Cape Breton's Magazine

ma Canal. Down there all winter. We got back in Halifax in June and went on the drydock there. I wired some money to the wife and the message told her, "Meet me in Sydney." Still I didn't meet her. When she got here I was up in Montreal.... So we come into North Sydney. Them days, there was no transportation from North Sydney around. You had to have a boat or something. Kelly used to be the one looked after the food on the ships, so he landed me over here. So, I took a trip off to see the wife and the kids. I think somebody was sick at that time. And (then) I was supposed to meet (my ship) in Halifax, with a convoy. She never showed up. I guess she got torpedoed. I went to Halifax to meet her and she never showed up. I came back to Sydney, and I joined the Rose Castle, one of the (Steel) Company boats. I was on the Rose Castle three times. I fired on her (in the engine room, shovelling coal into the boiler). I was on her firing all the time.... She was torpe? doed {after George left her). They took her off of the coal run after I left her and AT IO N A CENTRAL CAPE BRETON (ALONG ROUT In the Heart of Cape Breton Highland Height' A cozy retreat off the beaten track, but on the road to everywhere in Cape Breton. A gorgeous view of the Bras d'Or Lakes, private baths, two dou? ble beds in each room, pleasant, relaxing surroundings • plus a licensed dining room with a full menu of seafood and local dishes, featuring tradi? tional Cape Breton entertainment. Open till late October. INNKEEPERS: SHEILA AND BRUCE MacNEIL BOX 19, ROUTE 223, ION A, N.S. BOA ILO www.highlandvillage.ns.ca TOLL FREE: 1 -800-660-8122 put her on the Wabana run. That's hauling Wabana iron ore up to Sydney. And three of them got torpedoed. Her and the ''trathco- na, and the Saguenay, A submarine come in and sunk the three of them, anchored. The skippers used to go on conference them days down to St. John's. They had a naval base and everything there. While the skip? pers were out there on conference, a sub? marine came in and blew the three of them up. Pretty nearly everybody was lost on the three ships. There was only a few guys saved. (And you could have been on the Rose Castle?) I wasn't, but I could have been. I left her. I joined the Navy in June emd I think she got torpedoed in Septem? ber. A lot of carelessness anyway, too. That's like the Caribou, The Caribou should never have been torpedoed {October 14, 1942), They had enough ships there, they could have put them ships on and looked after her and hauled her back and forth. But they let her irun on her own. {For much more about the Caribou, see Is? sues 10 and 46 of Cape Breton's Magazine.) That submarine done a lot of damage. My mother (had) died. (The CariJbou) got sunk while we were over to (Newfoundland for) the funeral. So we had to come back on the Segona, Me and my wife. The CariJbou got sunk after we got over. She got sunk coming back that same trip. And I stayed on the Rose Castle till June 1940, then I joined the Navy. Them days, all the fellas were going overseas, and fellas would get on the Steel Plant then, if you were a cripple or what. But I didn't. I got off and was waiting for a crew. I had an application in for the Navy anyway, and the mail come aboard the ship. I had my application, so I went up to the old man and he said, "Oh, you don't have to get off," he said. I was thirty-three years old, eh? I said, "Forget about it, I'm going." So, I did. I went up in Hali? fax and joined the Navy. Five-and-a-half years in the Navy. All The Nova Scotia Highland Village in lona, Cape Breton, brings you back to a special time. Stroll through this channing village of historic buildings. See costumed ani? mators demonstrate weaving, rug hook? ing, black-smithing and the Gaelic language in conversation and song. Stay at our neighbour, the Highland Heights Inn. Savour home-cooked meals accompanied by traditional entertainment and enjoy a peaceful sleep only a country night can provide. It's an experience you won't want to miss! For more information call us now at (902) 725-2272 or visit us online at www.highlandvillage.ns.ca VILLAGE Come feel the spirit of our Pioneer Ancestors... Thigibh Is Fairichihh Misneach Arr Sinnsearan A Rinn An TilS'Aiteachaidh...