Cape Breton's Magazine

in from Newfoundland. Six o'clock in the morning, she'd land the passengers. Exam? ine their baggage. It was foreign then, Newfoundland was a British colony; it wasn't Canadian, (And those people would have to clear Customs,) Yes, It was only a matter of form. They had nothing down there to bring up. I never found anything. It was only a matter of form, because a lot of them were poor people and wouldn't have very much, anyway.. But it had to be gone through. When the First World War came, I was al? ready a preventive officer. Ships from United States or South America, around the Pacific or down the St. Lawrence--they'd meet here (Sydney Harbour). They'd come up the harbour, and about twice a week, there'd be a convoy of 30 to 40 ships would leave here for overseas. Every for? eign ship that came in the harbour had to be inspected. And I used to have to do that sometimes at night, climb up the sides of those high ships, up the ladders. In our business, we have to plan 50 years ahead because it takes that long to grow a tree. Help us protect our young forests Nova Scotia Forest Industries Producers of newsprint and bleached sulphite pulp yfe''s' Two camouflaged ships awaiting convoy in Sydney Harbour, WWl; right, seaplane on the harbour. They'd have to enter and clear port. I'd just see if there was anything they had to report, and so on. I wouldn't be looking for anything. The First World War, they had a submarine fence across the harbour, down between here and Sydney Mines, with a gate. And the ships were all camouflaged, or striped different ways, so they couldn't be seen so much, more like waves in the water. Eve? ry ship was camouflaged--there'd be no two alike. The slow ones were in this harbour and the fast ones would collect in Halifax. They had those with explosives on this side of the harbour, the northwest arm. The others would go to the other side, what we called Sydney River. Elva E. Jackson,. Frank Jackson's daughter: There was an American naval air force base here at North Sydney in the First World War. Those Americans had seaplanes. And they brought them here in crates and put them together here. Liberty engines. They followed the convoys so far out. That was f their purpose. But J, they could only go "' so far-- seaplanes , with just enough gas to follow the con? voys out safely, then turn back. Frank E. Jackson: And the soldiers of the 94th Regiment-- there was a company of them stationed here, too. In the First World War, they were stationed in a big skating rink used to be out here. They were par? ticularly guarding the cable office. El- [va: All the messages, war dispatches, and everything from over? seas went through J' Railings Fire Escapes Room Dividers Spiral Staircases Wrought Iron Furniture 564-2075 Sydport Industrial Park The Iron Shop Ltd. Miners'Village Restaurant Meals served by lamplight in a uniquely warm and pleasant atmosphere, located at The Miners' Museum, Glace Bay, N. S. Telephone (902) 849-1788 Open; June 12-Sept. 3, 1983; Mon.-Sun. 11 a.m.-10 p