Dartmouth Patriot, 13 Jul 1901 Edition
 
 

No. 11
 

'Tis only recently that Devil's Island was made a life boat station. Up to about 18 years ago fishing boats were used to rescue those in danger of drowning. One or more daring rescues had been made by men in fishing boats before the arrival of the lifeboats. One of these rescues was made under more than ordinary difficulties. I refer to the rescue of the crew of the schooner "Union" in 1874 by six men from Devil's Island in a fishing flat. Their names were Messrs James, Thomas and William Henneberry, Thomas and John Edwards and Benjamin Faulkner. Those men at the risk of their lives went out to the wreck in a wild storm and rescued the crew, two men and a boy. The attention of the government having been called to it the following letter was sent to each of the men together with a present of $20 to each. One man's name was left out at the time the government was approached on the subject, consequently he did not receive the letter, a copy of which I give. The letters were identical in their wording, the only difference being the names of the recipients.

The first lifeboat was sent to the island about 18 years ago. She was an open tank boat. The coxswain of the boat was Benjamin Faulkner the Lighthouse keeper. The men did not have to practise and were paid for the trips made. The boat was first used to rescue an Eastern Passage fisherman whose boat had upset on Ship Rock on the south of Devil's island. When the boat upset a grapnel fell out and went to the bottom, thus preventing the boat from drifting ashore. The lifeboat went out and rescued him. The crew got $5 each for their services.

The next time the boat was used was in 1884. The crew of the schr. John Wesley was then saved by the lifeboat crew.

The boat house was now erected where it stands at present. The lifeboat was taken to Sable Island.

The new lifeboat was built by Edward Williams, Dartmouth. Its first coxswain was Frederick Edwards who held the position for 7 or 8 years. He was succeeded by the present coxswain George DeYoung. The new lifeboat was first used at the time of the wreck of the Schr. Olivette on Thrum Cap Schoal in 1898. All the crew was saved, the lifeboat crew receiving $3 per man reward. A few months after this the Brig Irma went ashore on the same shoal. Another lifeboat was on the spot but the crew would not venture in so the Devil's Island crew had to make two trips. The first trip four were taken off and put in the other lifeboat. Then the crew again risked their lives and brought off the remainder of the crew. While they were taking the rescued people to Halifax James DeYoung and his son perished on Thrum Cap without an effort on the part of the other lifeboat to save them. Had the Devil's Island boat been near the men would have probably been saved.

People who know under what difficulties these rescues are made cannot understand why the government is so niggardly in its treatment of the crew of the lifeboat. 14 trips per year have to be made for which the men receive $21 each. This is all the remuneration they get unless a wreck occurs when $3 per man is paid for the trip. Human life must be rated low when a paltry $21 is given for the rescue of a ships crew. Any private individual would give that amount for the rescue of a cow or an ox, but here men are expected to risk their lives to save others for $3 per man. True they might stay around the wreck waiting for the men to come out to where the lifeboat lay as did that lifeboat at the "Irma" wreck, but Devil's Island men are not used to seeing men perish without an effort on their part to save them. Let some one with influence see that justice is done these brave fellows. Surely life is worth as much as it was in 1874 when the McKenzie Government gave those men before mentioned $20 each, and had the good taste to thank them for their services. But here is a lifeboat in need of a compass and other necessary apparatus which is denied them.

This digression is outside my purpose but I will feel justified in writing thus if it is the means in a degree however small of bringing justice to deserving parties.

There are two lighthouses on the Island. Before the erection of the first about 53 years ago there used to be a beacon or some distinguishing mark on the island, visible only by day. About 53 years ago the present catoprie light was erected on s.w. of the island. It was built by a man named Ryan. At first it stood nearer the shore but in 1877 it was moved back to where it now stands. The second lighthouse was built the same time the other one was moved back. It stands 175 years east of the other light. The western light is open all around but the eastern light has a dark side on the northern side. Both towers are octagonal with lights visible 13 miles. The first keeper of the lighthouse was Edward Bowen. After his dismissal it was kept for a few months by Edward Horne, who was succeeded by Benjamin Faulkner. His son William, the present lighthouse keeper succeeded him.

A brief notice of some of the wrecks at Devil's Island will conclude my paper on this island.

The Brig Southhampton from Quebec with flour was wrecked on the s.w. point of the Island 52 years ago. One man was drowned while trying to get ashore. The remainder of the crew got ashore on lines.

The Breamish, a barque only 18 months old ran ashore on the s.w. point of the island about 30 years ago. She was laden with coal. She ran ashore in a snow storm. The boatswain and carpenter were drowned by the upsetting of a boat. The mate got ashore in another boat. He crawled to the lighthouse and aroused the inmates. Next morning the crew was seen by the Devil's Island men. The coal was stored all over the Island in 6 pens. Several cargoes were sold.

Schr. John Wesley was wrecked in 1884. The crew was rescued by the lifeboat. She carried a small cargo. The Islander's tore her to pieces.

Of the Schr. Union I have already spoken. She ran ashore in 1874 on the s.w. point of the island. She was loaded with wood.

The Schr. Henry Fenwick was loaded with a general cargo. She ran ashore about 100 yards to the east of the s.w. point. Her cargo was taken out and she floated.

The wreck here described is specially interesting on account of the strange coincidences connected with it. The story belongs to the other places at which the other vessels went ashore as much as to Devil's Island, but as it is worthy of being written it may as well be given here.

About the year 1860 four vessels left Prince Edwards Island with produce, etc. Having left about the same time they kept rather close together, so that a calm day about the last of October found all four off Jeddore, so near one another that the skippers spoke to one another asking the opinions of the other as to the advisability of making the port of Jeddore before night. They decided to keep on for Halifax. A light breeze sprung up towards evening which increased till at 8 o'clock in the evening it had attained the velocity of a great gale. The wind was accompanied by a blinding snowstorm.

Meanwhile the vessels had reached the mouth of Halifax Harbour where, in the snow storm they lost sight of one another. One of the vessels in coming about too soon, ran ashore on the south west of Devil's Island. She was loaded with hides, tallow, etc. All hands were lost. Three brothers drifted over to the shore of s.e. Passage where their bodies were recovered.

The second vessel struck on the eastern side of Lawlor's Island on the beach near the wharf. No lives were lost and she was afterwards taken off.

A third vessel struck at Herring Cove. The wreck occurred under a cliff. Ropes were let down and the crew was saved.

The fourth vessel struck on Thrum Cap. Two lives were lost from this vessel. Two men reached the Island. One of the men got the other in the shelter of some trees. He then went across the island to Mr. Hugonin's. Hugonin returned with a wagon and took the other man to his house. One poor fellow had come ashore alive and was found above high water mark. His hands were on his knees. He probably died from exposure.

The next morning a brother of the three washed ashore at s.e. Passage, one who had been on the vessel wrecked at Herring Cove went down to the beach at that place.

There he found a name board from the vessel wrecked at Devil's Island and knew then that she must have been also wrecked. He went over to McNabs Island and was put across to Eastern Passage where the bodies of his three brothers were found. The clergyman of the parish being absent, the burial service was read over the bodies of the brothers by Mr. Nelson Negus. They were buried in one grave in the church yard of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The surviving brother gave their names and ages for recordance. The surname was Murray.
 

(To be Continued.)