Cape Breton's Magazine

The story of HMS Pelican it should be mentioned that in addition to police duty among the French fishermen, the Pelican true to the traditions of the British Na? vy was often called upon to assist ships of the Merchantile Marine, and 1 will just mention one outstanding incident, which may be of interest. In 1891 the Dominion Coal had built for them in England a ship for the carriage of coal from Sydney to Montreal. She was a fine large steam? ship for the time, called the Cape Breton. On her maiden voyage to Canada, she encountered much fog and bad weather off the New? foundland coast and finally piled up on the rocks at a place known to most mariners only too well, called "Petit Harbor Motion." The Cape Breton found herself on a ledge of rock. The Chief Engineer was Mr. J. G. L. Cooke, and to make matters worse he had on board as a pas? senger to Canada for the first time-his bride, whom we are happy to WHALE WATCH Daily Trips July & August: 10:00 a.m. • 1:30 p.m. • 4:30 p.m. (Weather permitting. Gail for times in June and September.) For Confirmation of Times and Reservations: (902) 383-2981 2 1/2-hour cruise • frequent sightings of Minke Whales, Pilot Whales, Dolphins, Fin Whales BELLE ISLE LINCOLN MERCURY - SENIOR SERVICE - • Any Make Car Care Plan for Senior Citizens • FREE Leaner Car on Overnight Repairs • FREE Pick Up and Delivery of Your Car • FREE Tow to Our Service Department • FREE 20% Off on Ford Parts • FREE 20% Off on Repairs Done Here • FREE Life Insurance on Car Loans • FREE 1. D. Card 195 Prince St., Sydney "At the Tracks" 539-9292 CONTINUED FROM INSIDE FRONT COVER say still resides in Sydney, at 697 George St. I have asked this gra? cious and accomplished lady to tell us her story herself. I give it here: Mrs. J. L. G. Cooke's Story "Listening in some years ago at the time of the launching of the SS Queen Marv I began to think of the last launching of a steam-ship which I had seen away back in the year 1890 when the SS Cape Breton was launched from Osborne, at Grahams Ship Yard on the 14th of August 1890. "My husband was one of the Engineers, and I was sailing to Canada with him on that trip. All went well with us until we reached the New? foundland coast, when with very little warning we found our ship hard and fast on a shelving rock at Petit Harbor Motion in a very dense fog. We took the bottom about 2 o'clock A. M., and at daylight we were surrounded with fishing boats offering help, but under the cir? cumstances unable to render any. However one of the boats was en? gaged to take my husband to St. John's where he was fortunate enough to find one of the Cape Breton's sister ships, the Coban. which at once came to our assistance with a Newfoundland sealing steamer. The combined efforts of the Coban and the sealing steamer were unable to move the Cape Breton and they had to give it up. "Word was again sent to St. John's and the Admiral of the North At? lantic Squadron who happened to be there with several ships of war, at once ordered the Pelican to proceed to our assistance. She came to us at once and I can tell you we were all pretty glad to see the Peli? can nosing in as close as she could safely come, and getting a large hawser on board of the Cape Breton. A signal man was put on board of the stranded steamer and he com? municated by means of small flags with an? other signal man on board the Pelican. It was all done so quietly and efficiently that 1 have often thought about it since with a very thankful heart. In a very short time after get? ting the hawser on board our ship was afloat and on her way to dry dock at St. John's, where we remained for six weeks and had sixteen new plates and a new stem put in. "I never pass the Pelican where she lies rot? ting on the shore, but I think of that thrilling time so many years ago, and wonder what would have happened had she not been at hand to assist us before a gale came up and ground us to pieces on the rocks. The Pelican was a good ship of her class at that time, and I think it is a great pity she could not at least have had decent burial." From the Admiralty Records, and Mrs. Cooke's most interesting story, we must now turn to the records of the Hudson's Bay Company: "The Pelican sailed far northern seas for years. She carried food and trappings in. She bore out precious cargoes of Arctic fur. Countless times the ice-floes tried to cmsh her. The sturdy teakwood hull beat off lash? ing waves of many Atlantic storms. For twen? ty 'outfits' this brave sloop challenged the hazards of navigation to the 'Bay'; but, skip? pered by H.B.C. captains, she met no great? er disaster than the occasional loss of a pro? peller and minor breakages from heavy ice." Here we include extracts from the log of the Pelican's last voyage: "Friday 23/7/20- Dense fog: Vessel stopped in ice. Growler struck vessel in port side, damaging four