Cape Breton's Magazine

They don't know who did it. And a lot of times I've read in the paper where they said "the murder of Bill Davis." But I can't see it as a murder. Because it was a stray bullet. So why would it be a murder? You couldn't call it a murder. And that's what it states in that paper--a murder. But I couldn't see into that. Whether that would be a murder or not. I wouldn't call it a murder. And I don't think a lot of other people would, either. Because it was a stray bullet that got him. And he was the only one that was killed. Gilbert Wat? son was wounded, in the arm and in the knee, I think. And he said he wouldn't let them take the bullets out: he said he'd take them to his grave. And that's what he did. He wouldn't get operated on. And Mr. Watson only died here about 4 years ago. (And your family--how did they react?) Oh, they all took it hard. Every one of them took it hard. Couldn't believe it. And a lot of my brothers, their boyfriends and that, that they chummed around with--they all took it hard. They couldn't believe it. And my sisters.... My brother Jim one time took my father's sweater- coat. And he wore it to the pit. And when my sister came home from school, she went to hang up her coat. And she saw the sweater-coat, and she took to crying. And my mother asked her what was the matter. She said, "Look at Dad's sweater- coat. What's it do? ing here?" Come to find out my brother had taken it to wear to the pit. My sister didn't think he should have. (Tell me about your dad's funeral. It must have been very well attended.) When the remains was at the grave, there were cars still at my mother's house. (How far away would that be?) Two miles. Out to Scotch- town. And my mother lived on Wood Avenue. And they marched, besides the cars--all the miners marched. It was an awful crowd there. (Your mum was still pretty young.) She was 35. Dad was 37 when he died. She was 35 when he was killed. And she was 6 months pregnant when he died. Bill was born in September. Dad was killed in June. (How did your family manage? It must have been terribly difficult.) Well, it was, yes. Till the boys went to the mines to work. Bob left school, Lloyd left school, and Bill left school. Jim went and got married. (Your mom never remarried.) No. She could have. The fellow that wanted to marry her wanted her to put us all in the home. And she said no. There were 11 of us then. 'Cause one had died--a boy had died. She said, "No way. If you want to marry me...." She used to go with him, I guess, before she met my father. And he wanted to marry her. And he wanted to put us all in the home--all the young ones. And she said no. She'd manage. But we used to go out and work. Do day's work, and we'd get 500 or 250. We'd bring it home; we'd give it to her. And let her buy groceries with it. She wouldn't part with us. She brought every one of us up. And she was getting $100 a month. There was a 50 levy--50 taken off each miner every year. And that gave her $100 a month. Well, then they said the fund was getting low. Well, I took her up home with me. She died up there in Guysborough. And "I took the road less travelled by ...and that has made all the difference." -Robert Frost Richmond County *s Route 4 The convenience of modern accommodations in the charm of an historic village at INN ON THE CANAL St. Peter's 20 Motel Units Licensed Dining Lounge • Cable T.V. BEACHES FISHING • GOLFING HISTORIC SITES Come visit us at the Inn where the only thing we overlook is the beautiful Bras d'Or Lakes! Box 9, St Peter's, N. S. BOE 3B0 • 1-800-535-2200 SPECIALIZING IN HOME-STYLE COOKING Parker's RESTAURANT Sunday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. FULLY LICENSED • 535-2405 • FAMILY DINING St. Peter's Functional Stoneware and Custom Dinnerware Turnstone Pottery WHEELTHROWN Studio and Showroom on the Harbour 226-3004 Arichat on Jack Ouellette, Potter IsIG MadaiTie V'V&CO; H Country Living at Its Best! On the Shore of the Bras d'Or Lake 1 mUe east of ST. PETERS MOTEL & COTTAGES P.O. Box 193, Single Cottages • 2-Bedroom Housekeeping Cottages • Motel JOYCE'S Motel & Cottages • 002) 535-2404