THE MAGAZINE OF NEWFOUNDLAND

GUARDIAA T L A N T c Vol. XUI, No. 6 JUNE

20c. 1956

This Month-

A Salute to

STEPHENVILLEand

HARMON FIELD

A Salute to Stephenville

This new town of Newfoundland in itself is

a source of pride, but more important ore the

fi=;~=rl=;r=~=~;=~=_~=~I='=.='=c=.....L--========'i! ,J

This bookis a gift to tl1.e library o~ the

Memorial University of Newfoundland

From

Miss Agnes C. O'Dea

June 15, 1976

from

ST~P~ ENVI LLEGROCETERIA

Main Street, Stephenville

BRIA"I CAHILLART 'K >\l\f.11ELL'.,.1:.1 ";'., '":" Editors

MAUNDERA.O.C.A.

"Ctor

Atlantic Guardian i.printed and l'ubliahedby Cuardian \iled, ItWater Stree Jobn'.,NOd., ·1)or-

ized as "lid ClassMail, PostpBrtmeDt, Oth :,-scription rates,year anywhere inw 0 r I et. (Newfoundl.subscribers add 3% 5.S.A.tax). Sinlle copies, ZIk:.

VOL. XIII. No.6. JUNE, 1956

• SPECIAL FEATURE

A Salute to Stel>henville..By Robert Moss

A thirt}' page illustrated Section covering the

II

fast.growing town of Stephenville and ErnestHarmon Air Force Base, which has given itnew life.

• GENERAL ARTICLES

Vo)'age of Discovery 35By Michael P. Murphy

A Narrow Escape (rom Death. .42By J. W. Gilbert

The First Mail 46Bl George Whiteley

• POETRY

The Gem of the \Vcstem Sea 39Bv Fred T. Fuge

N~wfoundland 49By Jerry McDonald

• DEPARTMENTS

The Editors }'age .

Baby of the Month 43

Picture Credits: Pages 5, 6 (bottom), 10, 13, 14 (bottom),18,21 (bottom), 30, 33-J. D. Stubbs; P. p, 6 (lOp), 17,21(Lop), 22, 25, 26, 30_Courtesy 'niled tates Air Force;Page 9_Courles)' J. A, Jones .... ' list ruction Co.; Pages 14(lop), 29_Courtes) Very Rev. P. Bromley.

Atlantic Guardian's PlatformTo make Newfoundland better

known at home and abroad;To promote trade and travel in

the Island;To encourage development of the

Island's natural resources;To foster good relations between

Newfoundland and her neighbors.

Cover Picture: Providing an allracti\e in­troduction to our Stephenville issue is Joan'''ells, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George,\rells of Stephenville. Joan is a Majorette inthe Sl. Stephen's All Girl Drum and BugleBand whose performances are an outstand·ing feature of many public events in thisfast-growing town.-Photo by J. D. Stubbs.

THE EDITOR'S PAGE

His Hobby: Newfoundland• Calvin C. Smith of West Newton, Mass.. has never been toNewfoundland but he knows a lot about it and is going to know a lotmore. In fact he is likely to become an authority on the subject of

ewfoundland. for he has taken the study of this Island as a hobby anddevotes most of his spare time to reading everything he can lay his handson that refers to his favorite topic.

His interest in Newfoundland. he says. is due to the fact that bothhis wife's parents were born here. "I fear that I have become a veritablepest at my wife's relatives in and around Boston looking for ewfound­land books, etc." he states in a letter to Atlantic Guardian in which herequests still more information about Newfoundland and mentionshistorical facts and place names as familiarly as though he were visitinghere all his life.

Mr. Smith has had correspondence with Newfoundland members ofParliament, the Tourist Bureau. and others. "The response to myletters has been wonderful," he states. "The native hospitality whichI have read about in your people has evidently not lessened with theyears...

In addition to writing letters for information he has made theacquaintance of many Newfoundlanders living in the Boston area to allof whom he has made known his avid thirst for knowledge of New­foundland. From some he has rounded up back copies of AtlanticGuardian and in this connection his comment is eloquent. "The readingmaterial in these little magazines is beyond description and any attempton my part to describe the joys of reading them would only show thepoverty of my vocabulary."

Our ardent Newfoundland fan in West Newton says he is lookingforward to the day when he can spend his vacation in "Your beautifulIsland." Meanwhile he is fast building up a wealth of information onNewfoundland and at the same time is acting as a sort of unofficialgoodwill ambassador for this Province in his home area.

Because this is so interesting and unusual and with the thoughtthat some of Our readers might want to write to Mr. Smith and addfurther to his knowledge of ewfoundland, we are giving his addressin full. It is: Calvin C. Smith. 98 Warwick Road, West Newton,Mass., U.S.A.

• In this issue we turn the spotlight on yet another town­Stephenville. which is now Newfoundland's third largest. Harmon AirForce Base. which is close by and which has helped greatly in makingStephenville the boom town that it is today. is also featured in the articleby special correspondent. Robert Moss.

Our thanks to all who co-operated in the production of this feature.The generous support of advertisers reflects the civic pride shown bythe people of Stephenville in their fast-growing town. -E.Y.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TOWN OF

STEPHENVILLE

AND THEIR PROGRESSIVE TOWN COUNCIL

HOUSEHOLD MOVERS& SHIPPERS LTD.

WHITE'S AVENUE

STEPHENVILLE

TElEPHONE

8486

Expert Packing, Crating, Shipping Household

Furniture and Effects

LOCAL AND LONG DISTANCE MOVING

Agents in All Principal Cities

Agents in Newfoundland for

ALLIED VAN LINES

Head Office - Torbay Road, St. John'sT. c. HIBBS, MANAGING DIRECTOR

JUNE. 1956

A TIP OF THE HAT

TO STEPHENVILLE

which has mode spectacular progress these

lost few years. We are proud to have played

a part in that development, and will continue

to share our mutual interest and create In

our town ... faith for the future

from

EDDY'S AUTO PARTSPHONE 854

GAS, LUBRICATION, CAR WASH AND AUTO

ACCESSORIES

EDDY'S TAXIOPERATING 8US AND LIMOUSINE SERVICE BETWEEN

CORNER BROOK AND STEPHENVillE

SIX RUNS DAILYP H 0 N E 7 2 1 and 3 2 1

ATLANTIC CUARDIAN

A SALUTE TO

STEPHENVILLEAND HARMON FIELD

By ROBERT MOSS

WHEN Hitler's Nazi hordesoverran Europe in 1939­

40, the resulting World War 11turned into a gigantic globalstruggle for power, and in NorthAmerica defense of the coastlinesbecame an urgent matter. TheUnited States, though not yet inthe war, was gearing rapidly forprotective measures.

In a historic deal the U.S. turnedover a number of destroyers toBritain in return for long-termleases on strategic outposts inBritish territories.

Thus in due course the Ameri­cans came to St. George's Bay inwestern Newfoundland and builtan air base that later was to beknown as Ernest Harmon Field.

:Members o[ the present Town Council at Stephenville. Starling at the head 01the table and going clockwise, they 'are: Thomas F. Rose, ~[aror; Donald P.Tompkins, Deputy l\fayor; Eddie Kay, Town Clerk; \VilIiam A. Russell, Herbert

Stacy, Leo Bruce, Councillors, and J. Alec. GiJlis, Town :l\fanager.

JUNE, 19i6

Above, the main street of Stephenville prior tobejng paved, and below, the Stephenville of today,

Outlasting World War II and con­tinuing to expand, this base hastransformed the area into a boom­ing centre of military and com·mercial activity,

The base was built near Stephen­ville, a settlement of around 1000people, scattered ftom Indian Headto Kippens, and Stephenville wasone day destined to form the main

entrance by land. The scene wasjust a typical, solitary outport,sheltered under the mountains,where people fished, farmed, orlumbered on a small scale. There.an employment rush started andpeople flocked in from differentparts of the island.

Although the name Stephenvillehasn't changed over the years, the

WE SUPPLY THE FOOD

YOU SUPPLY THE APPETITE

Stephenville's First Bakery solutes the new

West Coast Town. We will be looking for­

ward to continuing many associations with

the people of the community during the

years that Iie ahead.

TAYSTEE BAKERYMain Street, Stephenville

CAKES ARE OUR SPECIALTY

Wedding Birthday Anniversary

AND ALL OCCASIONS

JUNE, 1956

ALL THE BEST TO STEPHENVILLE

T. J. KEARNEYSTEPHENVILLE

GENERAL DRY GOODS

GENT'S TAILORED SUITS A SPECIALTY

We carry the famous "Progress" Brand line. For the highestquality in long-wearing suits, drop in and inspect them today.

STEPHENVILLE

Will Grow IN BLOCKS

AND THE PRIDE WILL BE, NOT ONLY OURS ... BUT THAT

OF A LOVELY TOWN.

S. B. DALLEY & SONSCONCRETE BLOCKS

MANUFACTURER AND CONTRACTOR

STEPHENVI LLE

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

This aerial view of Stephenville was taken April 2nd, 1951. Looking north-westwe see the diversion channel as it flowed southward into St. George's Bay, withan old kennel area on the western boundary. Fence to the rear marks the west·ern boundary of the Post. Stephenville lies beyond! the road shown, with themainstreet as it was then passing through. At the right center is seen the be­ginning of Stephenville Crossing access road. Even then seeds of progress werepopping up allover the place, and now many of the open spaces have been fi1ledin, especially on the crowded main paved street, making it the rapidly expanding

modern town that it is today.

fast transformation of this placeinto a modern town is astounding.

Stephenville, like most towns,is built around a main street thatleads to number one gate on thebase. It serves as an inlet and out­let for a heavy flow of traffic. Oneirher side of the thoroughfare aresituated newly constructed clothingstores. with lovely display win­dows: also shoe stores. theatres.groceterias, drug and hardwarestores, modern restauran ts, andnumerous other buildings of con­siderable significance. Late modelcars are parked in rows, whiletheir occupants are busy at theirdaily tasks.

A regular sight around town is

JUNE, 1056

new buildings in various stages ofcompletion. These arouse interestin many people, and the remark isoften heard: "I wonder what's thatgoing to be when it's finished."The whole scene suggests greatprogress. Go to the chit-chatcorner of town and you'd prob­ably overhear such conversation as:"If a feller had this, or if a fellerhad something else . . he'd dookay."

People who work a forty hourweek are mostly employed day­time. At night they go downtown, take in a movie. dance orhave a glass of beer. On the week­end they shop. visit. or workaround the house on Saturday:

A display window (rom one of the many modernclothing stores that trim the main street of Stephenville.

A 5 A L UTE T 0 5 T E P HEN V ILL E.........(Continued)

Many newly constructed modern restaurants orsnack bars cater to the busy public of Stephenville.

10 ATLANTIC CUARDIAN

LET US SHOW OFF THE NEW TOWN,

AN D DRESS IN STYLE ... By Shopping at

IRVING'SMEN'S AND BOYS' WEAR

MAIN STREET STEPHENVILLE

Most exclusive Men's and Boys' Wear in

Stephenville ... Specializing in Sports Wear

Sport Coats, Sport Shirts, All types of

Pants and Slacks

We also carry the famous JANTZEN line

JUNE, 1956 11

GIVE US THE WORD AND WE WILL

PAINT THE TOWN ...

HELP STEPHENVILLE TO RISE AND

SHINE FROM THE GREATEST

NAME IN PAINT

GEORGE HUTCHINGSPAINTING CONTRACTOR

MAIN STREET STEPHENVILLE

1.

SOLE AGENT FOR

BENJAMIN MOOREPAINTS AND PRODUCTS

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

then on Sunday. like in every otherewfoundland IOwn they go 10

church.Towering high above the houses

are many beautiful churches, cater­ing to the spiritual needs of thepeople. Much credit is due to theresidents, for some of those placesof worship are newly erected.Stephenville can also boast of anew $70,000 post office, a newR,C.M.P. building, and in pros­pect are other buildings such asanother new bank, and a T,C.A,terminal. A two-storey town hall,40' x 60' will be built on themain street. The first floor willhouse civil defense equipment. and

town council apparatus, ' Thesecond floor will include councilchambers. and offices for towncouncil, and civil defense.

The present Roman CatholicSt. Stephen's School has twentyrooms, 900 pupils, with fourteenSisters, and six lay teachers. Dom­estic Science is taught where girlslearn needle work. cooking. andthe boys learn carpentry, A newRoman Catholic High School-atwo-storey building, lOS' 6" x 54'-with allowance for extension,will soon be constructed. It willcontain seven class rooms, Scienceroom. library, assembly room,physical training instructor's room,

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, STEPHENVILLE, photographed at IheRed Rose Club: sealed [rom righl 10 1C£l-Emile Billard, Harold Meade, OscarYates, Hank Holland, Seaet.ary; Leo Bruce, Presidentj Kevin \Valsh, first vice­president; John Rankin, Gordon Archer, A. D. Shave, J. H. Hodder. Standing(rom right to leCt--Hynes Keating, Albert Snooks, Phil McCaWl, Jerome Delane'l,Gerald Shave, Charlie Swartz, Berkley Evans, J. C. Parsons, Dave Banjkin, Albert

Krakousky, and Irving Resnik.

III

and teachers' room. Also plannedas a separate building is a gymauditorium with bowling alleys inthe basement.

Another new school, built 1953,is the Protesrant Amalgamatedwith four rooms, four teachers.and 189 pupils. Two new class­rooms are being added. In 1955,274 pupils registered ar rhis school.but due to lack of space only 189could be accepted.

Turn back the clock to yester­year, and you would find inStephenville a group of around215 families. Being mostly ofFrench descent, they spoke the'parlez-vous' as their everydaylanguage. Just a few years later,we find Stephenville the thirdlargest community in Newfound-land with a population of 6000people, besides 300 AmericanMilirary families who reside theretemporarily in trailers or apart­ments.

Let's go back to the page markedMarch 11th, 1952, the day when

,••II~~"~: the first lown council was swornin. Among them were T. F.Rose. Mayor, R. G. Wells, DeputyMayor, and Councillors, D. P.Tompkins. J. A. Gillis, BernardAu Coin. A. D. Shave. and LeoBruce. The first great achieve­ment that followed incorporationwas the water-sewerage system.

From lOJ> to bouom.-St. Stephen'sall girl Drum and Bugle Band per­form in front or Roman CatholicChurch; St. Augustine's AnglicanChurch; The niled Church. (The in­teriors of both the Anglican andUnited Church are not ret completed);The Jewish Synagogue, under con

structionj The Pentecostal Church.

A SALUTE

TO THE NEW TOWN OF STEPHENVILLE

E. BILLARDGENERAL DEALER

MAIN STREET STEPHENVILLE

EASTERN co-orSERVICES LTD.

WISHES

The Best of Health to

STEPHENVILLE

WITH DAILY DELIVERY OF FRESH MILK, BUTTER, COTTAGE

CHEESE, WHIPPING CREAM, AND FRESH EGGS A SPECIALTY

co-op MILK EACH DAY WILL HELP TO KEEP

THE DOCTOR AWAY

JUNE. 1956 15

J6

STEPH ENVI LLE'SMOST MODERN NIGHT CLUB

Caters to the Night Life of the Fast-

Growing Community

THE RED ROSE CLUBMAIN STREET

Cocktail Lounge, Bar, Smooth Dance Floor,

Meals

DANCING NIGHTLY

Orchestra on hand at least three nights of

the week. For an enjoyable evening, come to

the town's most up-to-date entertainment

spot.

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

Already twenty miles of main andsanitary sewer has been laid.

As improvements advanced, acertain cry predominated over allothers. and it sounded somethinglike this: "The roads, roads,roads." Yes, and what roads!Heavy traffic, dust, mud .... amess.

But like everything else, it hadan ending and that came to passon October 26th, 1955, at 4.45p.m. when the Honourable WilliamJ. Keough cut the ribbon and de­clared the 7.450-foot paved roadofficially opened. The ProvincialGovernment granted $76.000 forpaving: $57,000 a special grant,the other $19.000 already beingallocated to the town. Plans weresubmitted by the Town Council.Many problems arose pertaining tooperators. equipment, and material,and many meetings were held. TheUnited States Air Force, responsiblefor keeping the toad passable. lenta helping hand. Their achieve­ment was celebrated with a streetdance. That night as one went totown, dressed in his best clothesand having had a shoe shine, itwas a wonderful relief. Lights,merrymaking . . . . no dust ormud, with traffic moving alongnoiselessly. [ thought to myself'Lo and behold, out of the dustarose Stephenville' . it wasnow a boom town with pavedstreets.

Much of the life of the town isshared with base petsonnel, whobelong to such groups as Lion'sClub, Masonic Lodge. Knights ofColumbus, Anglican's Young Peo­ple's Association, Chamber of Com­merce, and other civic or religious

JUNE, ItS'

organizations. The Lion's Clubcan account for the new children'splayground, under whose sponsor­ship it was built at a cost of thou­sands of dollars. They are activein such special events as sports onLabor Day, and turkey raffles inDecember.

This is Mona Abbott (rom Stephen­ville Crossing_Miss Hannon Flame

o{ 1955.

17

Stephenville welcomes ilS first fire tntck, pan of the Civil Defense program (ortbat area. From left to right: David \VaJsh, Section Leader; John P. Congdon,Civil Defense Area O{(icer; Ernie Bessette, Fire Chief, and Sgt. LeGrow, R.C.~{.P.,

who has been requested to organize Civil Defense Auxiliary Police Force. MayorThomas Rose and his Councillors have given full co-operation to the organiza.

tion of Civil Defense Cor the fast growing town.

A vivid spectacle, often wit­nessed at many of the activities. isthat of the St. Stephen's all girlDrum and Bugle Band, TheseMajorettes present a brilliant andcolorful performance. Also underthe same director-Po T. Instruc­tor, Ralph West-is the Boy'sTumbling Team, rated as good asany team of their age in Canada.

On the base annual events in­clude club outings, Armed ForcesDay .... the base an open houseto the public: also Fire PreventionWeek, that crowns Miss HarmonFlame as the winner of a beautycontest. There are other eventssponsored for charitable purposes.

'8

Ernest Harmon Air Force Base

The base is a military reserva­tion of 8,159 acres, located at thenortheast end of St. George's Bay.It was leased in 1940 for 99years from the British Government.The first engineer surveys weremade in February, 1941, and con­struction started shortly thereafter.

Originally referred to as Stephen­ville Air Base, it was redesignatedon June 23rd, 1941, as HarmonField, and on February 13th,1948, was renamed Ernest HarmonAir Force Base in honor of CaptainErnest Harmon USA CAC), wholost his life on August 27th, 1933

ATLANTIC GUARDtAN

HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS

to ST EP HEN V ILL EThe West Coast's biggest, and Newfoundland's third largest

town. We wish you well upon the road of success.

FROM

PINSENT CONSTRUCTIONCO., LTD.

If you are planning that new house this summer, see us forfree estimate. We have equipment, men and material on

hand to do the job.

PHONE 319

STEPHENVILLE

WE WISH YOU WELL

NEW PROGRESSIVE TOWN OF THE WEST

c. H. McFATRIDGE& SONS LTD.

MAIN STREET, STEPHENVILLE

All types of Furniture, Electric, Coal, Oil and Wood Stoves,

Refrigerators, Bedroom Suites, and Chesterfields a specialty.

JUNE, ltSS 19

Terminal ConstructionCo., Ltd.

GENERAL CONTRACTORS

Head Offices Montreal, Canada

20

AI RPORT CONSTRUCTION

DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING

UTILITIES AND SERVICES

In Canada from Coast to Coast

A T TEN T ION, ALL T 0 URI S T S !

BEACHVIEW HOTELCOCKTAIL LOUNGE AND BAR

STEPHENVILLE CROSSING

One of the most modern hotels in Newfoundland.

S TOP! (you're home)

AT THE BEACHVIEW

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

A 5 A L UTE TO 5 T E P HEN V ILL E-(Continued)

when his plane crashed during aflight between Mitchell Field,N.Y., and Eastern Maryland. Cap­tain Harmon was a winner of theDetroit Trophy which he won atthe Cleveland Air Races in 1925.

Harmon has the distinction ofbeing one of twelve permanentoverseas bases of the U.S.A.F. Atthe present time the base is undercommand of the Northeast AirCommand, and is part of theUnited States Northeast Command,with headquarters at Pepperrell AirForce Base, St. John's, and com­manded by Lt. General Glenn O.

COL. RICHARD W. FELLOWS, BASECO~(~fANDER, seen announcing theopening of Fire Prevention 'Veek.

~{any who have worked for the contractors at Stephenville will remember thisfamiliar scene at Camp-Site. I\{aximum of 1417 employees were hired for therear as of September 16th, 1955. M:aximtull ever hired at Camp-Site were 2013

employees, as of November 10th, 1954.

JUNE, 1956 ZI

Military antI Civilian personnel work side by side at Hannon Ficld. CharlesCarvillc, o( Campbell Creek, New(oundland, and S/Sgt. "'illiam Jones, Field

Maintenance Squadron, from Circleville, Ohio.

Barcus. Harmon became part ofNEAC and USNEC in 1950 whenboth commands were formed.

Ernest Harmon was built earlyin World War II. and by wartimestandards it was good. By 1950,the base was determined as in­adequate, and re-construction wasstarted in January, 1951, to mod­ernize it. Approximately $100,­000.000 has been appropriated forconstruction. and well over half ofthe work has been completed. Thiswork together with that in pro­gress will modernize the base.

The terminal at Ernest Harmonis a hub of activity. serving an

Edward G. Keough, Civilian PersOIUlei average of 24.787 passengers eachO((icer al Hannon. month since January, 1955. Of

zz ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

CONGRATULATIONS ...

TOWN OF STEPHENVILLE

Jet Dry Cleaners Ltd.CLARKE'S ROAD NEAR MAIN STREET

P. O. BOX 67 PHONE 842

FAST SAME DAY CLEANING

Member Canadian Research Institute of Launderers

and Cleaners

United Construction

Trades Ltd.Mechanical and Electrical Contractors

STEPHENVILLE

Communication Buildings, Hangars, Electrical Installations,

Airfield Lighting, Dependents' School, Warehouses, Power

House, Globe Com Installations at West Bay and Jerry's Nose,

Electric Power Distribution, Aerial and Underground on Base,

and Street Lighting.

JUNE. 1956 Z3

To be a successfu I person, one must be able

to adjust oneself to the difficulties of every­

day living. Since a healthy body is vitally

necessary in this function, one must always

be aware of the importance of a grocery­

store in the community.

Our supply of health-giving foods will expand

with the community, and the gain will be not

only ours ... but also our customers.

Shop-Rite GroceteriaSTEPHENVILLE

FRESH FRUITS AND FRESH VEGETABLES

QUALITY MEATS AND FISH

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

The Air Terminal scning Ernest H<lrmon is a hub or activity.

this number 20,887 were military,while the remainder were civilian.

The largest civilian commercialtranscient at Harmon is Trans­Canada Air Lines, which havefour scheduled flights in and outeach day, A considerable numberof other commercial airlines usethis base when weather requiresunscheduled landings,

Over $5,000,000 is paid eachyear in salaries by the base to localpeople, The base civilian payrollruns approximately $307,000 amonth, while contractors have a$125,000 monthly payrolL Themilitary payroll is more than$481,000 per month, and averages$6,000,000 a year. A great dealof that money is spent locally,

JUNE, 1956

In addition to the base proper.Ernest Harmon has three satelitesites, an airways and air communi­cation service receiver at Kippens,an airways and air communicationservice transmitter at White's Road,and an air control and warningdirection control unit at TableMountain. These sites were ac­quired under the 1952 supple­mentary leases agreement betweenthe Department of External Af­fairs, Canada, and United StatesDepartment of State, based uponthe recommendations of lhe per­manent Joint Board of Defense,United States and Canada.

The new receiver and transmittersite at Jerry's Nose and West Bay,respectively, will be opened by

zs

A scene from interior of the Base Chapel during a Roman Catholic Mission. Alldenominations use the same chapel, with military and ci\'ilian conJ{regations.

Airways and Air CommunicationsService upon completion. Thesesites were acquired from the Can­adian Government in 1953. under1953 supplementary leases agree­ment between United States andCanada.

There is a Civilian AdvisoryCouncil, and it's main purpose isto build a co-operative and pro­ductive work force. The councilprogram consists of conferenceswith employees. meetings withemployee groups. information let­ters. and bulletin board notices. Itprovides a valuable means wherebythe management can get a messageto employees. and inspire mutualconfidence with careful consider-

ation of employees' ideas. propos­als. and problems.

The objective is to providemaximum representation of allemployees from the lowest to thehigher levels. through duly electedrepresentatives who serve for aperiod of one year. The Councilconsists of one representative fromeach major organizational unit atthe installation. Representativeselect their own chairman andsecretary. The Civilian PersonnelOfficer has general responsibilityfor the suocessful operation ofCivilian Advisory Councils andtheir sub-committees. Mr. EdwardG. Keough is Ernest Harmon'sCivilian Personnel Officer.

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

EATING-OUT IN RESTAURANTSHAS BECOME A FIRMLY ESTABLISHEr! CUSTOM, AND FOR

LOTS OF PEOPLE IT IS A DAILY NECESSITY.

MAJOR'S is catering to your need . . . where lovely wait·resses, good food, and fast service await you.

FOR EXCELLENT MEALS FROM A REPUTABLE COOK

AND AT REASONABLE PRICES

DINE AT

Edward Major RestaurantSTEPHENVILLE

Also SNACK BAR AND BOOK STAND

LEO KAPLOW LTD.MAIN STREET ... STEPHENVILLE

STEPHENVILLE'S FRIENDLY SHOPPING CENTRE

HEADQUARTERS FOR

LADIES' MEN'S and CHILDREN'S HIGH-

CLASS WEARING APPAREL

JUNE. "'. 21

"MY BANW~ TO 2 MILLION CANADIANS

I-tj,

It~'" ~~,

From generation to

generation Canadians have put their trust inthe Bank of Montreal. r-J r-J r-J

Today, more than two million people fromcoast to coast call the B of M "My Bank",

BANK OF MONTREALCanada's First Bank

Stcphcln-ille Branch: -\RTHl-R ~fl RDOCK. ~rana~cr.

Ther, are 15 B of M OFFICES ill SJ,WFO['SDJ.ASD

to senlt! ,\'ou

WORKING WITH CANADIANS IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE SINCE 1817

ATLANTIC CUARDIAN

Ernest Harmon has nine repre­sentatives with Norbert W. White,chairman. A slogan often used intheir program is: "Remember thatthis is your Civilian AdvisoryCouncil. Help them to help youby disclosing your problems to oneof your representatives."

A Suggestion Plan encouragesideas in regard to time saving,money saving. morale and safety.Competition is keen and a monthlyplaque is given to the shop sub­mitting the greatest number. Forthe year 1955, Ernest Harmon ex­pected around 180 suggestions, butat the close of the year the figure

was climbing toward the 300mark. Already 22 of them wereaccepted, for the period betweenJanuary to July, 1955, with manyothers still under consideration.Incentive Awards are presented forevery six month period. Thecivilian employees at Ernest Har­mon were awarded the total sumof $ 610 for the period betweenJanuary to July, 1955. At thattime Pepperrell took first place,and Ernest Harmon second.

Fire Chief John E. Peyton isresponsible for one suggestion thatpaid him $200. His idea recom­mended a modified commercial

St. Stephen's Bo)'s' Tumbling Team are rated as good as any team their age inCanada. In the back row can be seen Ralph West, physical training instructorand director of both team and band; also Very Rev. P. Bromley of St. Stephen's.

JUNE, 19"

30 ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

ALB ERT'S MAIN STREET AT CLARKE'S ROAD

"THE BUSY STORE AT THE BUSY CORNER"KEEPING UP WITH THE GROWTH OF OUR FAIR TOWN OF

STEPHENVILLE

QUALITY CLOTHES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

PHONE 217 ALL MAIL ORDERS WELCOME

A SAL UTE TO S T E P HEN V ILL E---{Continued)

Pictures on opposite page show:(Top)

Harmon's Fire Chief John E. Peyton demonstrates the suggestion thatwon him S200 to Lt.·CoI. Burgess Gradwell. Standing by is FiremanGordon BUll on the right, and Crew Chid Jerry Ryan on the lefl.

(Bollom)Night li[e at Hannon includes regulaT dances at the Caribou (Civilian) Club.

We Wish Bon Voyage to the

NEW TOWN OF STEPHENVILLEFROM

Brandram-HendersonCO., Ltd.

WITH

THEIR WELL-KNOWN B-H PAINTSEGGSHELLPERMA-ENAMELPERMA-FLATSWING SATINVARNISHES

AT YOUR

H. A. MEADE

BEAVERCHINA-LACENGLISHFRISCO TONESHELLAC, ETC.

SERVICE

Agent

JUNE. 1956

DIAL 745

J1

,z

FROM STEPHENVILLE CROSSING

YOU

while passing through the Crossing

WATCH FOR

CASH-IN-MOTORSYOUR FRIENDLY STATION

Gas, Oil, Grease Jobs, Tire and Mechanical

Repairs

FORD, MONARCH, FORD TRUCKS

DEALER

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

The Stephenville Lions Club. From right to left} standing: Kelvin 'Valsh,Treasurer; Reginald Ford, Secretary; Charlie Morey, Finlt Vice·President; JackNoseworthy, President; Hector Sonya £rom Halifax; Ted Pike, Second Vice·

President; Howard Goodyear, Lion Tamer.

type pick-up truck equipped withfire extinguishers, to replace thefully equipped fire truck that wasused to stand by when warmingup jets. I t suggested a more econ­omical use of fire apparatus on theline, and with it an estimated$12,000 was expected to be savedper year.

The Incentive Awards Commit­tee is a board composed of militaryand civilian personnel. Their jobis to evaluate suggestions and makeawards to civilian employees basedon the merits of their suggestions.This committee meets once amonth, with the Base ExecutiveOfficer acting as chairman.

JUNE, lOst

The Stephenville-Harmon Com­munity Relations Council was setup to foster good·will betweentownspeople and members of thebase. It discusses and resolvesproblems that pertain to the growthof Stephenville-Harmon, and estab­lishes certain rules of conduct thatapply to civilian and militarypersonnel insofar as communityrelations are concerned. The coun­cil determines means of improvingcommunity attitudes, and to imple­ment planned activities. They co­ordinate the participation and co­operation demanded by specialevents, which include parades,open houses, c1ean--up-campaigns,fire prevention continuing pro-

33

grams, boys' club work, air-ageeducation program. Armed Forces'Day, mutual holiday activities, andinter-denominational religious ac­tivities.

Many will recall that only a fewyears ago the distant isolated sec­tions of the island could be classi­fied almost as far-away places.People lived close to nature, a sortof a simple, humble, uncomplicatedlife, whose environment includedgardens, trees and the ocean. Todaywe could find one such spotequipped with a runway two miles

long, and it has become a scene offlying box-cars. globemasters, F-89Scorpions. We mention Ganderor Sydney, N.S. in terms ofminutes: London. England, just arna tter of a few hours.

At Stephenville-Harmon we findpeople from practically every partof North America, and it tells astory .... how we work, play, eattogether, belong to the same society.It speaks of human relations, a com­mon cause, the common good, andmost of all .... it speaks of thefree world.

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ATLANTtC GUARDIAN

Voyage of Discovery459 Years Ago This Month John Cabot Turned up Here

By MICHAEL P. MURPHY

pERHAPS no great figure inhistory has been the subject of

so much controversy as JohnCabot, the Venetian mariner, who,in his little ship, the Matthew,discovered the island of ewfound­land on June 24, 1497.

Uncertainty and confusion meetus on every side when we read theknown facts concerning the livesand accomplishments of Cabot andhis son, Sebastian. One writer hascalled Sebastian Cabot "the sphinxof North American history" andanybody who endeavors to solvethe innumerable perplexing ques-

tions associated with the subject ofthe Cabots will admit thar thisname has been most fittingly be­stowed. Some learned writers at­tribute everything to John Cabor.others would put him aside andaward all the credit of discoveringthe orch American mainland tohis second son, Sebastian. Somehistorians even go so far as to statethat the voyages of the Cabots areapocryphal, the discoveries pre­tended. and the whole question amystification. However. most his­torians agree today that John Cabotdeserves all the renown that is due

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ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

him. renown that has only notbeen fully his owing to the vanityand apparent prevarication of hisown son.

It is now usually conceded thatJohn Cabot, also known as Gio­vanni Cabota and Joannes Caboto,was a Venetian of Genoese birth.The first definite infotmation wehave of this great man is the recordin the archives of Venice thaton March 28, 1476, "JoannesCaboco" had been naturalized as acitizen of Venice. Cabot marrieda Venetian woman and had threesons. He studied cosmography andnavigation and was early stirredwith an eager desire CO roam. Atone time he visited Mecca and thereheard many tales of voyages andtravels and marvellous adventuresfrom the merchants who flockedthere from far lands.

Subsequently he moved to Eng­land with his wife and childrenand settled in the city of Btistol.This port was famed for its mari­time enterprise. and even at thatearly period it had considerabletrade with Iceland, receiving fishin exchange for various articles ofmerchandise. One of John's child­ren was Sebastian who inheritedhis father's love of adventure. Somewriters state that Sebastian hadbeen born in Venice, probably be­tween 1475 and 1477, and thathe was very young when taken toEngland. Others say he was bornin Briscol. All that is known isthat in 1495 John was, and prob­ably had been for some years, aBritish subject residing at Bristol.This was three years after the illus­trious Genoese navigator, Colum­bus, had placed the banner of

JUNE, 1956

Ferdinand and Isabella on theislands of a new continent. and soaccomplished the greatest deed inthe annals of geographic discovery.

In March, 1493, Columbus re­turned home and the whole ofEurope rang with his fame. JohnCabot, who had accepted the newtheory of the roundness of theearth. longed CO emulate theachievements of Columbus. andlooked CO his adopted sovereign forsupport. Henty VI! was then onthe throne of England and a mOremiserly monarch it would be hardCO find. However, through jeal­ousy of the glory attached to Spainthrough her maritime enterprise.and with a strong desire of per­sonal gain. Henty granted letterspatent to Cabot CO sail in search ofnew lands. stipulating that one­fifth of the net income of the

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expedition be reserved for thecrown.

Cabot's letters patent weregranted in March. 1496. but itwas not until a year after theroyal approval that the expeditionwas ready for sea. There is norecord of the niggardly Henry beingof any assistance in financing thevoyage. and Cabot had ro lookelsewhere for help.

"The Matthew" Sets SailFinally. all preparations were

completed. and on or about theend of May, 1497. John Cabot

passed out of rhe waters of theAvon and turned his prow towardsthe west while the picruresqueshores of 1 orth Devon faded be­yond his wake. He was in com­mand of a small vessel called theMatthew: of about 50 rons. whichcarried a crew of 18. all English­men bur one. a Burgundian. It isthought by some that when theMatthew sailed from Bristol shemay have been accompanied by afew other small vessels whichthrough hope of gain had been in­duced to join Cabol. Bu t if thiswas so. there can be little doubtthat they must have later becomediscouraged by the length of thevoyage and returned to Englandleaving the Matthew to face thewestern seas alone.

After leaving port. it is saidthat Cabot sailed around Ireland.then towards the north. and finallyset his course towards the mysteri­ous and dreaded west. As theysailed on and on over the unknownwaters. what thoughts must havepassed through the minds of thissmall company of mariners as theywere carried into the region whichthey instinctively regarded withawe!

It is not positively knownwhether Sebastian accompanied thisexpedition but it is very likely thathe did. He was then little morethan a mere stripling. and couldhave little to do with the planningor carrying out of this great enter­prise. Regarding the other sons,Lewis and Sancio. nothing isknown. No chronicle of JohnCabot's voyage has reached us. al­though such an account must havebeen kept. We are left. therefore,

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

By FRED T. FUGE

Cape Bonavista, a mighly bluffThat never had a name,Nor had a white man ever seenTil old John Cabol came;And when he saw the rugged CapeRise in the golden "VestIt looked like caslles of the godsSo we call it "Bonavisl_".

'Twas a noble prize, a treasure rare­~ew land for the British Crown,So Cabot received about tcn poundsFor the ~ew \\'orld that he found.And so my grand old island homeFor beller or for worseWas lraded off for fifl) bucksFrom the slingy old king's purse.

'I his guardian of the golden ,.vestWiLh many a natural charm

Has Jived through long and troubledyears,

But has done the world no hal"lll.

with hardly any patticulats of thisimportant voyage.

It is agreed that the Matthewfirst sighted land at early morn onJune 24, 1497, the feast day ofSt. John the Baptist. The shiphad then been about fifty-threedays out of Bristol. Cabot thoughthe had reached Cathay, that landwhich Marco Polo had describedin his wonderful travels. Notuntil a later period was it suspectedthat the Bristol captain had failedto reach the eastern shores of Asiaand had visited instead the rocksand forests of a new continent.

JUNE, It..

It's my birthplace, the land I love.\Vhere I first saw the light_A land of heroes born to toilAnd ballie for the right.

Tbe waves break 011 her rugged coastAnd wash her iron·bound strand,Hut Time hath never yet revealedThe wealth of Newfoundland.\\'ilh factories and stores untOld,Of copper, gold and lead;-\nd with Premier Smallwood in the

chairIhere are beller da)s ahead.

I wish her well and the best of luckFor the noble task bcgun;.\fa) God and heaven slnile on herAnd ullliJ her race is run.I may never scc her shores again,.\nd nc\'cr share her glory,But may she writc for }cars unborn-\ grcat and thrilling story.

His was to be not the meretrivial distinction of having madeknown to commerce a westernpassage to the land of spices andrare stones. but the far greaterglory of having discovered part ofa vast country the very existenceof which had never entered theminds of the most speculative cos­mographers of the fifteenth cen­tury.

Down through the years therehas been many a bitter argumentconcerning the subject of Cabot'slandfall. Many eminent historianshave taken part in the controversy.

J9

Archbishop O'Brien of Halifaxsrourly affirmed that Cape Bretonwas the place where Cabot firstsighted the New World. Our ownArchbishop Howley and JudgeProwse held out strongly for CapeBonavista. Others claimed thatthe landing had been made on somepart of the Labrador. Formidablearrays of facts were marshalled bythe various historians to supporttheir claims. And the dispute isstill going on.

Our fellow Canadians on neigh­boring Cape Breton Island wouldno doubt, fight at the drop of ahat if told that Cabot did not makehis landfall there. They havetheir Cabot Trail and their Cabotcelebrations. We have our CabotTower. our Cabot Highway, andour annual holiday to commemOr-

ate the event of Cabot's landfall inthis country. Howevery, most his­torians agree that the arguments infavor of Cape Bonavista carrymore weight than those in favor ofCape Breton or the Labrador.

On the spot where he firsrlanded, Cabot erected a crass andunfurled the flags of Sr. Georgeand St. Mark, and took formalpossession in the name of the Kingof England. The presence of theVenetian banner shows that thegreat navigator had still a strongaffection for the dreamy old townon the Adriatic.

His Reward-flO

Cabot returned to England inAugust, 1497, and was rewardedfor his discovery with the princelysum of t 10 by Henry. Some timelater the King became more gener-

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ous and awarded rhe navigator apension of £20 a year. It was asmall sum, indeed, for the manwho had opened up the great con­tinent of North America.

The demand for spices to seasonmeat and fish which become baddue to lack of means of preser­vation had started Columbus andCabot and others on their searchfor a western route to the far awaycountries of the east. Cabot's dis­covery netted something far morevaluable than spices. It gave toEngland the waters off Newfound­land, teeming with countless mil­lions of fish, containing a wealththat, as Bacon said, was far greaterthan the mines of Peru. It markedthe beginning of England's mari­time supremacy, and the found-

arion of her commercial and in­dustrial greatness can be traced backto the humble Newfoundland cod­fish.

That Cabot during his voyagealso put into St. John's harbor isperhaps pure conjecture on the partof an imaginative historian. But.through the mass of evidence putforward to prove the case, we inNewfoundland regard Cape Bona­vista as the "Happy Sight" seen byCabot and his men on the eventful24 of June, 1497. And year afteryear, as the anniversary of Cabot'sdiscovery comes along, the peopleof this country give due honor tothe hardy, courageous Venetianwho brought his frail craft acrossthe treacherous waters of the At­lantic to open up a New World.

JUNE, 1956

Wehavefl IMILLION oflhem.It has always seemed to us that thefirst function of any advertisementis to get itself read.

People do not have CO read adver­tisementlS. Therefore any art or de­vice. even as simple and inexpensiveas this advertIsement was to prepare,commands more arrentlOn than justcold type.

A Narrow Escape frona DeathAn Old LaManche Mine Shaft Was Almost Their Graveyard

By J. W. GILBERT

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there to meet him and he said no.I told him: "Well then, buy yourticket to Ranrem and come withme. I had wired my father tocome to Little Harbor East in amotor boat for me. So my friendJim came in company with me andwe boarded the train at 5.00 o'clockin the evening and started on ourtrip homeward.

We arrived at our destinationaround nine thirty or ren o'clock.We got off the train with Our lug­gage and started to walk to LirtleHarbor East. There was aboutone foot of snow on the groundwith a frozen crust on it whichmade very bad travelling. I hada suitcase and one parcel contain­ing an overcoat and Jim had a suit­case with a bre~ch-loading gunstrapped to it. His suitcase alsocontained three boxes of 12 gaugecartridges which was quite heavyto take along. This was his firsttrip from St. John's via Lirtle Har­bor East. wbich we did not reacb.but I myself bad travelled this wavmany times before. .

I. being the guide, went aheadand Jim followed after. When wehad been walking for about fifteenor twenty minutes r discovered wehad gone astray. Nevertheless weplodded on. It was not very dark.There were some stars but nomoon. As we walked on in anorthwest direction we came insight of the water in Placentia Bay

ATLANTIC GUARDIAN

ST. JOHN'S

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some thirty-five years ago. I wasthen living in Haystack, PlacentiaBay, and I came to St. John's sometime in the New Year on business.Having finished my work I wentto the Railway Station to buy aticket out to a train stop two mileswest of the watering shoot at Ran­tern. There I met a friend whowas travelling in my direction. Hisname was James Peach from Spen­cer's Cove, and he was going to getoff the train at Arnold's Cove. Iasked him if he had a motor boat

and then I got a beating where wewere.

I said ro my friend that we wetequite some distance off Our trackfor Little Harbor and that it wouldbe a much shorter distance for usto go down in a northeast directionand try ro get to LaManche. Sothere and then we decided.

Jim was thirsty all night andwas eating snow ro quench histhirst which was making himworse. As we travelled we met atrail leading south-east from IslandCove ro Rantem in Trinity Baywhere there had been a telegraphcable laid underground some yearsprevious ro that. I knew aboutthis and advised my friend whatthis trail was and where it led ro.This was not much of a consola­tion to him-thirsty. hungry andweary. But we plodded on.

As we went further on we cameto a large brook that was frozenover and there was a place in itabout six or seven feet across and Iheld on to some bushes and beganto jump to try and break the icefor Jim to get a drink of water toquench his thirst. The water had

shrunk about six inches from theice and when I jumped in gave wayand I went to my knees in thewater and lost my overshoes butJim got his drink.

Then we climbed up a hill fromthe side of Rapp Brook. We gotinto very thick woods which wecould scarcely get through withour luggage. Jim said we wouldlie down until morning but neitherof us had a match to make a fireso [ suggested that we walk onrather than give up and freeze rodeath. We got clear of the woodsand came out on open ground.Then the little village of LaManchecame into view which gave us newlife and vigor. thinking we wouldsoon get shelter with the kindfriends in their homes.

At last we came almost to ourdoom as we were now approachingthe old shafts of LaManche minesthat had ceased working for prob­ably one hundred or more years.We knew nothing until we caIUe todeep gulches in the ground whichlooked like small brooks that haddried up with the frost. We walkeddown the sloping sides but not to

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the bottom. If we had we wouldnot have been alive today to tellthis stOty. When we got patt waydown we jumped acrOss andclimbed up the bank on the oppo­site side and as we made a few moresteps we saw another such brook asabove mentioned. Then somethingstruck me like a flash that thesewere not brooks. and as I wasaware that there was an old minein this vicinity it came to me thatwe were standing on the groundovet the old mine shaft that hadlong years ago caved in and hadwe gone another step forward wewould both have gone down in themine below, which was a hundredfeet deep and filled with watet,and nothing more would be everknown of us.

It might even be possible thatpeople have gone down there in

past years and their fate is yet un­known. There is a mystery abouttwo boys that went astray somefifteen years ago in a snowstormand I have always had a feelingthat this is where they met theirdoom. I can feel a cold streak run­ning down my spine every time [think of how near we were to ourdeath. It was the guiding hand ofProvidence that steered us from itas this place is on the commons. Iwould think that many cattle thathave gone astray have met disasterin these old mines as there is nofence or marker on it to indicatethe danger that lurks there.

When we got over our scare andbegan to bteathe again we madeour way to the village in search ofshelter which was immediatelygiven when we knocked on thedoor of our good friends, Me. and

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Mrs. James Flynn, who were inbed at the time of our arrival. Theyimmediately got up, made a fireand got us dry clothes and food.They took every care of us andgave us a good bed to sleep in,which we appreciated very mucbas we were very tired and wearyafter our long, hard tramp, but Idid not sleep as I was thinking ofmy fatber, wondering if he hadcome to Linle Harbor for me andwould find no tidings of me thereand tbere were no phones at eitherLaManche or Linle Harbor in thosedays.

When morning came Mr. Flynnfollowed our footsteps up over themines and be came back quire scaredand told us rhat we did not gosix inches from going down in theold shaft.

The wind was blowing from thenorth in the morning and with asnow squall coming up we wantedMr. Flynn to give us his dory torow across the Bay to our home.but he did not think it was suit­able and told us that since we hadsuch a narrow escape from deathtbe night before he would not loanus the dory until the weatber gotfine. It cleared about 11.00 0'clockin the morning, the wind moder-

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ated and be told us to take thedory. We rowed across the Baya distance of six or seven milesand when we got to the entranceof the harbor 1 met my father in asmall motor boat going to LinleHarbor to meet me. So we allwent home quite happy after ournarrow escape from death in theold mines.

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The First MailBy GEORGE WHITELEY

For 40 Years Postmaster of Bonne Esperance, Labrador

THE Mailman is coming acrossthe Bay. What excitement

those words caused. Everybodyrushed out to meet him. We helpedcarry the bags, unharnessed thedogs and fed them. Everybodyshook his hand and, of coutse,evetybody was asking-what isthe news from the West? Howcame it that we in Labrador had amail in winter? That is what thisstory is about.

I t had been decided during thesummer of 1865 that my eldestbrother William was to go toQuebec to attend school during thewinter, and he had arranged with

Captain Blair to go with him onthe last trip in October. CaptainBlair was late that fall and it waswell on to the end of October be­fore he was sighted coming upfrom Blanc Sablan with a fresh

east wind under full sail. As thevessel came in it was seen he didnot intend to anchor. The fote­sail came down but he kept the bigmainsail up, and the fore staysail.The vessel came up in the wind,then fell away and slowly drifted.Captain Blair was shouting:"Come on with the freight. I donot intend to drop anchor. I amin a hurry to go on with this fine,

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fair wind, so hurry wirh thefreight ...

Amongst the freight to go wasone hugh drum of seal oil-250gallons. All the big boars werehauled up for the winter; only thebait boat, a small boat was afloatro get this big cask on board. Theonly way was to harness it andtow ir alongside the vessel, so themen set out to do this. Mean­while the vessel kepr drifringslowly out the Bay, luffing up andfilling away, holding her steerageway.

Afrer a hard row rhe boatreached the side of the vessel. Thetackle was hooked on and the bigcask landed on deck. My brotherclimbed up the side, the foresailwas hoisted and she was away forQuebec. It was the last link withthe outside we would have for sixmonths.

We settled down for the longbut by no means idle winter. Myfather saw to it that no idle breadwas eaten on the Island. Everyday brought its work-the trips tothe pond for the ice and for thewater wirh komatic and dogs; themen in the twine loft mending thenets, the two hunters to hunt andtend the traps and snare rabbits,the women busy in the house.Every bit of daylight was used andthe long nights passed pleasantly.\Ve had books in plenty and took

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JUNE, 1956

turns reading aloud. At 9.30 wehad family prayers and then ro bed.

The winter months passedquickly until February when camea strange team of dogs with a fur­buyer from atasquan, 250 milesro the westward. What news hadhe. At first he appeared reluctantro talk but at last it came out. Apiece of wood and some parts ofcargo, broken barrels and so on,had been picked up near EsquimauxPoint near Seven Islands. On apiece of wood was parr of a ship'sname "Marie."

It was supposed a wreck mighthave happened. The name ofCaptain Blair's vessel was BessieMarie. Nothing else would hesay; nothing positive; nothingsure, nothing conclusive. Youcan imagine the suspense this newscaused. Was the vessel wrecked?Were the people on board drown­ed? William, what of him? Butmy mother made no fuss before thechildren. Very quietly she steppedaway to her room and nothing wassaid then or afterwards as the dayspassed. But it could be felt-acloud hung over the house.

William Brought the BoatSo it came about one fine day

in late April. Father and Motherwent ro the Lookout with theglass, as was the custom. Any daynow one might see the first sailcoming down the Inside Run and

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across the Ea y-the first fishermanor trader, long looked for. Theyhad hardly reached the hill whenthey spied a white sail. It seemedto be a small boat. The last wordsgiven to my brother were: "Inthe spring, coming down, leave thevessel at atasquan. A man there,Mr. Caslanio, is building a newboat for me. Take charge of herand bring her down."

"William," said my mother, "ifthe boy is alive that is he bringingyour new boat," and they bothhurried down to the wharf. Sureenough it was William in the newboat. He said the Bessie Mariehad met a bit of a storm in theGulf on the way up but he couldnot account for the story of thewreck with the name of Marie onit-"Bush Telegraph," as we callit on the coast. was not very reli­able. But what anguish couldsuch a report cause and no way todeny or confirm it. Turning tomy father, mother said: "William,this is the last winter I spend onthis coast unless you get the Gov­ernment to give us a postal service.a winter mail."

"How can I get rhe Govern­ment to do any such thing" saidmy father.

"By going to Quebec and fight­ing for it" said Mother.

"We will all go" said myFather.

The Fight for Winter Mail

In the fall, after the voyage hadbeen disposed of and everythingsettled, he got the little schoonerready and with the family as itwas at that time, four girls, fourboys, two hired men, they set sailfor Quebec 1000 miles away.After a rough rrip up the St. Law­rence they reached Quebec a monthlater. Taking a house in LowerTown and getting his familysettled. he then engaged a lawyer,Mr. Dunbar, Q.c. and began histask of besieging the enemy, everyMember of the House of Assemblyfrom the Prime Minister down,especially the Post Office Depart­ment.

When the Assembly met in thespring they attended the openingand again urged the Postmaster

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General to get the Bill putthrough. A few days before myfather was ready to go back to hisfishery Mr. Dunbar came with thenews that a sum of money hadbeen granted to run a mail fromQuebec down the North Shore asfar as Bonne Esperance. summerand winter. My father was giventhe privilege of naming the firstMailman and he was appointed thefirst Postmaster and Magistrate forthe coast from Quebec to Bradore.

And so, for over 70 years, byboat in summer and by komaticand dogs in winter, the Mailmanhas carried on. In summer alsothe coastal boat carries mail andpassengers, but that does not inter­fere with the Mailman's contract­to carry the mail winter and sum­mer, as granted 70 years ago; to­day a plane will now and thendrop and pick up a bag of mailonce a month. Today it is possibleto get a message to Quebec in afew hours.

The radio, the telegraph andthe flying machine have made awonderful difference to peopleliving on Labrador.

At the time of which I writethere was complete silence; not asound of anything happening inthe outside was possible once thelast vessel had sailed in the fall;nothing would be heard before theadvent of the first fishing vessels.I remember my father telling theBishop of Quebec, on going onboard the first American fishingbolt in early May and asking fornews, getting in reply: "Goodnews, the War is over. but badnews also. President Lincoln iskilled."

JUNE, 1956

By JERRY McDONALD:\fother nature once took pan,In a COlllest of great arlo

Blessed with lalent and \cf) wise,She wenL to work to win first prize.And laking her brush, with :)Ile s\\ift

motion,·Formed the miglH) Atlantic Oeeal'

Then lI'iing her paint and brush \\ ithcarc,

Created an island and placed it lhcIC.

She worked with patience [or count-les'i hour'i,

Pailllillg mountains, trees and flowers.Lakes and streams, rocks and rills,Then she added pine clad hills.She knew her island was one to pride,But )CI she was not satisfied.To win first prize. she was sure of this,\Vith such a job, how could she miss.

It seemed to her a sacred duty,To fill this island wilh nature's beauty.So with tender care she began once

more,And added a bit of heaven along its

shore.She fanned large rivers and bid them

flow,Through isles of green where forests

grow.In the open spaces she placed wild

game,And to each of these she gave a name.

To her island she gave a human race,Both strong of mind and fair of face.This paradise was theirs to hold.And to each she ga\e a heart of gold.God smiled upon her work of an.\\'ords of praise flowed from his heart.And placing first prize in her hand.He named the island ~ewfoundland.

ii Salmania" !By DR. GREVILLE HASLAM

in The Atlantic Salmon Journal

T HE question as to how crazya salmon fisherman can be­

come is probably answered by myrelating a couple of personal ex­periences which will cause many ofmy fellow anglers or readers tonod their heads sagely and say"Me too." There is probably nolimit to the emotional confusionthat can be aroused by the unpre­dictable or fantastic things thatsalmon. and other anglers. canexperience.

One day three years ago when Iwas fishing the Lower Gander inNewfoundland mine hosr was go­ing down to Gander Bay via hiscanoe. driven by a twelve horse­power motor. running the rapidsat prodigious speed. An over­sized motor in a canoe is the New·foundlander's version of a "hotrod." He dropped me off by my­self at the Sunshine Pool. a veryintriguing stretch about a mileabove tidewater. Probably a thirdof the Gander water flows throughthe Sunshine Pool. which is formedby the coming together of a largenumber of small shallow channelsthat meander down among a dozenislands. I suppose the whole Poolis a hundred and fifty yards long.It flows out into the main branchagain in a deep, swift,. strong run,about forry yards wide. dependingon the height of rhe water, whichat the confluence becomes a terrificrough rapid. Salmon coming up-

50

stteam do not sense that the Sun­shine Pool is a cul-de-sac so a largenumber of fish enter the pool andstay there waiting for flood water.not dropping back to the mainstream up which they could pro­

'ceed easily. The pool is one ofthose places where one can step offfrom solid rock into six feet ofwater. It has in it many raggedboulders running to a dozen timesthe size of a grand piano.

• • •The day was overcast with a

little rain, and visibility below thesurface of the water was nil. Fish­ing unsuccessfully until near dark.toward the foot of the pool Ihooked a nice fish, which ran up­stream on the far side of the pooland around one of the boulders.on which he sawed off my leader.Three casts later I hooked anotherfish. with exactly the same pro­cedure; he got behind a rock­pinnacle from which I could notdislodge him.• I went up streamand down, tried to throw a loopover the rock, slacked away fiftyyards of line and went throughmany expedients that I have nowforgotten.

Finally my empty leader cameback to me. A minute later Ihooked a third fish. It must havebeen salunar time. As he wentthrough the identical tactics. Icautiously felt the depth of thewater before me with a gaff which

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I carried on a thong over myshoulder, let myself into the waterand waded to the other side, exactlyto my arm pits. and proceeded toplay the fish. After tearing roundin the usual manner he starteddown stream, dead weight with theheavy power of the stream to aidhim. I tried to get below him,but he kept backing away in waterthat was steadily getting faster,until I was within twenty yards ofwhere the main stream surged in.I felt a curious resolution that itwould be the fish or me, so know·ing that r could go no further thanthe point of confluence, and havingcrossed the stream of forty yardsabove, r waded in to return to theopposite bank. About my fifthstep r lost bottom and went sailingmerrily along, pipe clenched inteeth. dog-paddling for the oppositebank. Forrunately r had beenwading wet with English hobnailedwading shoes; I had no rubberboots or hip-waders to fill up. Ifound myself unexpectedly buoy­ant, and figured afterwards that Imust have had an air-pocket undermy zippered wind-breaker. Thedistance to the other side was per­haps thirty yards, but the streamran like a mill-race, with a quartermile of rough water and bouldersbelow, and the salmon already fiftyyards down stream. r managed toscramble ashore, perhaps fortyyards below, at a shallow pointbetween a large boulder and thebank. The salmon was nowseventy-five yards below me, but Isprinted after him and finally gaffedhim a hundred and fifty yardsbelow where I had landed. Thiscertainly called for libation,

JUNE, 1956

WE WflNE ,YOU EVER ONWARD'"

CITIZENS OF STEPHENVILLE,

We ore proud to 'be port gf"your town, and

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wish you well in all future undertakings.. '

Help us to help you, by selecting your com-

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CONGRATULATIONS

TOWN OF STEPHENVILLE

WHICH GREW FROM A SETTLEMENT TO A MODERN TOWN

PRACTICALLY OVERNIGHT. THE COMMUNTY, AIDED BY

THE UNITED STATE~ AIR FORCE, CREATED THIS ACHIEVE­

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.PLENDIDLY IN THE FOSTERING OF GOOD-WILL BETWEEN

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