Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.
Quebec Gazette #2752 16/10/1817. | ||
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| To the Editor. | ||
| Prince Edward Island, September 1, 1817. | ||
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Sir, I conceive it would be of public utility, to give the
following a place in your valuable paper. About a week since, was stranded on the bar of New-London harbour, in this island, the brig Harriet, Hanna, Master, from Dublin, with passengers, and as it is said, bound to Quebec, and from thence to this island to load with timber, out eleven weeks. They were seven weeks in the Gulf, attempting to get to Quebec, and got as far as Gaspé; previous to that several had died with sickness and famine, from so long a passage. All the provisions which the passengers had laid in had been exhausted some weeks previous to their arrival at Gaspé, when the Master then commenced to make his fortune upon their miseries, by charging them at the most extravagant rate for every pound of bread, and the fresh fish that could be occasionally caught in like manner, not permitting them to catch any themselves. It deserves to be mentioned that Mr. O'Hara, at Gaspé, was a true and generous friend to those poor creatures, by compelling the master to procure a vessel to take 40 of them to Quebec, 20 of them which, from their reduced state, were landed and left in the woods at Gaspé, and the remaining passengers on board, between 50 and 60, Mr. O'Hara furnished, with three days provision, allowing them 48 hours to get to this island; and in a measure to end their sufferings, they were driven ashore at New-London aforesaid, where the inhabitants fulfilled the precepts of the Gospel, by feeding and lodging them, and giving them every comfort within their power. It is certainly not in the power of any pen to describe their sufferings; one instance ought to be mentioned. One of the families on board, consisting of husband and wife, with ten children, the father was unable to pay for two of his children (boys), but in consideration of the father having paid for all the rest, the master agreed to take the whole family, (the boys in question). After sailing from Dublin, and one hundred miles from it, they had occasion to call at a distant port, where the master met with two persons who wished to take passage at £5 each. To accommodate these men, the Captain landed the boys, contrary to the most solemn entreaties of their parents, and sailed, leaving the boys on the wide world. The mother died shortly after, on the passage, with grief and distraction, and one of the children. Several affidavits have been made respecting the captain's conduct, and sent to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, and we have no doubt but the captain will be taken care of. |
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| G.R. Bossé©1999-07. | Posted: April 9, 2001. |
Updated: 19 February 2007. |
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