ *^"* '* '''' impossible for the vessel either to get 
 saf ly to the island or to reach Halifax, that in consequence he steered for the West Tn.lfes 
 mid arrived at Antigua after many dangers and privations. There he was forced to re„ a .' 
 till he could get a passage to Halifax. 
 
 The most excithig event to the whole of this little community is the occurrence of a 
 wreck or a vessel going ashore. Sometimes there would be a twelvemonth without such hu 
 occurrence, and on another occasion two vessels came ashore the same night AV^Ihm, such 
 an event is reported there is a hurrying of all the men on duty to the spot. Horses are 
 saddled and mounted, or harnessed to the ear on which the boat is to be drawn. Speedilv 
 they are away to the scene at a rate which would indicate a suspension of the rules of the 
 society for the suppression of cruelty to animals. If the vessel has gone ashore in moderate 
 
32 
 
 Wfiiflicr, hIk 
 lU'ctod with tl 
 
 RKV. GKOROK PATTERSON 
 
 ""ly 1.0 not off wifl.„„t miiti-riul d 
 
 1865 
 
 H" I'rtfiiMiHiiiiu.nt, 
 
 an 
 
 "<K<', witli tin, uHHiHta,,,-.. „f M 
 
 or ."v,M, witJKM.f. Thus, Ik. writoH un.l 
 
 lu' iiicii con. 
 
 'At 7 a 111. It Kciifh-iMiin ,.,iiii,. wiH 
 
 liT (liifv 2ar(l May, 
 
 I Ion 
 
 "iK'.t at iiiidni,,. /. (..^.n r ! "" "'"•^^"::/'- "-•^'' -^' oHl.. island las 
 
 t''^' sl.ip lyiiiK within O.K. hnn J i^^ "I T^^"'^'' "'"' '""""K w-twani tonnd 
 
 ;-wa.d of t,i. ..Hneipa, .ati.:, l^;;;: ^i^" :::; i: .:: -'7 T' • """' ^•' ^"^ 
 
 """-■"■« "v,.r ,, ,„„, „i^,„, w ) , ; '' i'rr '"■ r'"!' '""-i'l-"'.!.,- Ii«l„.,„.,l ,,v 
 
 l..."t l,„„l,,l „l,,„„ i;„,,. „, Mh • . I""l '"•"""" I'"- l'C'..vi„g I,,.,- „fr at l,i^,|, ,i,|,. „, , 
 
 ■•■'I- 1 « r,„ ., ,„■:, r ;;,::; ;:r, "'";■"' "■■"■ "-i- ... .1... wh, „ ,„„, 
 
 "■ '■'•'I"™ > wo ,„„.i,. „,. ,.m,r „:,■„;;;;"; """"" " •■ '•■ - 1 
 
 !'»"™f- "; ^ .- ..:.::;.'." ::,r.y:r '"'■: t r "•"- r •"" 
 
 to ri'iidcr assistant.." ^ "*• ' "^ "iitpoHt mei; all came 
 
 •"-••'• Till. i. often aLompIisliol in t : 1 ; V" ''" 77!' ''' ^''^' "-" <'*• tl'oso on 
 tV...n the relief ctahlishnion. I,, t 1. 1 se H V / ^'^'"^^'V"^'"''' *'" "'•'•'^'"' "^" *''^' "-^" 
 to the main .ution and their ..^ZalZ'T:^ 1 ''' *"^'r^"^""^'>-'K^t 
 ot conrse, nn.st bo the first care. Now there i!„ It !• ^^ "'' "'** '•^'^" ''*"*'^"'' ""^ 
 over the mis.ing vessel, and a l^f I, 1 I ! ""' "'"'' " ""^' *"'' '-' ^''-v" 
 tHat time they relied mainly th r Its r I "' '': '"""^ "' ^'"^^•"- ^"* "* 
 vessel was near the shore, the men w L on fv. '"T"'; ''"'^' '^"""'*''"'^«' ^J^" *'- 
 
 men the shipwrecked have ble hlul 2l th 7 "". ""*'^" "'"^^''^ ^^'^»' ^"P^ 
 weather is fit, the men, nnder the dleotb, o L """*\'^**^"''"^ *^' «« «««" «« the 
 
 the vessel of her sails riggin. etc w ieh a "''^^""*^'-'«"t' «- «et to work to strip 
 
 object is the Bavingof asm^ W he :' ""-.T"' '' *'^ """'^«"«^- ^he next 
 
 pieces in less than fhrty-eight houl il w fh " '" " '"""'"^^ *''« ^^^-' -'" ^« to 
 will be all that wiU remal. Z gen rl X-T r^^^'^'^^?^--^ ^^-^ the ifeach 
 <loes not break up for some time Ifthen for . l i. t' ''""'' "" ^'^'^ '«>""'' •^-'^' «'-' 
 are snch that they can work a ' " 11 1. .' f " *'"' '^''' '^'' ^^««*»-^ «-^ ««a 
 
 Baving material and cargo ami t^^ igl olT^ T' -^«'>"«'--t will be employed in 
 
 the ship breaks np, their time n^ l^ Xeirs:;" T, ''^ "*^'" ^^"*'^"- *^"^""^' ^ 
 into her construction. empfoyed ,n saving the iron aii<l copper that entered 
 
 could obtain a passage. Tht mirbe v "" .' "' "* *'' '^'"'"^ ''^ -'"^^ they 
 have been accommodld, 2!, Ztt t::Tortr ^ . ^' """^ "^ ^^^'^ '""'^'^^ ^^^ 
 has never been a deficiency ^n^XZ^:^r:l^r' '''' '' ''' -*^'>"«»--t, there 
 
 in ^z:::!r^;--t'::^^^^ 
 
 mix, strange to say, the superintendent liad 
 
ON SABLE FSLANF). 
 
 33 
 
 trouble, anil iiorhaiirt Iiin 
 
 ..m..l ..r hvoH to the oxiHtenco of tl.o OHtul.liKlnu.nt. ()„ o„o oc^io,. ... ,.,, „ , 
 .i.mn.It^ w.tl. a ..apta n who ro.nuln.I aft... hi. orew ha.l h..„ romovo.l. Son.eti.u ! 
 ..mmfoHt.l un„MHtakahI. n..li..ation. of innanity, at othor tinu. an unnnntakahh. in.li..atio,H 
 <• 'Lubohca wu.ko,lnoHH, ox-itin,. sonu- of th. hum. to nn.tiny,an.l thm.t.nin. .-von to . 
 
 he «ui,orn.ton<h.nt, who ha.l no .„., of tn.H.hMvat..hi,,K Inn. an.l koopin,. .Ul ,nn. o 
 h.« roa..h, t.ll a vchhcI arrivcl by whi..h he luul hi.n Hhi,,,,e.l fron. the \Lu\ 
 
 At another tina- the .-rew of a ve«HoI whieh ha.l been wreeke.1 off the eant point of the 
 
 n .nfn.e.l, not only ,..,,.i,„, to work, but nsing the n.ont abunive ian, a,e to 
 
 upennten.lent and he n.ptain ; eon.plainin,, of the p.-ovinionH, clen.an.linK n.ore J!^ 
 
 hou,.h they reee,ve.l tw<, kI"-o.s a day when workin,., and utterinK <!!- threats, one :,' 
 
 tlH.n. even hthn^ np an axe to the fonner. His fi„„neHH prevented their .oin.^ to the 
 
 ox renutu. t ey threatened But an sueh a state of thin,, eould not eontinuct 1 In 
 
 vessel whu.h eanu. to off the nuun station, an.l hired the eaptain to earry a letter to 
 Hoard of Works at Ilalititx, intorn.in,, then, of the eondition of ...atte... On the fH d . 
 after a vessel anwed with Lieut. Lyn.ls..y a..d son.e blue-Jaekets, sent .low.. l>v the .. 
 who soo,. bu... ie.l the wh..le sixteen ,>,. boar.l and renu.ve.l the,., fron. the ish.i.d. W v 
 H>..t.o,. hc.e that ..o h.iuor is ,.ow ..llowe.l on the ish...d. Persons ...Miete.l to .lri.,k . • 
 
 !!;::• ;;;;:' :•: ''^'"' ''"- ''''"'"' ^""'^^^'-^ -'^--^ *^- ^--"-- ^^^^ vr^^c 
 
 tell .>nh"t'M ,"""!•' 7 *^'"' '''"*''""""*^ '"""' '^ "'"* "" *''"'■• ^-•'"•^' -'-J' too tr..ly 
 tell o the total loss of galla..t vessels, of their erews engulfed by the ragh.g sea, fro,., whieh 
 
 "o t,.l,ngs ever eon.e to f lends who, far off, w.ut for those who shall teturn .io ,nor A 
 few ,..en.or..,.,la of th.s k,..d „.ay be of h.terest a. showb.g part of their daily life • 
 
 "18th Ja..«a,.y, 1850.-.Superinte..de..t went to the northeast bar H,.d retu,-ned While 
 gone he exan..,.e,l some spars and rigging pi.ke.l up by F. in Deee,„ber, ..nd fou..d"tho,n t. 
 btl.topn.ass a... Iforetopgallant n.ast of a brig, with fbretopgalh...t n...st rigging , 
 baekstays a..d topgallant ngging attaehed. The spa,, and riggh.g are both .uite'.'e.' 
 
 «i>ar paitt:^*,;:;;^ ^ ''''' ^^ ^"^^" ^" *'^ ^^^"^^ "^^-^ ^^-^^ "-^' ^'- ^'-p^ '-„. a ,«.,. 
 
 "26tl. Nuvcnber, 1852.-The superinten.lent searehed the northeast bar, an.l foun.l 
 
 Lam'X' r;' ' '"^^' '"' ''""' ^"'^' "'""^ '''-''' '"^'^^^^ ^^'^^" -^ "^^ 
 
 am.are!!.'lv?v'?''r' '^''•~i'^* ^ f-' ""• '"'''"'"'^^ " «quare-rigged vessel off the south si.le, 
 appare.,tly waterlogged, and «ta..ding toward the island under short sail, but whether a shin 
 or barcpK.r,gged vessel could not be distinetly made out through the rLin an.l haze, a. at 
 3 o eloek p. m. we lost sight of her, the weather having grown rpiite thick. 
 
 " 8th.-Sent two me,, to search the south beach and one to search the north beach and 
 
 In T T :'• , "^"^* ""''"'' ^"^"'"^ ^ "^^'^''^'y ^' "- «P-ce deals on tl o 
 
 w St bar and on bo h s.des of the island, but the greater quantity on the north si.le. I.rthe 
 te ,.oon three of the men came home from the northe..t bar, and reported the nortl.beal 
 
 hu. d err T 1 /,' " "'' *" '^ ^^"""^ ^'^*^ ^P™'^^ ^^-^« '« *»- --'- of son. 
 
 if 
 
 gee. II., 1894. 5. 
 
84 
 
 RKV. OKOWJK PATTKRSON 
 
 '• 11tl..-r.. fl... ..Ih.rnor.n th. n.on canu. I.omo fru.n tl.o niHt n,.l, having piled ,m what, 
 .In. s w..r,. .,., , H. K.u..h, a.Ml n.,.ort.Ml Laving foun.i a nlnp's l,..„t .,„ tl... nnnth ni.lo a.wl a 
 linul-lMMird with ' I'lyiiKMitir on ir. 
 
 "80tl,.-At ', ,,. ,n. K..» a ,v,M,rt tr.m, tlu- onntcr,. nfation ni tl.o tl.n.ilv tl...,-,. havintf 
 lu.ar.1 the ropnrt ,,1 ....,..,! h.-av.v nu.no,. i„ tl... ...iKl.l.m.rl.oo.l of tl.at Htatio,, at ..h.n.t 2 
 
 o'clock on the ,iio 
 
 ..ii.K oitlic L'7tli." 
 
 N„..cf.„.cs tl...sc tVHKn.ctH will co,.tai,. ko,„. ...ark to toll of tl,o y..M u, ^^Wu■h tl.cv 
 
 r;''"r'' "7' !'""* '•''^■'•:'' '""• '■'""• ^*" ""' -■'"" ''-.v i-kci ,„. tl... I....,.,. ...., .,fi 
 
 ^•'^ "a,.... 1 1... H,.p..,.„.tc,„I..,.t nnlcr.! it to 1... prcsc,.v...l, a,..l .on., tin,,, ath-r tl.cv m..l in 
 
 .pa,... ot a V..... ..all..., -The ....la.- Sta.- I.avi.., ...vo,- 1...,, ....an, of atVe,- .ailin,. ,". 
 
 ix..„nn„.^ the l...a.|.h.,a.-.l a^a... it appoa,v., p,ai„ly tl.at th..t was tl... ,.a,„.. np.,n it 
 
 Mlth.-Scnt one n.an to Hcaivl. th. ......thwcst l,a,-, wl... ,...po..tH l.avi..^, f,,,,,.., th. 
 
 Htorn .,, a H„.a,, v..ss..I .„. tl... sontl. I.eacl., with ,. water-n..k an.l tillc- lanhd t., it 
 
 N.tu . ...N an.,, ..l..a,-„.K uway the na..., with a hI..,v..|, to„n.I 'Rm,,„ti.,n, St. . Johns N V ' 
 
 "22,.,,-Soa,vl,c..l the north l.eaeh east a,..l went, an.l fo.,n.| two hi-oken ha.relH ..f 
 flonr, a,,., the torwanl pa,-t of a new.i.,llvhoat, ..e.h..- pla,.k, in„.-fasto..e., a.,.l pah.te,, white. 
 
 la.|LlloT' '"' " "" '"* ''"""'''' '*'■ " '""' '"""■•"^' '■'•"' ••*■ ^'"' ""^' ^" ^^■'''^•'' "'- 
 
 It in to he ..hHorvo,!, l..,wevo,-, that the te.,.le„c.y of the currents is not to hring such 
 . .ecka,.. ash..re hut rather to carry it to sea. It is sel.lon,, too, that ho.lie. eon.e ..shore. 
 1 h.,uj.h the he ot the .-esxlents on this islan.l is thus of a somewhat solitary a,.,! „,o,.ot- 
 onous nature, yet, hoing one .,f activity, it is not wearisome or .lepressing. On the e,.ntrarv 
 It has ,nueh .,t ...terest h. it, a...l ofte.. they heeome attaehe.l to the ish.n.l as to their home' 
 \V he,, the super,nten.,e„ey ,s vacant there is „o lack of appliea,.ts for the position, au.l Mr" 
 
 ^ t^::. k'"'c n ^""' ^''7 "'r 't "^ '"""'^ '"''' '"' "^'""^^ "" -- '^-'-^ <^ 
 
 h f L ? r" '"'"^ "^ *'" "^'""^' "'^^" t"'^-^ -••^>' t« -l-ol, have 
 
 ha.l a homes,ck long.ng after the ,>l.l scenes. a..,l in.agh.ecl their happiness wonh, he perfect 
 
 ^ they cou .1 jnst have a scan.per over the sa..d on the hack of a shaggy S..hle islan, pony' 
 tt"lr:f,^!""'' "^" '^"'''^ ''"''''' " '''-'' """'^^ """^ tf gayest scenes and to 
 One of the most important events to the islan.l during the superintendency of Mr 
 Mclve..na was the y.s.t of Miss J)ix in 1853. In the prosecution of he! lifework of founding 
 institutions tor the msane she had come to Halifax and St. Johns, N. F. While at the latter 
 city ,„ June, there occurred a fearful storm, resulting in some appalling shipwrecks, which 
 Mt a deep in.press,.>n upon her, and, with her practical and sympathetic nature, induced 
 
 he desire to a.lopt some means for the safety of those exposed to such terrihle g les. 1 
 Halifax the gentleman who was her chief supporter in her efforts to found an asylum for 
 
 he insane was the lion. Hugh Bell. By a suhscription, large for his circumstances! e firs 
 apped the fountains of p,.ivate liherality on its hehalt: He was its earnest advocat n t^ 
 
 gslature. Through him Miss Dix carried on her correspondence regardi.vg the pro) ct 
 B Z ; '''"'^"^"" ^':''l «r f f ^^^-'^^ he had the charge of carryin'g it inl exe'uUo,! 
 But in the same capacity he had the special oversight of the estahlishment on Sahle island 
 
ON HAHLK ISLAND. gg 
 
 I«. luT ii.tom.urK.. with l.i.n hI.,. .onl.l n..t Init l.av.- l,.un...<l Hnuwsvhat of tho nn.l ovoufn uf 
 wl.u-l. If l.a.l In...,, H... tLoufro, a„<l ..ftLc- i„Htit„ti.m vstahliHl,,..! I.v tl... Xova S..,.tia kov....,,- 
 
 mmt. She ..o„I,| M..a,vi.|y havo umMnl h..ari„K alno „f tho a.hiiti..„al falfs .,f h..,-n.,- „f 
 •nM,„ac.K H(.„t then, hy their frio„.lH t.. Ii„Kor o„t a ,„iH..raJ.U. ..xinti.,....., an.l to mt\W trnit- 
 
 UH'Ut whi.h, tl,o„Kh ..o„„„„„ c.vc.,-ywh.re at that tin,... nov.T tail...l to .„ov.. h..,- .v„.|.athv 
 IKt ..x,M.r,..„.,. porhaps K.,l h.-,- to KUH,....f that th..,v ...ij^rht U- Ho„,..thi„K <'t H-ki,,.! Hti'll 
 
 K'.M.K o„ thor... At .ill evc.tH nhe ,.,-o......,K..| to Sal.lo i.la„.l i„ tl... .rov..,-,.„.,.„t v..hh..| 
 
 where Hho arrival o„ the 2«th J„Iy. Tl,.- w.ath.T wan nuwlerato, a„.l tl..:.v wan ,.o ,iim.„lty' 
 u, la„,l,„K. Sh.. spe,.t the two tollowi,,^' .l.iyK o„ th. inla,,.!. F„ th.it nhort period nho ha.l 
 ti.e oppo,.t„„ity of H....i„K a wr....k. Tl.., hint ,.f thon. .hiyn H..t i,. with tVonh Ho„thw..Ht 
 
 WUHIH, th.ck toK a„.l ft h(.avy noa o„ tl... so„tl. si.!.-. Al.o.it 7 a. ,„. tl„. s.hoo,,..,. >.(J„i,|,-' 
 ot Lo,„l.m, 182 toi.H, ir.M.ry Milli..ha„,p .....Kt.T, f,-o,n X..w Vo,k, with ., ..a,-^., of Ho,,,-, pork 
 
 hec-t, n.olaHHOH, pifh a„(l tolmcco, 1,o„,mI fo,- Lal.,-a.l..,-, whil.. ,„,mi„jr K X K ,„„l..r fail 
 HH.I, Ktr„..k o„ tl... i„„..,. l,a,. o„ tl,.. Ho„th .i.l... At J. ,, ,„. Hi... wa. ,lis..ov..,v,l a.l.o,-.. ahmist 
 nt the „,a„, nt.itio,,, a,..l all l.a.Mis pn.r....,k..l thith..,-. Tl... n.-a h.\u^ t..o l,..avv to ,•„„ o„t 
 
 "'. a,...hor or to do .u.ythi,.^ towa,-.l K.-tti,,^ tl,.. vesH..| olf, it wan .lo..,,,...! a.lvisa'l.l.. to „.ako 
 Httil .„, her a,.,l r,.„ .. ..il.le a.,.l a„ohor al.oa.i o„ tho hoa.-h t.. aHnist l,..,- oi.w.inl, i„ tho ho,,.. 
 
 ot H«v„,K tl,.. Hhip-H „,..t.„-ial a,..l ..a,-p,. This |,oi„K -io,,.., tl,.- ..vw w..,-.. la,,.!.-,! i„ the mirf- 
 •oftts, a,.,l at 7 p. „.. ...m... to h,.,ul.i.,a,t..,-H, iM-h.^i,,- „,oHt of th.-i,- ..|otl...H with th.M.. H„t 
 
 hei-e a„ ,.,..„l..„t o.v,u-rt..l „,.u,if..sti„g tl,.,. .pi,.it of h.-r oM „usHio„. Ft is i1,„h i;iv..,. i„ pai-t 
 ot a lettor iit.iiliHl.o.l in hor lifo : ' 
 
 "The ship W.IH al,a,..lo,.t..l hy .ill h„t th. .aptiii,,. Ife ha.l l,....on.o a ,-avi„g „,a„ift.., a„.l 
 
 wo„I, „.,t leave. Miss Dix ro.le to the beaeh on hovMmrk, .is the hist boat la„.le,l tron, 
 the ,11-tate.l vessel, a„.l learned the Ha.l f.ite ..f the ..on.n.an.le,-, who. the sailoi-s said, was u 
 k,ndl,earte.l man. S),e pled with then, to .-etnrn to the wre.-k and l„-i,„r ],„„ on sl,o,.e, and 
 to bn.d h,m ,f it was neeesmu-y for his safety. They obeyed her s„«u„o..s, an.l soon ^ve,•.. 
 uga„, on the bead., with their captain bonnd han.l an.l foot. She h.osened the oords took 
 J>n., by the am, an.l led hin, t<, a boathot.se bnilt fo,- the s],ipw,.ecked, and the,., by kin.l 
 words eainied his n.ind and persnaded hin, t<. tl.a,.k the sailo,-s for saving his life She 
 trusted that rest and n.,urishing food would i-estore him to reason." 
 
 She left the island, and from the manner in whieh he is spoken of afterwai-d we eoneUule 
 that her expectation was realized. 
 
 Dui-ing this short visit Miss Dix had carefully observed the state of things on the 
 island. While admiring much that she saw of the arrangements, and gratified at the 
 results, she yet saw that the life-saving apparatus was far behind the age. The legislatui-e 
 of Nova Scotia had manifested no deficiency of libei-ality, and the British government had 
 been ready to respond to any appeals made for its help. But she found, and the fact is not 
 creditable to the authorities of Nova Scotia, that the establishment had no lifeboats .)f 
 modern pattern, but heavy, clumsy surf-boats, utterly unfitted for heavy seas. Besides 
 there was no mortar for throwing a line across a wrecked vessel, and no provision of cars or 
 bretches-buoys for landing crews. As soon, therefore, as she arrived home she appealed to 
 friends m Boston, New York and Philadelphia to supply means to provide three lifeboats, 
 one for each of these cities, with other necessary apparatus. Her appeal met with a ready 
 response, and, under the direction of Capt. R. B. Forbes, then chairman of the Humane 
 Society of Boston, four first-class metallic lifeboats were built in New York and were 
 
36 
 
 REV. GKORGK PATTERSON 
 
 respectively named the " Victoria "of Boston, tl.e '' Grace Darling " of Pl.ila.lelpl.ia, an.l the 
 Rehanoe an.l the " Samaritan " of xXew York, with a car called the Rescue. With them 
 were provided a mortar, cahle«, trnckn, harness, etc. 
 
 They were all ready l,y the 25tli of Novemher, and were puhlicly exhihite.l on Wall 
 s reet attracting groat attention hy their beauty and strength. It was Miss Dix's desire 
 that the entire fleet should be at once .lespatche.l by sailing vessel to Halifax, thence, when 
 opportunity oftered, to be transferred to Sable island. But Capt. Forbes objected to this as 
 putting all his eggs m c>ne basket," and insisted on sending the " Victoria " in one of the 
 Canard steamers. It was accompanied by the following note from Miss Dix : 
 
 "New York, November 28, 1853. 
 " To Ills Excellennj Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant, K.C.B., Lieutenant-Governor of Nova 
 ocotia, etc. 
 
 Vf 1 "! .^''f..*-'" ^'^T' """^ ^'''^'"'■" ^* consigning by this writing to your Excellency a 
 hfeboat, the Victoria of Boston, for the use of Sable island, an.l which, with its appen.lages, 
 
 r 1 T tt''^"'/-"' .T '"'' ^'"''*"''' ^•■"'" """• ^''''*^* ^^^^yro^^<^o, lion. Jonathan l>hillips, 
 Col. 1. II Perkins, Hon. William Appleto.i, R. C. Harper, R. B. Forbes and G. N. Upton, 
 Jis.irs., all ot Boston. '■ ' 
 
 "To Mr. Forbes who for courage and knowledge in nautical aftairs has a wide repu- 
 tation, I am especially obliged, since his judgment and experience have assisted me in 
 eftecting the completion ot my wishes in this business in a satisfactory manner. 
 
 "D. L. Drx." 
 
 In a postscript she states that tlie Boston boat would very soon be followed by the New 
 
 York and 1 hiladelphia boats, with the outfits. Accordingly there was shipped on board 
 
 the brig Eleanora" three boats, two boat-wagons, one lifecar, the mortar, with suitable 
 
 ammunition, coils ot mauilla rope, etc. She left New York on the 27th, and for some time 
 
 I r^T«.i"r "' ^"'- /' '"'^'"^ ' '^"^^ """ '"^'^'^^''•^ *'-- "^^"*--' 'l'^t-1 tl- 16th 
 January, 1854 bringing information that she ha.l been totally wrecked at Cranberry Head 
 
 iiear Yarmouth ; that one of the lifeboats had gone to sea and the others were badly broken' 
 
 Miss l)ix at once gave directions to have the broken boats, as well as the one which lia.i 
 
 been lost, but which had been afterward picked up at sea, with all the accoutrements, sent 
 
 on to New J ork tor thorough repair. She also sent orders that the " Victoria " should be 
 
 till ti! 1 1 1 1^ '' i'" ?r ''"" ^'""'' ""'''''■ ^""^ •^^''^^^ «^^^^--i' - tJ'^^t it -- -t 
 
 till the 11th ISovember following that the first two of them, the " Victoria" and " Reliance » 
 a.ul other apparatus reached the island. The former was housed on the south side, and the 
 Reliance retained at the principal station. Little time elapsed till her services were in 
 requisitioii. On the evening of the 26th, being Sabbath, at 6 p. m., a fine ship, the " Arcadia" 
 of Warren, Mame, 715 tons, Wm. Jordan master, twenty-eight days from Antwerp, with a 
 varied carg,, and one hundred and forty-seven passengers and a erew of twenty-one men 
 8 ruck on the southeast side of the northeast bar, in a dense fog, with the wind blowing 
 strong from the south-southeast.' ^ 
 
 inf.IJ''!.'"^*'°'" f- ^'^ ^'""'^ '"■' '"^^ ^^"^ "'« "^«^»^ ^<^ ""ved only the day before. But from the suuer- 
 
ON SABLK ISLAND. 
 
 37 
 
 The report was received at the main station at 9 a. m. on the 27tli. Ininiediately tlie 
 " Reliance " was manned and the small l.oats got ready. The wreck was twenty miles distant, 
 an<l now was seen the advantage oftlie car-wagons. As ,,uick as their hardy ponies coul.l 
 draw them the superintendent and all his men were at the scene of the wreck. They fonnd 
 her lying ahout two hundred yards from the shore, settled deep in the sand and listed seaward, 
 with her lee side under water, nuiin and mizzen nuists gone hy the deck, and u tremendoul 
 sea running and sweeping over her hows, rendering all chance of escape hy the efforts of 
 those on hoard utterly hopeless. 
 
 The" Reliance" was immediately launched, the crew took their stations and without 
 delay started for the wreck. They had to contend with tremendous seas, strong currents and 
 high winds, in which all agreed that the l)os.ts hitherto on the island could not have lived. But 
 the " Reliance," as the sailors said, rode the waves like a duck, and after considerahle time and 
 effort they reached the side of the wreck. During the afternoon they made six trips to her 
 and brought ashore eighty persons, young and old. Two more attempts were made to reach 
 the wreck, hut the oars and thole-pins were broken by the violence of the sea, and the boat 
 had to return to the beach. An attempt was imule to send a warp from the ship to the 
 shore, but the current ran at such a rate that it could not be accomplished. The men were 
 now exhausted, their clothes free/.ing on them, and night was on, ren.lering any attempt to 
 reach the wreck hopeless. The kimlhearted superintendent was oblige.l to give orders to 
 hau up the boat, but the scene which ensue.l he ever after spoke of as the most painful of 
 his ite. "When night came on, and we had to haul up our boat, the cries from those left 
 on the wreck were truly heartrending. In the hurry of work families had been separated 
 an<l when those on shore lieard the cries of those on the wreck at seeing the boat hauled up' 
 a scene was witnessed that may be imagined but cannot be described. I walked slowly 
 from the place, leading my horse, till by the roaring of the sea, the whistling of the wind 
 and the distance I had travelled, their doleful cries could not be heard." WJiat particularly 
 aftected him was that the wind seemed to be rising, and he feared the wreck would go to 
 pieces before morning. 
 
 At dawn every man was at his post, and the lifeboat was launched as soon as it was 
 dear eiiough to see the wreck. To their joyful surprise the wind had abated, and ia ten 
 trips by 10 o'clock a. m., the crew and passengers were all safely landed. Capt. Jordan 
 was knocked down by a sea and very severely eut and bruised, while the boat was making 
 her second trip, but the mate, Mr. Collamore, did his part nobly. The island men exerted 
 themselves to the utmost, the bout's crew nobly sticking to the boat, and declining the 
 otter to be relieved for a time by some of the vessel's crew. As to the boat the superin- 
 tendent s^iys : " The ' Reliance ' has done what no other boat eoul.l do that I have ever seen 
 It was a teartul time, yet the boat's crew each took their stations readily, and soon showed 
 that they felt the 'Reliance' to be worthy of her name." On the night of the 29th the ship 
 was broken into a thousand pieces, and only a few packages ,.f cargo and some fragments of 
 snip s material were saved. 
 
 The gallant conduct of Capt. McKenna an.l his men having been brought under the 
 notice of the Ma.-iners' Royal Benevolent Society of England, they by unanimous vote 
 awarded to him the gold medal of the corporation and a silver one to each man serving 
 
 ' Tiffany's " Lite of Miss nix," pp, 213-226. 
 
88 
 
 BEV. GEORGE PATTERSON 
 
 We should al«o mention here that Wm Dix having noticed the want of a Hbrarv on the 
 ^^^Vo^^^ to some of her friends and to liheral-mindod hooksellers in Bost^^ hi 
 nt g t she reee,vod several hundred volumes, which were forwarded thither, and w need 
 not s y have served a valuable purpose for the amusement an.l instruction of the rellents 
 as well as the n.anners who are constrained by necessity to abide there for a time 
 
 n.ay be mentioned that in the early history of the establishment an offe^ from the 
 An nca„ government to aid in its support was refused by the authorities of I^ova s'ott 
 f^^M no other reason that we can learn than the old grudge at the American people By thTs 
 
 sbin.^tl""^*''' «"l-""t<^'-le"ey of Mr. McKenna there were wrecked on the island four 
 nps, three barques seven brigs and ten schooners. And yet of their crews and passenrrs 
 
 of fet And.e. bhe came upon the shore nearly broadside. The men dropped from the bow 
 to he water, and were drawn ashore with ropes by men from the sta^n, to the 1^" 
 o seven some ot tl.en, fVostbitten and insensible from cold. This man, who was tiro ly 
 one on boa.l speakmg English, seemed to lose his reason altogether, Jnd finally junn d 
 overboard at he stern, where the water was .leeper. The advancing wave impellerZ 
 on^u. and ^e^men saw him gain a tboting, but the receding wa4 carried 1^1 l^yo!: 
 the.r .each, htrange to say, one nn,n who had his leg broken was yet saved. There was 
 of course, no surgeon on the islan.l, and the superintendent had to do the best he could i .' 
 the way ot set n.g the lin.b. The operation succeeded thoroughly, and the pa ient aft 
 .ome weeks left, with his thanks as heartily expressed to the superintendent's Cy a t 
 was able to utter wUh his total unac.uaintance with the English language. The number of 
 hves saved ,n that time could not have been less than five hundre.l, probably more 
 
 1 rom Ins accounts we find that the wrecked goods saved and the island produce (horses 
 oil, cranberries, etc.) together, from April, 1849, to 22nd July, 1854, a little over six of the 
 seven year^ he was ui oflice, was valued at £14,247, or nearly $57,000, over $9,000 per 
 annum. Tins dul not include the eftects of the crews and passengers, always the fi.t to'be 
 
 w.rt' t"""T?"' "I "'" "^ ""^'^^ ''^'^- ^^' "^"^'^ »«* ««P^'-te the proceeds of 
 u.ecked goods from those of the island produce. But it is evident that all under the first 
 category must have been clear gain, for previous to the establishment of this institution 
 while fishermen might gain by plundering a wreck on the island, the owners never expected 
 
 tLTsi^iz;;:' '"" '^^' ''''' ''' ^^^'-^^ '' ''- ''•-''' ^--^ ^- ^« ^^y ^^^ -p-- ^^ 
 
 VII. To THE Present Time, 1855-1894. 
 
 Mn McKenna left the island on the 5th September, 1855, and was succeeded by Philip 
 Dodd Esc^ We need not follow the narrative further. Life continued such as we have 
 described it and the incidents were of a similar character. We have chosen to exhibit the 
 time when Mr McKenna was superintendent, not to indicate his superiority to other men 
 who have filled the same oflice, but simply because, having before us his journals during the 
 whole time ot us incumbency, and being at the same time in communication with a member 
 of his family who resided with him on the island, we have been able to give an account of his 
 v^^rk as we could not of the others. But the picture of life is equally true of times since, 
 llie system has continued the same or with some improvements. 
 
ON SABLE ISLAND, 
 
 3e 
 
 Since the adoption of confederation in 1867 the eKtahlishnient has hoen nnder the 
 charge of the Dominion government. The m.,st important change since that time In.s l,een 
 the erection of two lighthouses, one near the west and the other near the cast end ,.f the 
 ishind. At the first foundation of the estahlishment it was i-roposed to estal.Iish one or two 
 lighthouses. Mr. Seth Colman, who was sent down to prepare the wav, re,,nrted in fav<,ur 
 ot the erection of lighthouses of wood. AVe find the governor in 1802 c.rresponding with 
 a party ,„ Boston, seeking infonr.ation and advice reganling the erection of such a structure 
 In the same year we find Morris, the first superinten.lent, in writing t,. the commissi.u.ers' 
 expressing his surprise that none had ever heen huilt, recommen.ling the l)uilding of twJ 
 and submitting plans. It continued to occupy the minds of the Nova Scotia authorities tor 
 in the year 1808 we find Sir George Prevost, then governor, sending Lieut. Burton to' the 
 island to report on the subject, with the view of inducing the British government to rect 
 or to aid m erecting, such a building. His rej.ort we have not seen. 
 
 We next hear of any movement on behalf of ihe project in 183.3, when a .■ommissioner 
 was sent down to inquire into the practicability and advisability of building a lighthouse 
 He was tavourable to the project, and selected a site for mich an erection, but in 18-37 four 
 years after Mr. J. P. Millar, being sent down on the same errand, found the spot selected 
 by his predecessor entirely removed by the sea, and did not feel justified in recommending 
 anytlnng but a temporary structure, such as could easily be removed when necessary 
 
 We find no further notices of the project till it was taken up by Mr. Howe in 1850 
 One reason was that many seafaring men were opposed to it. They believed that while 
 there was no light it would be an inducement to voyagers to keep at a safe distance from 
 the island, but that a light would encourage them to run for it, by which they woul.l be 
 lured among shoals and sand-bars. Others maintained that if two lights were established 
 one fixed and one revolving, which could be seen at a distance of twenty miles, it would be 
 sufficient to warn vessels of their danger, and lead them to the proper measures to avoid it 
 Mr. Howe, m his report, notwithstanding that the objections were held by Cant Darbv' 
 the superintendent, and Mr. Cunard, maintained that it was stronglv advisable that a 11^1,; 
 should be erected near the central station. He believed that vessels not bound for ^he 
 island nor driven there by currents nor stress of weather, would no more run for it than 
 they did before ; that they would, in fact, be likely to keep clear of it, as it was known to 
 have no harbour; that vessels outward bound would not require a new point of departure 
 whie hose homeward bound had all the coast before them; and if made to revolve east and 
 west It would show m what direction the bars lie. But nothing was done in the matter 
 then or for some time after. Perhaps one reason for this was that Mr. McKenna, who sue- 
 eeeded Capt. Darby as superintendent, entertained the view that a light on tlie island would 
 be useless or comparatively so. Thewrecks occurred in fogs or in storms, and against these 
 a light would be no safeguard.' 
 
 In 1851 Lieut Orlebar, who conducted the admiralty survey of the island, by command 
 reported on the advisability of the project. He stated that he considered a lighthor 
 he west end uimecessary for the general purposes of navigation, as the west L coul.l be 
 safely approached by the lead from any direction, but that it would be useful to the fishing 
 vessels which frequent the neighbourhood. He thinks there is more occasion for one at the 
 east end; that the north ea st bar extended fourteen miles; that the n orth side was steep, 
 ' Mr. Howe's report will be found in the appendix to the Journals of the Asaembly fur 1852, p. 160. " 
 
40 
 
 REV. GEORGE PATTERSON 
 
 thirty fathoms of water heing found quite close to it ; that not far from the end of the bar the 
 depth amounted to one hundred and seventy fathoms, so that in a few minutes after trying 
 n, vain for soundings a vessel might strike; that there were instances of vessels going on 
 shore ,n fine weather, and vessels were often seen passing unconscious of danger ; that some- 
 times the fog cleared away for a time,-in all which cases a lighthouse might be of service 
 and that if only one considerable wreck was prevented in three or four years, it would be' 
 worth the expense. 
 
 .-.. Jt^ T^'^f !f^''"^'"'^"'^«*'«" '^5'^ "«t encourage the project, and nothing was done 
 till 1873, when the Dominion government erected two powerful lights, one on each end of 
 the island at a cost of $80,000. At the west end the sea encroached so much on the land 
 that in 1883 it became necessary to remove it a mile farther east. Here, however, it had no 
 rest, for the «oa continued to advance, so that in 1888 it became necessary to rebuild it two 
 miles further uist, where it is at present, but ere long it must again be removed. 
 These lighthouses are thus described by the department of marine*: 
 "West end lighthouse, hit. 43^ 57 K, long. 60^ 8' W. A revolving white light, giving 
 three flashes at intervals of half a minute, then a cessation of light .luring one and a-half 
 mimires, visible 17 miles. White octagonal tower, 98 feet high." 
 
 The longitude here given is that which Capt. Orlebar's surveys assign to the west point 
 but t'!c lighthouse is now some miles east of where the point then was. 
 
 "East end lighthouse, one and a-half miles from east end, hit. 43^ 58' 30" N. long 
 50 > 46' W. Fixed white dioptric light, second order, visible 18 miles, 128 feet high. 
 Octagonal building, white and brown alternately, height SH feet." 
 
 ^ It will be seen that these are magnificent structures. They serve as a house of refuge, 
 a jia,^stafi:; a lookout, and, glistening in the sun, they are useful as a day beacon, as well as 
 a lig>,. by night. To some extent, however, their usefulness is still a question. Taking the 
 fourteen years after 1873, the year in which they were built, 1874 to 1887, we find the number 
 of wrecks the same as in the fourteen years previous, 1859 to 1872. From the increase of 
 commerce we iuight have expected an increase of wrecks, but, on the other hand, from the 
 miprovements in navigation or the great advancement in knowledge and education among 
 navigators, their number ought to have diminished. The fact that they are so nearly equal 
 would seem to indicate that the lighthouses have had little effect one way or other. 
 
 Steam fog-whistles were also established at each lighthouse station, but with the roar 
 ot the surf it was found that they could not be heard at a distance sufficient to warn vessels 
 of their danger, owing to the bars running out so far, and they were discontinued some 
 years ago. It was then proposed to place an automatic whistling buoy near the end of the 
 east bar, but the project was found to be encompassed with such difficulties that it was 
 abandoned. 
 
 There are now altogether five stations. 1. The main station, about four miles from the 
 west end, where the superintendent and six men reside. Here are a set of buildings such 
 as we have formerly described. Here are kept metallic lifeboats, with a complete rocket 
 apparatus, such as is used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , " Great Britain, in 
 the use of which the men are drilled from time to time. 2. The west end lighthouse, where 
 reside the keeper and his assistant. 3. The central station, about the middle of the island, 
 where is a flagstaff and two boatmen. 4. The station at the foot of the lake, where is a 
 flagstaff, and where two boatmen reside. And, 5, the east end lighthouse, where reside the 
 
ON SABLE ISLAND. ^j 
 
 lighthouse keeper, his assistant aixl two l.oatme.i. Here is a lifeboat. There are usuallv 
 two or three extra men. The whole statf consists thus of about eighteen men, bc-side tlu. 
 supenntendent. With their families, the number of souls resident is usuallv between forty- 
 tive and fifty. These stations are now all connected by telephone. 
 
 In maintaining communication with the island, one of the saddest losses occurred in 
 tlie year 1870 that has happened since the formation of the establishment. On the ^Sth 
 September the schooner "Ocean Traveller," Capt. O'Bryan, sailed from Halifax with supplies 
 tor the island. The weather was so stormy that she was not able to readi it, and returned 
 on the 8th October. The weather moderating, she resumed her voyage, and on the 18th 
 landed cattle and supplies, and immediately left, taking with lier, beside her crew of nine 
 men, a son of one of the staft" on the island. But she was never heard of n,ore. Comnmni- 
 eation ,s now maintained chiefly by the government steamers, which, of course, are nmre 
 regular and certain. Several times the question of establishing a con.,ecti..n of the island 
 
 t **^' '";;"'"'"' ^'y ^^^^g'-'^P'^ ''"^^ ''^^^ <'i^^-->^«od, but nothing Ims yet been .lone in tl.e 
 matter. Of late attempts have been made to establisli conununication by means of ear- 
 ner pigeons. These have been partially successful. One sent fron> the islan<l, picked un 
 by a sa.hng vessel and forwarded to Halifax, brought intelligence ..f a wreck which <.ther- 
 wise would not have been lieard of for probably two months. 
 
 The annual expense to the Dominion government for the maintenance of the establish- 
 ment^, s about $5,000, and we need not say that none of its money is spent on a worthier 
 
 VIII. Physical IIistorv of the Island and its riionABLE Futuue. 
 
 The geological history and structure of tins island is not positively known. But there 
 IS reason to believe that the series of banks, of one of which Sable island forms the sumn.it 
 are based on an ancient ridge of rock parallel to the shore. This could only be ascertaine.l 
 by deep bormg, and it would be of interest to science that such should be undertaken Wo 
 confine our attention to the physical changes which the island has undergone within the 
 ustoric period, particularly as bearing upon its probable future. The facts on this subject 
 have been so unlustriously coHected l,y Mr. S. D. McDonald, that we shall <lo little nloro 
 than present the information given in his paper.' 
 
 On tlie early charts of our coast compiled and corrected from those of the French and 
 published in 1775, the island is represented as lying between 60- 05' and 60^ 45' west Io.m' 
 or as forty miles in length and two and one-quarter in breadth. In 1799 a special surveytf 
 the island was ordered by the admiralty. It was very elaborate an,l complete, the chart 
 representing five hundred soundings round the island. This resulte.l in locating the sland 
 between 60^ 01' and 60^ 32 west long., its length being only thirty-one miles and its broulth 
 two miles. This would show a decrease of nine miles. It represents the west end as thir- 
 teen miles farther east and the east end as four miles farther in the same direction than di,l 
 the older chart. This difference may be owing in part to imperfect observations, but there 
 can be no doubt that in the intervening period a material diminution of its area had taken 
 place. 
 
 A survey of the island proper was made in the year 1808 by order of Sir Georsre 
 Prevost, the n governor of Nova Scotia, by Lieut. Burton. He reported it as thirty miles in 
 
 ' ' Proi>eeding8 of N. S. Ins'itiite of Suienoe.' vi.. 2t)-5. 
 
 Sec. II., 1894. 6. 
 
42 
 
 REV. GEORGE PATTERSON 
 
 \w 
 
 |i 
 It 
 
 length l.y two in bmultli, with l.illH from one Inuulml and lifty to two hundred feet in 
 height, heginning at the west end and attaining their greatest elevation at Mount Knight, 
 ita eastern extremity. 
 
 Another ehart, issued uhout the year 1815, represents the island as between 60 ' 08' an<l 
 60' 32' west long., or twenty-nine miles in length, being two miles less than by the ehart of 
 1799. In the year 1829 Capt. Darby, in command of the vessel employed by government 
 to visit the island, prepared a chart from observations of his own, which represents the 
 island as only twenty-two miles in length. 
 
 Hon. Joseph l[owe visited the island in 1850 for the purpose of making himself per- 
 sonally acquainted with it and examining into its rcpiirements. In his report to parliament 
 be called attention to the fact that, by actual measurement, it had diminished at tiie west 
 en<l in thirty years to the extent of about eleven miles. He also urge.l the importance of 
 bav.ng Its position determined, as the old chart by which Capt. Darbv was supposed to be 
 gnide.l and one drawn up by himself showed a difference of not less than twentv-two miles 
 in the location of the west point. This involved a- serious danger to navigators. On Mr. 
 Howe's report the admiral was communicated with, who immediate! v ordered Commander 
 Bayfield and staff to make a new survey of the island. In the following year lie issued a 
 corrected chart, showing the island as lying between 50M5"and 60^ 08" west longitude, 
 thus showing the west end to be two miles farther east than by Darby's plan. 
 
 This evidence of the wasting of the island is confirmed l)y the testimony of those who 
 hav^e resided upon the island. When the establishment was founded, in 1801, the site 
 selected for the main station was one remarkably well sheltered by sand-hills, and situated 
 five miles from the west end. But in May, 1814, Mr. Hodgson, the superintendent, writes • 
 "As the west end of the island is all washing away, I expect in the course of two or three 
 years that the house will be washed away, if it goes away as fast as it has done the last 
 six months. In course of four years it has washed away four miles, so that it is not above 
 one mile from the house to the end of the land, and that terminates in a point. I think we 
 shall have to move down to the middle house." And on the 24th July he writes that he 
 " had pulled down all the buildings and moved to the middle building." This was about 
 three miles farther east. But on the 5th June, 1820, he again writes: "The west end of 
 the island is washing away so fiist that it is now very near the house at west end settle- 
 ment, and we shall have to remove the buildings this summer or lose them entirely." And 
 on the 26th July he again writes that he has pulle.l down the west end house, and removed 
 it to the Haul-over Ponds, a place about three miles to the east of where it formerly stood, 
 as the ground whereon it stood had washed away. 
 
 Still the sea advanced, the two following winters being noted for the severity of the 
 storms, each of which made inroads on the sand-cliffs at the western part of the island, and 
 protluced changes on the surface of the interior. By the year 1833 the sea had advanced so 
 far that it was within half a mile of the buildings, and new ones were erected about four 
 miles farther eastward. The encroachments of the sea having continued, the present site of 
 the main station was selected, on the broadest and most protected part of the island. 
 
 Between the years 1850 and 1881 the western part of the island enjoyed comparative 
 repose. Mr. McDonald accounts ihv this very naturally by the fact, that the quantities of 
 sand carried into the sea had formed shoals to the west, on which the sea would break 
 before reaching the clifEs, and thus its abrading force be diminished. In the same way the 
 
ON SABLK ISLAND. 
 
 48 
 
 Ws parullol to tho Hhoro «orvo us l.arrior-roetH to at leant rotanl tho procss <.f .k.trn..tion 
 
 1. qua tor o a m.lo was remove.! bo.lily, an.l a month later thirtv feet of the whole wi 11 
 o the ,Hlan<l .l.snppeared in a few hours. The year 1882 was w;rse. Early in F br 
 
 curre, a ,.ale of nnnsnal violenee, aecon>panie,l with high ti.les. Aire .ly 1 e ea h 1 
 
 -nove.1 he emhankn.ent t,. .ithin forty feet <.f a hluf^" L whieh the lightlL s.! k pe^' 
 
 oo ana „, dangerous proximity to the lighthouse itselt, whieh Inul originally n 
 
 tc t.on <,m the n.roads ot the sea. All hands were ealled out, ready for any en,ergen 
 
 fo c of the waves that were now undermining the embankment with great rapiditv snd 
 lenly there was a depression in tlie nun-gin of the elift; and the next insHnt nn r . 
 to^..-ty-eigl.t teet broad and a ,narterof a mile long dlseende.! in ^ t ^ 'e I; Z:t 
 «ule, wlule durn,g the night forty feet in front of the barn an<l along tl e Zd- .ft' 
 
 The sea was now within twelve feet of the lighthouse itself, a nu.gnitieent structure 
 b nit in 1873 at an expense of $40,000. This did not stand long There h-ul been u! T 
 o nn..m,ly ,ni.. weather, during whieh a heavy gronn<l sw^ J!': 1:1 ''Z ^^^ 
 (pu,bably ,.o„. a gale passn.g along the gulf stream), whieh removed the whole emb nk 
 n^nt, eausmg the lighthouse to lean dangerously forward. The inunediat ^^^t^t 
 apparatus became necessary, and from that time it ceased to east its light over Z^J^^ 
 
 that in 7888T'" T'^'f "^"''' ' ""'' ^""'"'' '""''^ ''"* *'»'' ''^ -"tinue.l to a.lvance' so 
 that m 1888 it was tound necessary to remove it two miles farther east 
 
 The storms that produce the most destruction are those from the southeast. The he.vv 
 sea which they bnng in strike obliquely on the south shore, and, aided by th stroL our 
 
 falling into the water, are carried forward and help to prolong the northwest b.r Bu 
 even m calm weather, when the sea is still, there is a ground s^ell, rendeHi^ antig pre 
 eanous, which makes the shores and bars white with foam, and which exe d e a Ihon. 
 wasting power, as evidenced by the destruction of the lighthouse as just meZiTd. ' 
 
 The changes going on in the physical structure of the island appear further from what 
 
 placed on the island tlicre was an opening into it from the north. The superintendent 
 
 bJen"^ Tb ''' "'^ "r' "^* ^^ '''"'''''''' ^'"^*' ^-^ ^* '« ^^'fl^-'^t to trace whUh' 
 been The superintendent in 1826 mentions the same tact, but urges the reolni^^l of . 
 which he thinks might be accomplished at moderate expense in whS e t wid r ' 
 as a harbour of refuge for vessels of fifty tons. Some years after a terril' storied a 
 similar opening rom the south, through whieh small vessels entered for sh 1 but L the 
 
44 
 
 RKV. GKOIKIK I'ATTMIJSON 
 
 i 
 
 II !' 
 
 V ■ 
 
 ;* ! 
 
 11 
 
 For Hoino tiino after the t'onimtion of the govorniiiciit oHtiibliHlmioiit on the islaiul this 
 lake wan fiftocn milcrt loDg, and, though gnuhially heconiing siioal from the material drift- 
 ing into it, it attbrded a very convenient moans of transport hy hoat. The residents largely 
 used it in conveying supplies to the cast end, in bringing wood from the same (|uarter, and 
 wrecked materials to the main station. But during the winter of 1881 a severe gale opened 
 u gulch near the east end, which has so drained it that it is now only eight miles long, and 
 so shallow as to he useless for transport. 
 
 The destructive agency of the sea appears farther in the ridge which separates the lake 
 from the sea on the south. Originally it was half a mile wide, with hills upwards of Hfty 
 feet in height, now it is u narrow beach in some places not more than a hundred yards wide 
 and so reduced in height that the sea breaks over it in stormy weather. Shouhl this 
 barrier be removed, the work of demolition will go u\\ more rapidly than ever. 
 
 JJut the sen is not the only agency that is producing changes on the surface of this 
 island. At ordinary times a brisk west wind is almost as constant as the trade winds, 
 which must be continually shifting the i.articles of sand eastward. This nniy account to a 
 large extent for the diminished height of the island. The first superintendent, soon after 
 his arrival in 1801, estinnited one hill at the east end to be two hundred feet high, and 
 otliers one hundred and fifty feet, but there is now none over eighty. While this regular 
 process is going on, there is a more irregular but violent action, often more noticeable, by 
 the storms. At one place they will scoop out the loose sand, wlien not confined by the 
 roots of the grass, into bowl-like hollows, which afterward form those fresh-water ponds so 
 frequent. Hence it requires great vigilance at the stations to guard against any breach in 
 the sod and repair it in time, otherwise the foundations of the buildings wouhl be overturned. 
 Again, they will heap the sand in hummocks, and at another remove them entirely ; while 
 again they will spread a covering of sand over a large part of the land in the interior. In 
 such a storm, in 1816, hills that had formed landmarks were carried into the ocean, and as 
 high elevations formed in other places. Tliousands of tons of sand were carried from both 
 sides into the interior, so covering the mowing-grounds connected with the establishment as 
 to threaten the loss of their stock. In other parts of the island such was the destruction of 
 vegetation that multitudes of horses perished for want of food. Recent wrecks disappeared, 
 and others, entirely unknown, were brought to view. 
 
 But still, with the prevailing winds, the eastward motion must be important, and it is 
 supposed that the whole island has been moving in that direction, and thus might be carried 
 over the edge of the bank, unless, as is supposed by some, the whole bank is moving east- 
 ward. In this way they would account for the difference of longitude of the island in 
 ancient charts and as determine<l by modern surveys. While there must be this movement 
 eastward, it is not enough to account for the whole changes described, and the facts abund- 
 antly show a wasting of the island and the submergence of its materials. 
 
 While such changes are going on upon the island, similar processes are going on amid 
 the shoals and bars which surround it, though, from their being submerged, it is more 
 difficult to trace them. But an eastward movement is ap{)arent. Capt. Darby, writing in 
 1832, says that he had knowai the island for twenty-eight years, that during that time the 
 west end had decreased seven miles, but the outer breakers of the northwest bar had the 
 same bearings from the west point. 
 
 ) 
 
ON SABLK rSI;ANI). 
 
 45 
 
 Wlnio MuH .loHtruohoM ,h ...i,,. ,.„ ,f ,1,. w.st ...nl, tlu- .notion ot tl.. sa.nl ..s.wanl l.v 
 tl wuHl ,n., I. .naki,,,. lan.l in .l.at .lim-tion. Th. ol.l ,.|,aHs ..la.. tl.. .ast...,,.! o 
 Huloral-l, h„,her wcs^ tl.an th. n.o.l.n, on., .lo. .Vol.ahly tl.i. is „o/ alto,..tl. , l^ ^ 
 ot unpoHoct oLsorvations. At all cv.nts, ..si.lont. l.av. not.l tlu- in...vas.:nan 1 .• ^ 
 po„. H tho„,W. wc l.avo no partinUar Htaten.out of itn c-xfont. Mnt it n.„.t .1 
 c-.i.u n, Hu. .U.tnu.Mon nn-nin-ste-l Uy tho tacts al.a.h- a....u...l. A It ^ . u^n ! ^ 
 nn.st ho „otu..l, tlu. ...-olon.ation an.l sl.oalin. of tl.o novthcast har. Most of Is 
 wrcks ot lat. hav. o......nv.l hcv, son. of tlu-n. sixt... n.il.s fn.n. tlu- oast .n.l ^ h,. 
 
 t on. tK.s. ...ts tlu. p,.osi.oc.tH ot the island n.av 1. spok.n of as .eallv on Z. K 
 
 vhat has akcn pla.c ^v,ti^n tin- n.-onlo.! pcM-io.l, it s.on.s al.solutolv .vrtain that th. who 
 ^an.l .,,1 .hsapp...- a,nl that, oven spoalcin, a nlin, to tin.o i.s n.oasn.v i: :^: 
 
 no ta hon. oss dopths of tho oooan, wo ,ni,ht ..j o. But, alas ! tho ,vn,!.val of tl • ' 
 
 would ho t, loavo to,. , lon^thonod period only shoals an.I sand-hanks, s„oh as tho pros 
 bars oxh.h.t, n.oro fatal to vohhoIh and livos than tho island itsolf oan h now 'a 
 
 ;X:;, " •:!' "^ r 'r^'- -^'^'^'-^"-"^ to roooivo wrooko.l nnn-in^:;.!:; 1 ' 
 ndo .1 thoro w,ll ho n.. land to roaoh. Instead of vessels hein. in.hodded in the san U>f o 
 
 c n uh then,. Wha prevent, vo n.easures oan ho a.Ioptod v The oreotion of hoaoons as 
 o . th Goodwn, sands, ,s tho only one wo oan eoneeive, hut the plaoing thorn thor o oh o 
 
 ™,hnire,K,., l,„t, i„ ,. ,A,„,ifl<, ,„i„t „,■ ,;„ ,, „;,„,, ,,^, „„„„ „ '" " , " ™ ' 
 
 ::":,:".,:: :'x;;t "°-; *° •": r-'^''' -ooi^. m,. .o „:.:;.,r;v;;:;r .; 
 
 an.l tlu depth at ulneh it may ho reaoliod. At tlie 8amo ti,ne this would he of hnmenso 
 -jportanoe w].n the tin. eonre, that govornnront will have to consider tL ^^.'^^ 
 wha can he done to save pr-operty and life fron> what will then he onlv .1.1 
 qu,cksands, covered hy a hrndless and insatiable sea. ^ treadrerous 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 (See foot-note, page 11.) 
 The FoLi,owiN.i was rkceived too late for insertion in text • 
 
 number of cows J oth^ZZ:' ^:^il ZZ^^^ '" ""^ ^"'•""'^- ">">• "-■« ■«'' °ose a 
 
 had formerly left then., they had ecomo a '^s vTm ..d"" ^'f ^'■^ """' "''-'' '"« '^^'^ Com.nandant de Ka.illy 
 becoming tame little by little^and a e ofiratTdt^^^^^^^ °''/ '^ ""P--'-' -ith difficulty ; but they are 
 
 The Bishop was no doubt mistaken in suppoti g ttSle to have^e '' "^ "T "".'*' '"" " ^°"' """"^^■•' °^ '"em." 
 evidence of their having been there before hi ime " "^ °" '"' ''"""' ^^^ «"^'"y- «« "'^■''e is 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 SUPERINTENDENTS, 
 icijonald , 1RS4, 7 months, J. H. Garroway, acting ; 1884, R. J. Uoutilier. 
 
46 
 
 RH\'. (il'^OlMJE PATTKIfSON 
 
 A I'im<:ni)i X c. 
 
 List ok Kynws wukcks ..\ Saihj.; Islam. si\r|.; 
 
 TIIK |.'i,ir\|.|N,i „K TIIK (JoVKHNMKNT ReLIKF 
 KSTAIII.ISMMKNT, I )Kr|.;Mlli;il, IHOI, 
 
 ;s<tl isol), ,Ia.mi.:.s Mourns, Sitkh 
 
 IH(U, ship Unloiv, nIiI,) Packet; IHU, ship II 
 
 IINTKNDK.VT. 
 
 scliooiHTs; IHltl, tw 
 
 oh 
 
 inimh anil Klizv, hrj^ Harriot; 1H<)1, slilp Smrk Odd 
 
 Icr; 1H()5, t\ 
 
 ii'.V ; 
 
 Nchounur, an Americiin Ashing 
 
 •.. soh,.„ner.s; 1H.7, hriK SpruiK, Im-Ik .I,.hM an<l 
 Hchooner; ISO:., brig I'rinc.. K.lward, an Aniorlcan (l.hinK .choonc. 
 
 IHO;) WtK, Kl»\VAi:i) HoDdMO.V, Sl-fl;ilINTKNI.l;NT 
 
 narh;r:j;^th:;:r:::;;::.,:::;::;'';::::::;;:''::;!;"^^ •-« •■-" ^7;- •>'•'« o.on; ... h. «. m. .1.., 
 
 .scho.„u.r, a schooner ludonKlnK ,, 11 • ',',; V" '"'T ""' "'""°""'"= '"'' "" '''"*-"■''■'"' "■^'""« 
 
 l.s;u isjs, Jo.sniMi Daiiiiv, Sui'i;i'i.Nri:Ni)i;NT. 
 Wn, schooner Meridlnii, brii? Marv Porlcr hrli/ Or-i.i,,.,,., . iwm i • .r .. , 
 
 York), schooner l,aban, schooner Ann, brl« Vb JtU S b^r ' ^ , ' °"'' ' '' ''"" '''""''^ '"^ ^'''"^^' 
 
 1848 1833, M. D. AIcKenna, SuPKHlNrKNDLNT. 
 
 '""""'^s;"r:i;r;;nz:.r;,r " "•• '- ^"---"- - -• ^-■" - --oo,, u. „. .oad.. 
 
 ""'poSVtlr''"' '"■""■'"■' "' """ '"^ "'■ '°"""^' ^- '•• ^^°'" «""""°-' '-'-^ -'"' -rn.flot,r, tobacco, 
 
 July O-Shlp Auonis, of and from Portland. 538 tons, bound into the River St. Lawrence i,i ballast 
 "raundir "^ """• '' "'" "°"' "'''"'"'''' '^"""'^ ^- ^^- ^"""'^- ^'- ^- - -'- ■-^■-Hh flour. 
 September ^.-Barque Margaret Walker of Halifax, from St. John, N. B., 318 tons, for Liverpool, loaded with 
 '851-February U.-Brig Science of St. John's, X. F., 143 tons" from \\ntn„^„. t^. sf r i . ... 
 
 August 20.— Barque Margaret Dewar of WiinUnr v « f-n^ r^i 
 
 scrap iron, wine, whiskey, etc. ' ' "" """"«""' ''"' ^"^^ Y°'''^' '"''ded with pig and 
 
 September 13.- Ship Hargreave of New York ^^nm ■Vim-r.^-f n tj » xt ,, , 
 
 December 4.-Schoo„er ^ar of Hope of Ne^ LoZnt ft^d L ;hf iL^ "^ ' "'' '""""' '''''' "'"^°*" '-"• 
 18o2-September 14.-Schooner Xovara, of an.l from Marblehead. on a fishing voyage 
 
 """Itnd oU."""'"*""'" °"'"""'^' "' '"" ^"^ ^'- '•'•'"'^' ""■ ^■' ^- «-'-■ -"»> -«oof dry and pickled 
 
 "Th'^olll'ToT ''"'"^ ^""^ "' '' ^""^'' ''"^•'^^' ^^°"' ^"^^-""^ ^''^ ^- ««'«-. w^th cargo of cod- 
 December 18.— Ranger of Pictou drifted asliore. 
 18o3-June 1 -Ship A.nazon of Hull, (KK) tons, from Shields for New York, with cargo of coal8 
 
 ^ 'nl-setr^ "'''''' "' '°"'°- ''' ^°"^' ^^°- ""-' ^^-' '- ^-^'^-^^ ^^' >> -«o of flour, beef, pork, 
 1854.-May 5.-Brig East Boston of Pictou, from Catania, Sicily, with cargo of sulphur, sumac, rags and oranges. 
 
 ' There seems an "Eagle" too many here. 
 
KK 
 
 vo 
 
 ON SAKLI-; ISLAND. 
 
 1H.M 
 
 47 
 
 1H55 
 
 ISM 
 
 lavi 
 
 o:;;:ir:.rtz::::!;s:;.;r:;:;;::,;:::;'::;'i ';""n- -' -- -^ ^^^ -■. .■■...,.., 
 
 N'.ve,„....r 2,.. S.,i„ A,va,I,a ..f NS'u Vn ,1 ' t "'; ' '": " "^ « ^ ">"« '"" ks. '' 
 
 , '' •"••-. ^"kH. .■..-.= 1.7,. as.c.n„..r.' ' "" '""" '"""'"" '"'• '^''- Vork, „,.,, „„,„,., ,,,^,^ 
 
 con., pork, „„„„,, ..t,, ^' ''^^ > •• '-- -m.. fn.n, .%,.„• v..,k, ,,,1. „.,«„ .,f „,„„. „,„,„,,^^,^^| 
 
 ":^; .:i:;i::.^;r ■•- '" -- ' ' -'■■ ^.•" -. ... .. ..,., , ,. ^,^,. ,^ „,^,.^,_ ^; 
 
 "«'"«7H. I'. S. M,.,.M, Sr,.,.;,.,.v,,.;N,.,NT. 
 
 :c:5;:J::r i;;:-^^^^^^ „„. 
 
 IH(I() 
 
 1H02 
 
 
 
 18G0 
 
 1807 
 1808 
 
 1870 
 
 1K71 
 1872 
 1873 
 
 -■•'•■• ■•111 un 
 
 •'"ii.'L'.-A.iu.rica.i k..|,l, (;,„„„„.,■,.., 
 Kol oil'. 
 
 Mnvl.. - l„.i«a,.„n.,. M.un,, C,.,.,.. U-Hlan.., ,.',• '•„.:' '":""^ r"'" '" "'" "f-'"- Victoria. 
 Ou(,.l,c.,-.l. - lln«a.,tiM,. l,ark, fni.l Pik,. „ , ,"''''' f'"" "'"l-'-Nr Cnu-.. fur |t,.,(„„. 
 
 fiir'rr^;" ■'■■'■- •'•■^s;;, ::;;;:::;;;; ;:::;;::^ -^ ^'--.„..,. 
 
 AUA,ii.st I. Uiu-,|ii,. Jam. Lovitt, Cai.l (•(ti,.,. „f v 
 
 ''''f;^t''c=:;;:-:r-r';j!:«E^r'-™ — 
 
 ;■" »v,,i 1,,.,, II,,.. „., ,„ ti,,ii,M,,„,;„ ,,',,'■; """'■'»-'"»■ '"'»"> u,„ ,„„ , i, 
 
 "'■""': ""■ »' "... i.rt, w.„! B,.,,,,;\;. ;"";"'.? "■f, "--'..I-.' ■«<.. i«»i, ,,i,ii,. ,.;,"', 
 
 ■B.-j;.rT=;:'c';r;v: 'i'-; ■,«■«.""•;'««?:■;;.;;;;.'''" - " -' - »- -?...';;.. 
 
 ^ -: .f riirri'S'tSeSr-"'-- ''""■'- - - -- - h,.,..,, ..„,.„, „, „„ „„, 
 
 ,,"—•• ' """"■"'^"""■'""••■•••'"»"B«i.n™™ilB.„i„„M.,h bound 
 
 si*'i!:rir,«r.°;* '''""■ - ■- -' "»■■■ <>-'-' -- »-"... 
 
 for as«i«ta„ce, but mailed away, leaving them on the islal '"'^"- ^"" -^ """^^'^ «-««■ ashore 
 
48 
 
 IM'IV. (;i;()I{(JK TATTRRSON 
 
 1H7(I 
 
 1H7I) 
 
 IH7;) S.ptiMiilMT W. niir.|ii.- IfiiMilx'ltiiii, C ipl. Son-iKtiMon. of Smi.lrrliin.l, from Lonilon for Now York. 
 Novi'inlur I). Seliooiirr Zt'i.h.vr of St. I'icrrc <-.iiii.) ashore, with four th'iid ImmUcs on board. 
 
 1H7J IHMI, I). .Mi'DoNAI.I), SlM'Klll.NTKNIlUNT. 
 
 1H7J— Mii> 2(1 ltitii|iii' CIiiiImI , Capt. NcIhoii, of StavaniT, Norway, for New York. 
 
 .Inlyd. ■ Hiinnic lllKhliiinh'i-, C'apt. IliilchhiM.ii, of SiiiiihThiiul, for St. .lohii, N. I). 
 
 .Inly 20. Steamship Tyrlaii, from (ilasxow for llallfiix, Niruck but not oil, anil procoi-ileil on her voyage 
 ■luly 2H.-lt,u-.,nc. NiiHlnvaak, Capt. l.rHlaiir, frmu St. .lohn, N. H., for Ayr, (J. U., tlinlH-r laden. 
 lH73-Farto, Capt. Johu (i..mez de Sylva f-anipaU, of Lisbon, for Halifax, wenl to pieees at onee. Thu captain, e<K>k 
 and Mteward lost, the rent, iiniidierlnK el>tht, saved, 
 Ship rrousldes, ('apt. Shedden, from (ileal llrilain to New York. 
 
 April 1.-). American ship Neptune, Ciipt. Speiice, from Liverpool, (!. It., for New York. One man drowned. 
 .Inne iM. Itari|ue N(Uiiia, Capt. Saunders, from St. .lolin, N. I)., for (ireat llritaiii. 
 Oetolwr HI -Am.-rienri .schooner Heeves struck on the northwcit lii\.r in a violent nale ; all hands lost. 
 AuKUst a llaniue Kinma, Capt. Anderson, of Clirlsliansand. Norway, from (ireat Hritain to I'liiladelphla. 
 March ill." Uarque Oriental, ("apt. t%(rninf{, of (Quebec, from I'hiladi'lplila for Queenstown, laden with corn. 
 April.— Schooner I'easloy, abandoned, drifted on northwest bar. 
 .luly 12. Steamship State of VirKlida. of State line, Capt. Moodle, Irom New York for (ilasKow, The lifeboat 
 succeeded in landlriK one load of piissenners, but upset with seccmd load, when nine were drowned. 
 IKSO-,lune;t. Ship (iondolier, Capt. Atkins, „f I'rince Kdward Island, from Holland for New York. Three men 
 drowm-d In the surf while attemptiuK to laud from the ship's bout. 
 November 22.— Schooner Hiide of Day Chaleur; the crew of three saved, exhausted and froMtbltten. 
 ltWl-Octobcr:i. .Schooner Lord Itury, Capt, J'ower, of Cape Hreton, 
 
 1HM2-March 1.- »riKan(ine Williams, Capt. AVarren, of Prince Kdward Island, from Barrow, «. U., for Halifax. 
 Had been in the ice olt Newfoundland. Provisions exhausted and all hands in a «tarvinn condition. 
 July 4.-NorweKlan baniue Yorkshire, Capt. .Jacobson, from HarbadoM for Alontreal. Two men lost. 
 August 12.— NorwcKian barque IlalKoley, Capt. CKliint, for New York, in ballast. 
 IHKJ-AuKust.-llaniue Hritannia, Capt. (ijaston, from West Indies for Montreal. Captains wife and six children, 
 
 with six of tlie crew, lost. Captain and three men taken oll'a raft. 
 1H«4-July. -Steamship Amsterdam, Capt. l,uce, of .Vmsterdam, from Hotterdam for New York, with 2(r7 persons on 
 board, passeiiKers and crow. Tliree drowiud in the surf while attempting to laud in the ship's boats. 
 
 1881 IHIH, a. .r. UOUTILIKR, SUPEUINTENUENT. 
 
 188t-Deccnd)er ll».-HriKantlne A. S. H., Capt. LeMarchand, of St. Malo, France, from St. I'ierro for Boston, with 
 fish. The captain, mate and steward succeeded in Ketting ashore. Mate irianajied with great difllculty to 
 get to the west light through a blinding snowstorm, but the captain and .second nude perished before they 
 could be found. The Freucli government presented Will, im Merson with a silver medal and diploma of 
 the (Irst cla.s.s, and the superintendent a gold medal and diploma of the .second .lass, for .services rendered 
 in connection with this wreck. 
 188.5- May 2(I.-Schoom!r Cora May, of and from I'rovincetown, Mass., bound for tlu' (iraud Banks. 
 18Sll-September W.-Baniue Olinda, (Jai.t. Ivendrick, of St. .John's, N. I'., from I'm nambuco for Sydney C U in 
 
 ballast. " ' 
 
 188l)-Norwegian bar(|ue Faerder, Capt Larson, from (ireat Britain for Halifax, with coal. 
 18iJ()-July27. -Biigantine (ierda, Capt. K. F. Olsen, of Hrammen, Norway, from Barbados for Quebec, with 
 
 molasses and sugar. 
 18y2-May 12. -Banpie Henry, Capt. .lacob.sen, of and from Tonsberg, Norway, in ballast. Six sailors left her in the 
 long boat and boarded a fishing schooner, w liicli landed them the ne.xt morning near the east light. On 
 that morning the wreck broke up, and the captain, male, carpenter, cook and two boys were drowned. 
 The captain would not abandon the vessel while there remained a chance of getting her oir. ' ' remained 
 .so long that rescue was impo.ssible. 
 December.— Schooner Bridget Ann, Capt. White, from Margaree for Halifax. 
 
 American briganline Kahma of New York, Capt. .L H. Nelson, from St. John, \. B., for Buenos Ayres, ran 
 ashore, partially dismasted and waterlogged. 
 1803— April 27.— Inglewood, Capt. Seely, for Halifax from Cow Bay. 
 
 Aug\ist.— Valkyrie, Capt. Honr, from Cape Breton for Delaware. 
 1891-January 12. -Schooner R. J. Edwards, Capt. Bibber, of (iloucester, Mass., lost with all on board. 
 July 30.— Barque Nicosia, Capt. Cole, of St. John, N. B., 1047 tons, from Dublin, in ballast. 
 September 11.— Steamer Xerito, of and from Sunderland, for Ham])ton Bonds. 
 The above list, being drawn up by successive superintendents, may be regarded as complete or very nearly so 
 But in the earlier years the instances in which vessels that struck were got off are not mentioned. From 1848 all 
 the cases in which lives were lost are noted. 
 
ON HAUL!-: ISLAND. 
 
 40 
 
 hi u 
 
 CO S 
 
 Sec. II., 1894. 7.