p^ ^''^•^^mmmm l^W^^W"^-'-! f%'-§^im'^iM . ..-■^^^. ' -a^Jr^ -^Tn^ ' G A56 CO c: t^i. ir>- CANADA NATIONAL LIBRARY BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE ■•A » '*sMs ^c_ ^t^^^'f"^' Andrew CASTAGNE OK ^?^> •f Adventure of an Old Mariner OF THE BRIGANTINE SWORDFISH i-r ■>: ■■t-> '^ i; tir \^'RECKED IN THE ■'#;; G[ulf of ;Bt. L(kw In 1867. !*^ ': MONTREAL, CHARLES CRAPLEAU, PRINTER, 44 iSotre-Dams Street, 1882 nm ssmam ffi'm hSJ^S' - Y'- .y^^jK .4^,i#^.4««p4=. *w|i»-«^*. ^ ^\ ri^km. ., -^^ f^i 'f.:h Iff 1m p*^. 4 HW \ *»«.--'^«ip:. rV/i ^ I I IH I- i I 1 » If* ---w||fc«-\« jgte^s*****-* ? I »i«« «;fe If f ^. J -MiH : I The following story will make known the terrible suliferings which were endur- ed by the crew of the brigantine Sword- fish and more particularly by Andrew Castagne, sailor^on board, in the wreck of that vessel at xMont-Louis, in the gulf ol ot. Lawrence. Before this misfortune, Castagne had Ravelled all over the seas of the Globe. Ihat worthy sailor was only 1 1 years of age when he took first the idea of beincr a sailor. He is now fifty-three years old. No one deserves more than him the sympathy and commiseration of the ou- blic. ^ .^ msgSBumtSm^m kMaAtfUaMUi. r i--6. ?:•■■■ f ■ \ '.■ - f'f -\ ^' - * • i- -v .■* ■ 'Jv;^ iiil^ * -^ ^ ■:\' ^r\ '^ L ; m '.■ ' ti ■„* V •■■.\"i *s*<"*%,* "N;." 1»J'^ STORY OF An Old Mariner ^- Shipwreck of the " Swordfish."— Death of the Captain of the Ship AND aWoman.— Terrible position OF the grew.— Ani^bew Casta'gne « deprived of his handh and feet. ' f On the 27th of November 1867, the Bri- gantine ^loor^/is/i left the harbour of Que- bec for Halifax. On board were Captain Duquet, Gyprien Morin, ehief mate, An- drew Castagne, second mate, Antoine La- prise and his wife— tLe latter acting as cook— Patrick Reilly & Lawrence Boyle. A few days before they left, the wea- ther had been rough, and the cold very severe. But at the time of their depar- ture, the weather was more favourable. 6 i A fair wind had swelled the sails of the ship and every thing predicted a prompt and happy trip. The brave good sailors of the Sword fish, were accustomed long ago to see without fear the fury of the waves, the roaring gale, but they were far suspecting then, the misfortune which awaited them. The 28th, at ten o'clock in the morning, the pilot landed at Father-Pointe. A brisk breeze from the north and last- ed until 11 o'clock P. M. At one o'clock in the afternoon a quite calm prevailed. But the quiteness was of short dura- tion. A wind from the east began to blow, with it came a heavy fall j)f snow; the snow fell so tieavy that the Captain soon ordered the tackling and rigging. The top sails to be moored ; and the vessel hood too. At six o'clock in the morning, the 29th, the sailors were ordered to let go the rif- ging, as soon as the cross winds ceased to blow and the snow to fall The wind '■m^'^mpi^^^^^mmmmffK^m w^mmm^i^mi ■^■' - ^ TM CiM W BJ g .-^Jt ' fTg^. T ege a blow iiorlh west. At five o'clock in the afternoon, Pointe- des- Moults, was passed. The weather was clear, the shore on both sides could be plainly seen by the crew. The Captain then decided to pass on the south side of the Island of Anticosti. At 8 o'clock, the ypssei was iii a com- plete hurricane. The gale was furipus. Two sails were carried away. An intense cold was at the time pre- ^'^ii^AftgirXhe helm was covered with ice; very sponafter, it was impossjjble to work the rudder of the ship. The furious waves began to wash over the deck. The ship was then unmanaga ble. The sails were furled and the ship dhected towards the land, wJ^h, the in- tention of putting about at four o'clock in the morning. At about midnight the hurricane see ed to increase in violence. The suow was falling so heavily^ Ahat the sailors c#uM not see ten feet in front of them. jlMi«i mimtmm^t 8 The brigantine was taking in water at time, worked as she was bv the 'tremen- do us waves which were falling upon deck. All the pumps were frozen with the exception of one, full of ice and tn- setvable. The one iHey could use was constantly employe^d in spite of the waves washing over the deck; the unfortunate 'sailors, completly wet by the icy water, which formed itself Into heavy pieces of ice upon the poor unfoi-ttinates. ' ' A few minutes 'before foili* 'o'clock in the mornin*; the captain exclaimed as loudly as he could: land! land ! I see land T let iis put about at once, if not, oh! €rod, we are lost. ' In a moment, all hands, were at work. But it was of no use. The chief mate could not turn the wheel and the sailors could not succeed in shaking the sails,; the helm of the rtidder^aiidlftet^lddis were H full of ice. The vessel stfiking with violence al^aAiM ■ft rock, in front a terrible crackling fdl- ■'m/m ■A t) lowed, th(3 brigaiUiiie was in a broken stale and laid on one side and almost disappeared nnder water when the waves* Were striding her. Nothing can give an approximate idea of the fearfrit position of the unfortunate crew, of the!'^ tfe^rible apprehensions, liaving no other hope for their life than a broken ship, v To leave by the life-boat was impossible, the waves striking'the rocks at a hei^'hd of fifty or sixty feet and the snow falling with abundance preventing them from ascertaining where they were. Of all the crew, the captain seemed to be th^ttibst uhdispair. Catching hold of a rope he cried : "Let us stand together, if we disappear in the sea, then we shall perish side by side. "That brave man had witnessed imminent dangers previous, but he had never^feltto th^t extent b&fbre %ith such a deep impression. A gleam of hope was still in the heart of the first sailor, Andrew Gastagne. Taking a small axe in the cabiii so as to jti»-t^ 10 cut the riggings and so cause the falling of the main mast, to lighten the vessel. Just at this moment the waves striking the cabin with violence carried it away but Castagne was not discouraged and he began to work. The first rigging being cut, the main mast at once fell on the capeside, conse- quently the vessel appeared more steady. Then, all the sailors stood in the middle of the deck taking hold of a rope, expec- ting with terrible anxieties the end of the drama of which they were the unvo- luntary actors. At eight o'clock the weather was clear enough to permit them to see shore and recognize that the treatening at foot of which they stood was the Pointe of >os Male, a sort of immense entrance of a per- pendicular shape with a flat shore on one side, the length of about fifty yards, on the Gaspesie ?"de. ^ai Cyprien Morin urged his companions o try a landing. The brave first mate II was the fir^t who toolv hold of tlie fallen mast. The big end of the sanie being stiil fastened to the ship, but the o4her end conld not touch the rock, it was short of from twenty to thirty feet. C. Mo rin was followed by captain Dnquefe^gi^ x . At this moment a heart renaing seene took place. Antoine Laprise's wife, after a night of horrible anxieties, had separate fpr ever from her husband. The latter crying and broken hearted said :** Dear •wife, I don't know what to do, I don't see no way for your landing.'' — My dear husband, answered theresign- ated wife, saie.your life if it is possible. It is preferable, I should die alone. The separation then took place amid fearful agonies. With the exception of Gastagne, all the sailors took hold of the mast fi^ll of ice. The first on shore wai- ting for his companions, which when at the end of the mast slided on a rope across. thewater,uafortunately,the captain could not reach the shore, completely exhausted --"**^-- It'll riHilr tarn 12 and his hands frozen. M. Diiquet lost hold of the rope and was carried away by the wav3s,^and desappeared from their sight for ever. Castar;ne, not willing first to land on shore, soon altered his mind and followed the others example. While crossing a- shore, his hands and feet were frozen. When arrived there, he did what he could to reach the east part qf the Gape, so as to^cHng to it. With incredible efforts/ that worthy sailor could aecomplished half of thatas-^ cension, but the unfortunate could not go any further, a stone having rolled under his feet, he soon was at the foot of the cliff a*?ain. Unable to move, almost insensible, he ^ had to remain there on that frozen shoie. If Castagne had been able to reach the top of the rock, he would have seen three habitations, a good fire and people in a ^position to relieve him— but alas ! Provi- j dence had decided otherwise. The poor xi T - .v" ' man bareheaded, his hair frozen to the ice, on looking around him saw but deso- lation, the roaring of the gale and the wav§§ pu that deserted shores, the ship mooved in aU diretions, violently; itwa* rapidly breaking up. vi i The poor man, realizing his fearful po- sition, lost all hope of recovery and he Jjrepared himself to die; he begged from God forgiveness of all his faults, offering to him the sacrifice of his hfe.u.J|is thoughts were also given to his family. Very far, in a house at Quebec, were fond |f"l)eings wilia, tie, cherished more than his- life, a wife and children which he, never expected to see again. < The second mate Morin had separated, from his companions in search of some habitation, he had taken a westerlydirec- tion. After having walked about three miles with all possible pain, he had fal- len on the snow, frost bitten, and never expecting to bte able to rise again, when, two strangers accosted him. 14 When they inquired : What are you daing here, Sir? . Morin informed them ot the sad storv and the cause of him beinii: on the shore and in yoing in search of help. — I fell exausted and cannot walk any longer, am I far from any habitation, as- ked Morin.— No, replied the two stran- gers, only about two miles. We will con- vey you there, at once. Upon this, the two men carried him away with them. He had only the sur- face of the hands frozen. He thanked his liberators a thousand times. Remember- ing the other poor infortunate which he had left behind him, he said to his libe- rators. —I shall always be greatful to you for having save my life^ but I must ask ano^ ther favor from vou. Far away on the shdre, there are four men paralysed from the cold and uriable to walk awd on board of the wrecked ves- sel there is a woman. For God sake, go nssasssssarr and bring them with you. Five houses composed the little villap known under the name 6f Ahse-Pleureu- se, which was reached safely by the sai- Jor with the help of h s two'guides. Soon after they arrived, Mr. Bouchard infor- med the other families of the wreck of the Swordfish, and asked the help of all. In consequence, fifteen men took the direction of the ship wreck. The distance was made with great dif- ficulty ihaccounlof the shore been cover- ed with a heavy fall of snow, also a very strong wind blowing from the north, with difficulty they arrived on the ^etie. Antoine Laprise was the first discover- ed. The poor sailor was lying on a stone, his back to the wind at the foot of the rock, at a space of about one hundred and fif- ty yards from the ship. He had lortg ago loose any hope of being saved. ^ His astonisiiment was great, when he saw that hope was tB^e provided for him. all the gold of the #orri given to a men- ■I 40 diaut would not have produced jiiore ef- fect. -• I i —Divine Providence, exclaimed Laprise, liow good you are to me. I was desperate, expecting nothmg from men. God has per- mitted that our mate cou,l(J reach yovi for our salvation. —Where are the others shipwrecked men enquired the Anse-PIeureuse men, the mate has said you wQre four. .' - ., —It is true, we are fqur, but, where, they are, I cannot say. I know that my wife is still on board the ship. Dead or aiiye, I cannot say. ^. Tlienletus make enquiries, said all these men. With the exception o|f t\vo, all the others left at once in the direction of the Swordfish. When they arrived oppo- site they perceived the English sailors, sitting^on a stone. As Laprise, they also had lost all hope of being saved. How happy and glad thev looked when thev seen friends SO near hand. At the time, the blood tide was up aqd 17 t tlie siii^, hi^e and d ry agroijpid tlie^y cou Id 8 abofrd easily. Thosrwho penetrated into the cabin witnessed a fearful scene. Laprise's wife was still alive, bul she was agonizing and almost naked. She was laying senseless, her feet on deck among * lie ropes and rigging. A faithful dog was near the poor woman. ; They removed her the best way they cauldihat unfortunate bejng and brought her ashore near a good fire they had made near the rock wheat) La|H'ise had then the consolation of seeing his wife again; but her death was already im- mineAt. Half an hour after, ^e breathed her last in her husbands arms. How kjs sorrow was great, it is easv to conceive, in that awful calamity succeeding to so many others. 4fterwa^'ds the Anse Pleureuse j went aboard again and brought all the articles left by the sailors and conveyed them ashore. That is the custom for tho^ MHi who give their help in cases of shipwrec- ked men, to pay and satisfy themselves for their trouble. One of the plunderers, in hiding in a place a pack of clothing, heard as some one mourning for help, he waited to cer- tify from where the sounds came from, and as he advance to the place where the sounds came from, to his great astonish- ment poor Castagne, was discovered in a very bad state. Castagne, poor fellow, he also thought he was abandoned for ever. He was conci^nt of all that happened a short distance from where he was : but ill spite of all his efforts he had not been able to utter any sounds, to be made he^ard. ' ■ The toan whom Providence had sent to 'his help, unable to carry him alone went to the camp for assistance. Shortly dfter, Castagne was placed near the fire ^'lohg with his companions of misfortune. ' They had to ciiTKis boots to take them 6f Ms feet, his hand^s and feet, being com- >. 10 plotely frozon. " Sad to say, but these savage iiieii, an- xious of plunder, were on the point of ne- glecling the poor victims of the shipwreck and wanted to leave for the bi-igantine again. This terrified Castagne; speaking to an old man, he sal4: —Good old man, for God sake, stop vj^ near us arid don't abandon us; we are all enduring great sufferings, give me some snow to allevite my thirst and fever. Have some pity for ns, poor unfortunates. You are of an advanced age ; it is perhaps the last good deed before you leave this world. These touching words excited the pity of the- man, so he remained. On the re- turn of the plunderers, a tent wa*? made out of the sails and they all passed the night therei' ' ' > The next morning, the 2nd of Decem- ber, the wind was strong as ever and im- mense quantity of snow were pushed by the wind. The intense cold added' to the sufferings of those that a common misfor- MniiiiHi^MMM m 20 tuner had joined together, at the foot of Gros-Male. Four fishers of that country remained with them, while the others went back to their village. The second mate had the good idea to send some one to Mont-Louis to inform the missionary, o| that locality of what had taken place. The priest, Mr. Pierre Roussel, as soon as he was informed of all these events, looked for temporary lodging for the sailors of the Swordfish. Those, to whom he spoke all cheerfully consented to take them. This done, the Minister of the Gospel went to I'Anse Pleureuse, where he stopped waiting for the other victims. In the morning of the third, the gale having abated and the sea more calm, two barges were got under sail. They went for the poor sailors, more dead than alive, in a shed open on ail sides. Con vasses were fixed in these barges, and the poor workmen were accommodated tiierev the. ^l best way possible. Mrs. Laprise's body was afterwards buried at Mout- Lou is. Nothing particular happened on the way to the village, the landing took plafe& without accident. But the good mission- ary, at the sight of all these unfortunates, could not help shedding abundant tears, ihese pale faces disfigured by their long endurances, these rigid attitudes, testified eioijuently of their past and present suf- ffei-ings. * •• They were (tarried avvav iil a house where some food was given to them. They had not touched any food since three iays, notwithstanding their meal did not last long, they had lost their strength along with their appetite. Mr. Abbe Rons- sel took with him to Mont Louis, Cyprien Morin,: second, A. Laprise, Reilly and Boyle. As for Andrew Castagne, it was deemed prudent by the missionary to leave him at I'Anse Pleureuse, our hero looking tbo siek to endure the fatigues of a renewed Journey. The poor man would Ji 2^ have preferred followifig his compaiiioiLs. To encourage him, the priest told'that he would come hack for him in a few days. Instructions were <.uven to the proprio- tor of the house to take a good care of Castagne, sind inform the worthy priest ill case of danger. The house in which he was placed was in a very bad state, snow blowing through the cracks in the walls. Herrings and po- tatoes consisted their food, no meat and no bread. A cat had to be killed to pro- cure the necessary greasa to be placed tm the frozen arms and feet of the unfortu- nate Castagne. ? >*- On the 5th December, Messrs Rousseau and Saucier on their way from Magdalen Islands to Quebec, paid him a visit. Cas- tagne, happy of that unexpected visit, beoged of his visitors to inform his wife of the position in wliich he was placed. In th^ meantime, his sufferings, far from diminishing, were increasing. His arms and feet were fearfully swollen and had :j i (*-• assinnod a black color. Daring the day, after Hx. lie in any time !)ecaffie Triicoiis- eioiis, ^ I . Ronssel was at once de^at^hed and iuformed of the fact At ten o'clock at night he was at Castagne's bed side. Travelling between Mont-Lon is and Anse Plen reuse was a hard one, the shore being covered with immense quantities of snow. Gastagne was then prociired pf alji the consolations and sacraments that the Church bestows upon her cliildren at the moment of death. These last rites were of a great relief for the poor dying man ; he showed signs of piety aiid ^resignation to the will of God. It was decided thea^ to convey hiui in a better place two days later. At the appointed day, the missionary with eight men of Mont-Louis, according to what was promised, came to TAnse Pleureuse. They had a sort of sleigh land a ox instead of a horse. In these diBtricts, there are no horses. The sick man feU a little better. He was I I Hi laid oil the sleigh and wrapped up with j)l good sheets. The (fistance he w^as to be taken was j, nine miles and Castagne, frightened of the long tiine it wonld take to go there, remarked to Mr. Ronssel : — This vehicle will be mv tomb. I think I will die on the way. —Don't fear, answered the good priest, you shall notsuccomb. We will carry the sleigh when the roads will be too hard. Mr. Fournior's house was reached safe- ly ; a bed had been prepared there for the cast away man. At his sight, all the in- ^mates of the house were horrified and all possible care given him. Notwithstand- ing this, every thing necessary for food was wanting and they could not give what w ould have been absolutely neces- sary in Castagne's situation. As stated be- fore* their food consisted of potatoes. In these distant countries of Gaspesie, when fishing is poor, every article is want- ing. =3F— MMMHIBtfi ■^*r^ -25 Not having protiiifteio sell in tM ftill, these people were not able to buy provi- sions. In these circumstances, our hero's position was not in^'a way ot progressing for the better. Poor Gastagne was suffering horribly. Moreover, his hands and feet spred an horrible sme^ll and a sort of poi- soning was the consequence of it. The amputation of the frozen extremi- ties became then necessary. Unfortunately the nearest doctor lived far. It took many days before they could get one. On receipt of a letter from Mr. Roussel, the agent of the customs at Quebec, despatched to Mont-Louis, Dr. Parke, Mr. Griffin and one guide, Jos. Lavoie, with clothings for the shipwrecked men. The roads were impraticable. From Ste Anne des Monts, they had to wear snow shoes, a distance of fourteen leagues from Mont-Louis. Gastagne was very happy that he recei- ved first Dr. Parke's attention : —How luckey I am to see you, said he^ I was anxiously waiting your arrival, so iri iTHiliiiiiii iiiaittiii S . ' ■ ' ■" . I l l - Ill -' n il II I.. n as to get rid of mv hands and feet, which make me saffer so much. — I have to see the athers, said tiie doc- tor, and to-morrow, I will make the re- quired operations. - , ^ The next day, 1st January 1868, he came as promised, and the two hands were am- putated. After the operation, the poor man said to the doctor : —Here is my new years gifts ; now that you have commenced, make also the am- piitation of my feet. — No, was his answer, you are at pre- sent too weak. I have to go to Manche d'ICpee, where othey, poor shipwrecked men of the ship Woodstock are waiting. On my return I will attend to you. On Dr. Parke's return to Mont-Louis, he also amputated Laprises feet, who was living then with one Mi\ Laflamme,. The two English sailors would not consent to have an operation performed on them, the consequense was that shortly after, their hands an4 feet got separated from their 27 body wUhotit operatioiT. Oil the 4th, the doctor and the mission- ar\ vvt^iit to stitiom' hero; thev found him better. — The bad smell from my hands is over. I can eat now with certain appetite. My dear Doctor, do the same thing as for my feet : take them off if possible. — Bat you are still too weak, my frie,ud, your blood is gone away, and you would not be able to suffer another operation. —Never mind, he said, I will die only witJi Gods will. Yon have been sent here to make amputations, well, make them. All right, said the Doctor, your wishes will be granted, but Twill not chloroform yon ; you are riot strong enough. While the operation was being per- formed, the poor man had an old pipe in his mouth. Shortly after, he closed his eyes and heard nothing. The next day he acquired little strength. From that day, Gastagne improved rapidly. On the tenth, Dr. Parke left for Quebec MhHili*MHillMHillfi ■wiiiiaiii^' ^1 I, I 1 28 with Cyprien Moriii, the second. The chief mate Gastagne, of the Sword fish, did not fail to inform his wife She had writ- ten to him each month, since Rousseau and Saucier has told her of her husband's misfortune. Gastagne passed four months in bed, not being able to move on his back. To his great sufferings was added another sickness, the itch, rendering his position "unbearable as he was deprived of the use of his hands to alleviate his suiferings. ■■^:i/ ( On the 8th of May, all the men who had passed the winter at Mont Louis, were put on board a little barge as to go on board of a steamship on his way bound to Quebec. But a thick fog prevented them from seeing the steamship, and they had to come to shore, a great disappointment for the poor sailors ; they were anxious to leave that spot of their sufferings. At last, the 20th May, they were put on bo§rd wm 29 Mr. Rousseau's schoouer, a diver, who had come there to get the Swordfish riggings. The return to Quebec was safe. The sai- lors so sadly experienced, were at the Ma- rine Hospital, under the care of Doctors Landry and Lemieux. They deemed ne- cessary that another amputation on one of Gastagnes feet should be made. Our hero supported with the same courage as before that renewed ordeal. His wounds were rapidly cured ; since, his health has always been good. But for his infirmities he would be to day strong and vigorous and able to face the dangers of a seaman's^ life. But deprived of his hands and feet, it is impossible for him to accomplish any work, that is what makes him so sad at the idea of having to support a wife and seven children. In his position, that wor- thy father needs greatly public assistance. Christians, be charitable to him !