The Hibernia
The 3-mast schooner “The Hibernia” had been built at Noel, Nova Scotia. On December 8, 1911 she was loaded with lumber and on route from Hantsport to the Barbados. While sailing up the Bay of Fundy she hit snow and strong headwinds. She had to make several stops at ports along the way because of the bad weather. The last one being Beaver Harbour, New Brunswick where the crew celebrated their Christmas. Two days later the storm finally broke and the Hibernia again started her voyage. But not long after hitting the open seas she was hit with more bad weather and a vicious storm. The storm was a bad one and when the stern broke off letting sea water to pour in they knew they were in trouble. They tied themselves together and to the mooring so they would not be swept overboard. It was not long and the hulk was just above the sea lever and the men were threatened by bone-chilling water. The vessel was more raft than sailing ship now and it was kept afloat mostly by the cargo of lumber they had aboard. For four weeks the crew were stranded bobbing in the water clinging to what was left of their schooner. It was mostly due to the leadership of their captain, Captain Charles McDade that they survived so long. They had to watch as other ships came close by, made unsuccessful attempts to rescue them and have to leave them behind. One stayed for six hours trying to run life lines but the sea proved too much and they also had to abandon the attempt.
Food was running out, the only thing left were turnips that they had to boil in sea water. There was only one cabin left intact on board. Finally giving up on any chance of being rescued the Capt. Wrote a letter to his wife and stuffed it a bottle and threw it overboard. Then three o’clock in the morning on January 27, 1912 the crew seen lights from another ship passing by. It was a British steamer, “The Denis” under the command of Capt. Philip Tocque on it’s way back to England. At first they did not believe this would be any different than any of the other attempts. However Capt. Tocque was determined to save this crew and his second officer O.J.C. Lee managed to manoeuvre a lifeboat close enough to rescue them. The eight man crew of the Hibernia were so weak they could barely jump into the lifeboat. The Denis sailed the survivors to Liverpool, England where the rescuers and survivors were presented with special gifts from Canadian government and Capt. Tocque was given a special silver cup for his efforts. Capt. McDada returned to his home in Parrsboro and six months later the letter he had sealed in the bottle was sent to him there. (Story published in the Hantsport Anglican Church Parish magazine in 1912 by a crew-member Charles Barkhouse. Article called “Thrilling Experience of the Shipwreck & Rescue of a Parishioner”.)
|
Sponsors
|
