Cape Breton's Magazine

other till they broke between the two. The Little Quarry was horses and carts. Ihe other one had trollies with a rail going in to the face. They used to take the plaster out of the cliff, out of the face. They used to drill it. Three fel? lows on the auger. Two fellows twisting and a kind of heavy man on the crowbar to hold her to the face • the two fellows turning the crank. Ihen they'd load those holes and blow it out. (Would you shovel if?) Aw, just pick it up by hand. It used to come from the face quite big. And then they used to put small holes in with an auger and put a little dynamite in to make it smaller. And then there were fellows breaking those bits up again • were the breakers. They were getting a little more money • breaking with picks, small.enough to handle. And 3 or 4 of them carts were a trolley load. I think it was 3 or 4 trolley loads would fill one of the box cars. When the boat was out they used to load the cars to have when the boat would come in, to haul out to the shore. They'd go to the shore themselves, just kind of a gravity. Sometimes they worked in the winter. Not very much. They wouldn't have the full gang at all. Ihere was no shipping in the wintertime. (And nights?) Not very many nights. They had lights. Carbide lights- just like flares. Tanks with cold water in it and they used to light them with a spark. And that would give you boy a nice flame right into th?? face, in the quarry. We worked some nights but not very many. Just, you know, when there'd be a hurry on for a boat. My gosh it was quite a light. Just till midnight. Then they started tunnelling, you know, and that was the finish of the qusirry. Ihey never shipped a thing out of it. Kind of a dirty place, underground mining. They didn't work there very long • only a winter or maybe two. They drove a tunnel and they had rooms • just all ready • but they stopped the quarry first. They claimed • and I well believe it was right, too • it was costing too much to get it up to • as far as I know • Portland, Maine? It was good grade plaster. Nothing wrong with the plaster. But they closed the tunnel up when they pulled out • tight. Only the cement foundation of the winch is still there. I worked there 2 or 3 years. (Did you like it?) Aw, we didn't know better. (Did you like it better than the lumber woods?) Aw, no, no, no, no. Ihat pick and shovel was kind of a drag. Q G) - 1, 2, 3. 4, 5. 6. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. 12. 13. 14. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Danny Brickett William Smith Peter Brickett Duncan MacLeod John Kerr Murdoch Smith Malcolm A. MacDonald Roderick MacLeod Philip MacLeod Murdoch MacLeod Jack MacLean Joe Brickett Murdoch Matheson Dan MacDpnald Kenny MacDonald Matheson Angus B, MacLeod Murdoch Neil MacDonald Johnny MacDonald Luther Buchanan 23. 24, 25. 26, 27. 28, 29. 30, 31, 32, 33. 34, 35. 36, 37, 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. Alex MacDonald Murdoch MacDonald Neil MacLeod Murdoch Morrison Angus Matheson DoJ.MacIver Murdoch MacDonald Angus Smith Sam Kerry D.J.MacLeod Sandy MacLennan Little John MacDonald John P. Matheson Alex Montgomery Sandy Morrison 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52, 53. 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59. 60. 61. 62. 63, 64, 65. 66, Murdoch Peggy MacLeod Norman Morrison Norman D, MacLeod Danny MacDonald Malcolm MacLean iVe would very much like to hear from readers who can correct Murdoch Smith Horse owned by Johnny Peggy MacLeod Angus Morrison supply names of men in this picture. We would also like to find more photos of life and work in the St. Ann's Quarry, For their help, our thanks to Mr, & Mrs, Dan Neil Matheson. Mr. & Mrs. A..T.Morrison. Catherine Matheson. Jessie Matheson. D.J.Montgomery • and Bucky Macleod who first suggested that we might undertake this story.