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Petty Harbour Bait Skiff
Kim Stockwood
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Good people all both great and small
I hope you will attend
And listen to these verses few
That I have lately penned
And I'll relate the hardships great
That fishermen must stand
While fighting for a livelihood
On the coast of Newfoundland
It happened to be in the summer time
In the lovely month of June
When fields were green, fair to be seen
And valleys were in bloom
When silent fountains do run clear
Caressed by Heaven's rain
And the dewy showers that fall at night
To fertilize the plain
We bid adieu unto our friends
And those we hold most dear
Being bound from Petty Harbour
In the springtime of the year
The little birds, as we sailed on
Sung o'er the hills and dales
Whilst Flora from her sportive groves
Sent forth her pleasant gales
On Saturday we sailed away
Being in the evening late
Bound into Conception Bay
All for a load of bait
The sea-gulls flying in the air
And pitching on the shore
But little we thought 'twould be our lot
To see our friends no more
ย
The weather being fine we lost no time
Until we were homeward bound
The whales were sporting in the deep
And the sword-fish swimming 'round
And Luna bright, shone for that night
To illuminate the "say"
And the stars shone bright, to guide us right
Upon our rude pathway
We shook our reefs and trimmed our sails
Across the bay did stand
The sun did rise, all circleized
Like streamers o'er the land
The clouds lay in the atmosphere
For our destruction met
Boreas blew a heavy squall
Our boat was overset
When we came to the "Nor'ad" head
A rainbow did appear
There was every indication
That a storm was drawing near
Old Neptune riding on the waves
To windward of us lay
You'd think the ocean was on fire
In Petty Harbour Bay
John French was our commander
Mick Sullivan second-hand
And all the rest were brave young men
Reared up in Newfoundland
Six brave youths, to tell the truth
Were buried in the sea
But the Lord preserved young Menshon's life
For to live a longer day
ย
Your heart would ache, all for their sake
If you were standing by
To see them drowning, one by one
And no relief being nigh
Struggling with the boisterous waves
All in their youth and bloom
But at last they sank, to rise no more
All on the eighth of June
Jacob Chafe, that hero brave
And champion on that day
They boldly launched their boat with speed
And quickly put to sea
They saved young Menshon from the wreck
By their united skill
Their efforts would be all in vain
But for kind Heaven's will
Out of that fine young crew, you know
There was one escaped being drowned
He was brought to Petty Harbour
Where good comforts there he found
He is now on shore, and safe once more
With no cause to complain
He fought old Neptune up and down
Whilst on the stormy main
When the sad news arrived next day
In dear old St. John's town
There was crying and lamenting
On the streets both up and down
Their mothers were lamenting
Crying for those they bore
On the boisterous waves they found their graves
Where they ne'er shall see more
Now to conclude and finish
These few lines I write in pain
Never depend out of your strength
Whilst sailing on the main
But put your trust in Providence
Observe the Lord's command
And He'll guard you right, both day and night
Upon the sea and land
ย