Page 60 - Eddie Barrington: Early Diving Years

ISSUE : Issue 59

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1992/1/1

away from the surface. And I just sudden? ly, you know, awakened, and thought, "What the hell are you doing here?" Made it back to the surface. It seemed like I had to go a hundred feet to the surface again. Of course, I was probably just under. So I ditched the tank at that point. There was no air left in it; it was just a bur? den to me. So I dropped the tank and regu? lator and was just left with my suit and fins and faceplate, and snorkel. So I started for the shore, started for The Point. I thought to myself, "It's The Point or nowhere," you know. "You've had it if you don't make The Point." So I started to swim. And I wasn't that far away from The Point. All I remember actu? ally is swimming like hell. You know, really struggling. Which probably generat? ed a little more body heat and got me in a little better shape, really. Now anyone in Nova Scotia can call us and speak freely. TOLL FREE 1-424-5593 in Mainland Nova Scotia TOLL FREE 1-563-2444 in Cape Breton J. he Workers'Compensation Board of Nova Scotia is pleased to announce the introduction of toll-free service to our Halifax and Sydney offices. V • lients and employers wishing to check the status of a claim or receive any information can now do so from anywhere in Nova Scotia, free of charge. Just pick up the phone and dial 1-424-5593. in mainland Nova Scotia, and 1-563-2444, in Cape Breton. WeV if e're always at your service. So when you want to call us, feel free. Now more than ever, it pays to belong! 5668 South street, Post Office Box 1150, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2Y2 Telephone: (902) 424-8440 Sydney Medical Arts Building, 3 3 6 Kings Road, Suite 117. Sydney, Nova Scotia B1S1A9 Telephone: (902) 5 6 3 -2444 So the first thing I remember is being picked up by a wave, you know, and was just --swhooo!--hurtled into the rocks. Didn't strike anything. Next thing, I could feel a rock--a little outcrop? ping of rock--pressing on my chest. I realized what it was, and I just put my arms on it like that. And as the water was receding, I was able to maintain my po? sition. And then almost immediately, it seemed, another wave hit me and just threw me right up to where I was able to scramble out. So I just, just got out. Just--I was within a hair's breadth of be? ing drowned that time. My dad was there, too, on the shore; geez, he was--concerned. And the other fellow made it into the beach eventu? ally. Deep, deep snow there, too; I had an awful job to.... (Deep snow!) Yeah. To make it from The Point back up to the car on the road. We went down to the warden's station at Broad Cove. Dad roared in, you know, told them what had happened. So I got in there, still in my suit. Got in their bathtub and filled it up with warm, warm wa? ter. Got some heat back. And I sat there, and I know I drank half a bottle of Scotch sit? ting in this tub, and I didn't even get a glow on!... END OF PART ONE The photograph on page 51 Is by Charles Doucet. The engraving on page 55 is courtesy of Paul Cran- ford, lighthousekeeper, formerly at St. Paul's island. WORKERS' COMPeNSATION BOARD OF NOW SCOtIA

Cape Breton's Magazine