A Cyberbully and Survival On A Muskoka Homestead

   

     SORRY FOLKS. I'VE BEEN WRITING FOR FORTY YEARS AND WHILE IT'S TRUE I HAVE NEVER WON A PULITZER, A BOOKER PRIZE OR ANY KIND OF MAJOR  CASH AWARD THAT WOULD ALLOW ME TO QUIT MY DAY-JOB, IN ORDER THAT I MIGHT SPEND FROM HERE TO ETERNITY  WRITING, IN THIS BEAUTIFUL REGION OF THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, I HAVE BEEN AWARDED SOMETHING I HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE.

     DARN TOOTIN' ! I GOT MYSELF A CYBERBULLY TROLL WHO MAKES RIDICULOUS COMMENTS NUMEROUS TIMES EACH WEEK. TRYING I SUPPOSE TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL AT LEAST IN HIS OWN MIND. YET AS A RATHER GLARING  CONTRADICTION,  IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING A CYBERBULLY TROLL TYPE CHARACTER, IT SEEMS ABUNDANTLY SENSIBLE TO PROTECT ONE'S IDENTITY, WHICH IN THIS CASE BAFFLES ALL LOGIC. WE KNOW WHO THE BULLY IS, WHERE HE LIVES, WHAT HE DOES AS A PROFESSION AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER INTERESTING DETAILS WE NOW APPRECIATE BY THE COURSE OF DUE DILIGENCE. WHAT OUR TROLL, AND ANY COLLABORATOR HE MIGHT HAVE EMPLOYED TO HELP FULFILL THIS DIRTY DEED, SHOULD BE AWARE OF, IS THAT IT ISN'T ALL THAT DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SIGNED-UP THE FAKE ACCOUNT. WE DON'T REALLY NEED THIS HOWEVER, AS THE FELLOW OUTED HIMSELF FOUR OR FIVE TIMES ALREADY IN HIS MEAN-GUY COMMENTS, WHICH WERE INTENDED, AS HE NOTED THIS WEEK, JUST TO "MOCK" ME AS THIS BLOG'S "ONLY READER." GEEZ, THINK I CAN DO BETTER THAN JUST YOU CHUCK! IT SHOULD ALSO NOT COME AS A SURPRISE TO OUR FRIEND CHUCK LORRIE, THAT THE EDITORIAL MATERIAL HE SENT US DURING THE PAST TWO MONTHS, IS NOW MY PROPERTY TO DO WITH AS I PLEASE, AND SEEING AS YOU HAVE BEEN INTENT ON BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE BULLY YOU ARE,  I HAVE A PLAN TO PUBLISH THEM IN AN ESSAY ON CYBERBULLYING SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE WILL PROSECUTE YOU MR. TROLL. BUT, HERE'S THE PLUM IN THIS PARTICULAR PUDDING. CEASE AND DESIST MAKING YOUR UNREMARKABLE COMMENTS, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, AND BE SPARED THE PUBLIC HUMILIATION OF BEING OUTED IN THE LEGAL PROCESS, WE HAVE ALREADY SET IN MOTION. IF YOU ARE AS WISE AS YOU THINK YOU ARE MR. TROLL, YOU WILL DISAPPEAR INTO THE ABYSS OF CYBERSPACE TO NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU WISH TO CONTINUE THESE SENSELESS ATTACKS, THE FILE WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE THE POLICE AND WE WILL PRESS CHARGES FOR CYBER-BULLYING AND HARASSMENT.

     AS FOR MY BLOG READERS, I OFFER MY SINCERE APOLOGY FOR TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING THIS PAGE. SEEING AS MY WIFE AND RESEARCH PARTNER SUZANNE IS UPSET AT THE COMMENTS, MORESO THAN MYSELF, IT JUST SEEMS APPROPRIATE TO TAKE A BREAK TO MOP-UP A TROLL. SEE YOU AGAIN AT A FUTURE DATE.

    

 Survival On The Muskoka Homestead

     I CONFESS, TO BEING IN AWE, WHEN SUZANNE AND I TRAVEL AROUND TO OUR REGIONAL CEMETERIES, PUBLIC, AND THOSE AFFILIATED WITH AREA CHURCHES, AND STAND ON THE GRAVES OF THOSE PIONEERS, I RECOGNIZE, IN NAME, FROM THE HISTORY TEXTS I'VE BEEN READING. I DO THINK ABOUT THE WAY MUSKOKA APPEARED, TO THESE SETTLERS, WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN THE REGION, SO FULL OF EXPECTATION, AND HOPEFULNESS, A PROMISING NEW CHAPTER WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. I THINK BACK TO THE HARDSHIPS THEY FACED, AND THE BACK BREAKING WORK THEY HAD TO PERFORM, TO MAKE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST GAIN, ON THIS PRECARIOUSLY APPOINTED LANDSCAPE. YET, I GET MOST SATISFACTION, WRITING THEIR STORIES FOR A CONTEMPORARY AUDIENCE, THAT I BELIEVE, SHARES SOME OF THIS REVERENCE FOR THE GROUND BREAKING EFFORTS OF OUR TRUE FOUNDERS. THERE ARE MANY UPLIFTING STORIES, ABOUT PIONEER SUCCESSES, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY. SO VERSUS A SAD TALE, THE CONCLUDING CHAPTERS, WHENEVER I WRITE ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD PERIOD, FOR ANY PUBLICATION, IS ALWAYS OF A MUCH MORE RESOLVED, ACCEPTING, REVERENT TONE. I SUPPOSE I'M TAKING A PAGE OUT OF MY MOTHER'S PLAY BOOK, WHEN I WRITE THESE PIECES, TRYING TO IMPRESS THE POINT, THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL TO THOSE WHO BRAVED THE ELEMENTS, AND ENDURED THE SHORTFALLS, TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION OF ONTARIO. WHILE IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE, THAT MANY PIONEERS DID ABANDON MUSKOKA IN THOSE FIRST YEARS OF SETTLEMENT, BACK TO THE 1860'S, AND SOME EVEN DIED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF HARDSHIP, THE MAJORITY DUG-IN, AND MADE THEIR FARMSTEADS WORK; OR THEY FOUND A WAY TO GENERATE INCOME, EVEN BY TRADE, WHEREVER IT EXISTED AT THE TIME. THEIR FAMILY NAMES ARE STILL IN EVIDENCE TODAY, IN THIS DISTRICT, SHOWING THE RESOLVE THEY HAD, TO CONQUER WHAT AT TIMES, SEEMED WELL BELOW PROSPEROUS CULTIVATION, AND A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST. WE DO OWE THEM THIS RESPECT. THEY GOT THE BALL ROLLING, SO TO SPEAK, FOR WHAT WE CALL HOME TODAY. YES, WHEN I LOOK AT THEIR MOSS COVERED TOMBSTONES, AND CAN JUST BARELY READ THE INSCRIPTIONS, I THINK ABOUT WHAT SOME TODAY CALL "THE MUSKOKA LIFESTYLE," TO PROMOTE THEIR CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS VENTURES. THESE PIONEER FOLKS KNEW THE TRUE MUSKOKA LIFESTYLE. IT WASN'T EXACTLY, LEISURE AT LAKESIDE.

     HERE'S ANOTHER RECOLLECTION, WRITTEN BY SHEA FAMILY HISTORIAN, BERT SHEA, IN HIS LATE 1960'S BOOK, "HISTORY OF THE SHEAS AND BIRTH OF A TOWNSHIP." BERT SHEA IS SUZANNE'S UNCLE, AND HE WAS WRITING ABOUT THE UFFORD, THREE MILE LAKE AREA, OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES. THE BRIEF CHAPTER, IS ENTITLED, SIMPLY, "THE HARVEST."

THE HOMESTEAD HARVEST

     "Every member of the Shea family (circa 1863) realized the importance of passing time, so many things to do while the warm season lasted; the summer was not an idle one. John Lily and William, (brothers), had made a canoe each. Susanna had made several trips to South Falls, for the mail and to post letters." This was a difficult and long canoe traverse, with portages necessary. "The garden seeds that had been sown in the new land, by showers and sun, had grown in abundance. By mid August, the corn stood tall and loaded with golden ears, ripening in the hot August sun; the buckwheat was coming in, the wheat had found the high fallow land an ideal place to root; and the opening in the bush for the summer sun to pour in, and in the refreshing showers, there was no question as to quantity, and quality, when August still stirs, the rank golden heads stood hardening in the sun."

     Mr. Shea writes, "And all about the plot, the chirp of the chipmunk was heard, as he strove to harvest as much of the new grown food; though strange to him, he knew it would be grand for his winter store. The raccoon would take a share of the golden corn whose dry leaves rustled in the harvest moonlight, as he tore open the husks and helped himself to the golden grain, but plundering the precious crop could not be tolerated. Needless to say, John Lily's big hound played havoc with the destructive raccoons. But better still, Grandaddy picked the corn, stripped back the husks, braided the ears together, in long strings, and hung them on oak pins driven into the shanty wall, to dry and harden the golden grain. The wheat and buckwheat, he cut with his new sickle, bound into sheaves, stooked and capped to cure in the harvest sun, among the stumps and charred logs. The days passed, and when the plump kernels had dried and would separate, from the shuck, 'twas time to thrash. In ancient days the flail had served well, and he had often revelled in his ability to swing the flail, and wield it well to separate from the shuck. This was fine but where the threshing floor, and where the lumber to build it with, (spaces left between the boards) the wheat was precious and not be lost by carelessness.

     "And here to serve the purpose, the Indians had used on such occasions, tanned moose or deer hides sewn together. But to serve his purpose, Grandaddy (James Shea) brought out of the shanty, a good wool blanket, and stretched it out on the level ground, and placed the first sheaf of wheat on it, and with a good, stiff hardwood stick, about two feet long, he began the operation of thrashing, pounding the wheat, out of the heads, turning the sheaf over and over, and more pounding, till the heads were broken up, and the grain had been shelled; then another and another sheaf, till the golden grain left the straw, and sufficient wheat was rant its emptying. With the help of Granny Shea, they took the blanket by the four corners, and with care, poured the wheat from one end into a container, while in the process of pouring, the wind blew away the chaff. This process and operation continued for hours."

     He writes, "The threshed wheat grew from quarts to bushels and to bags, till the threshing was over, and the steady thump, thump of the operation died away, and the bags were tied with buck-skin strings, or strings from the back of the moose-wood, and set inside the shanty, ready to be taken to the mill (Washago was the closest mill). At that date, this operation could be paid for by flour, taken from the grist, and was called 'toll' if according to your wishes, or your circumstances, you desired to pay that way. Needless to say, in a new country, more paid with toll, than cash, even though they had not sufficient flour to show a surplus, or sufficient to the date, when these stocks could be replenished. Flour received as toll, by the miller, for his work, could be resold by the good miller, to those who had no wheat and money to buy. There was a ready market for flour in a new country. It was about the first of October, when the bags of wheat were ready to be taken to the grist mill.

     "It was with pride, Granny and Grandaddy Shea, looked on these two able bodied sons, John Lily, and William, with admiration, as they shouldered the heavy bags of wheat, and made their way to the Beach, Lot 16, Concession 6, the canoe landing. They even packed if necessity called, but to them packing would be part of the added work; they had no intention of carrying a pack of wheat from Watt (Township) to Gravenhurst, or at that date, to Washago, and carry it back. To go by water, there would be two portages out of Three Mile Lake, over the Indian Trail, into Lake Rosseau, at Portage Bay, and another portage at the Indian River rapids at Port Carling, but for the miles by water, they had provided two new canoes and paddles, made from second growth maple, split thin as a knife blades and strong. With the trip before them, the two brothers made their way to the lake, loaded their wheat into the canoes, and pushed off the beach. The first wheat from the township of Watt, was on its way to Gravenhurst by canoe, and paddle, to be made into flour, borne over the waters of the Muskoka lakes, by the young Sheas, leaning slightly forward to paddle with long steady strokes.

     "Gun laying before him in the canoe, they set their course for the Portage Bay, and via the Indian Trail to Lake Rosseau. According to my information (author, Bert Shea), this was a trip when hauling to Gravenhurst, that took three days and according to first hand information, few were they of the pioneers, though courageous, were they, who ever took the trip. I do know that some have journeyed with them, but not to any extent. A courageous old pioneer said in his old age, while reminiscing on the past, speaking of the trip he made with John Lily, and William Shea, to Gravenhurst with wheat. Said he, 'One trip like that was enough for me. Conscience. I wasn't afraid, but I was no white-water man'. So on this particular trip, they paddled on to dine on dried venison. Granny's special provision, carried with them for emergencies, or from the gun that was always at hand, to bring in a partridge for their evening meals. As they camped for the night on the sheltered side of some island, the days speed on and in the evening light, on the great waters of Green Bay, two objects were to be seen steadily moving up the bay; with a surge of thankfulness, James Shea saw his two sons paddling their precious cargo up the bay to their landing. Their young eyes had caught sight of their father as he stood to scan the waters of the bay; by the setting sun, they too felt the joy of returning home with flour for bread, for their father to feed his family, through the long hard winter which was rapidly approaching."

     The following poetic lines, follow up the story, told by Mr. Shea:

     "I saw the summer waining late; I saw the sunlight glisten on the lake; I saw the evening after glow, the sun kiss deep the waters of the lake. I felt the quiet settle in of night, the twilight take of evening's splendor glow, and erase the coloured rugged shore, whose heights stood deeply mirrored in the lake. I felt the night so settle all around, the dark of air and sky and ground, and then the jewels appeared above, and then in awe, I thought of home and them I loved. And as my feet trod o'r the turf, uncertain steps uneven earth, I heard the voices of night around, of wild birds by my footsteps put to flight. And then I saw the light from window clear, my home and loved ones there so dear, awaiting from my burden to partake, of food our supper fresh to bake. The perspiration stood upon my brow, my body weary from the heavy load, but my voice welcome loud and clear, my faithful do announce my coming near."

     "The writer (Bert Shea), cannot recall any remarks in particular as to the potato, turnip (called the poor man's butter on dry bread), and other garden crops. But it could be taken for granted, in consideration of the abundance of grain, that the garden produce would be excellent; the ground new and on the south side of the lake, this is a protection from frost. I could add, at this point, an account as related by William Kay, when an old man, reminiscing about the past, and relating to the earlier years in Watt, with much satisfaction, as he stood in the sunset of that lovely October evening. And from his gateway he looked across to the familiar spot, where Shea's first shanty stood. Amidst the quiet autumn fields, and with a movement of his hand, familiar to his way, said he, in referring to a visit to the Sheas, when potato digging was the order of the day. Granny Shea was justing finishing the picking-up job, that totaled for her day's digging. A measure of forty bushels having been dug by herself in new land. In these days there were no potato bugs or parasites of any kind, to affect the crop, except the green cabbage worm that appeared at a very early date, perhaps a native of the green woods, that added to his list of edibles; the newly planted and succulent cabbage plants.

     "However, Granny Shea settled his reign by the use of fine, dry hardwood ashes, dusted over the cabbage plants. This fine dust, entering the most wrinkles of the worm's body, producing lye which proved too strong for his survival. Later years, lime dust was used, this being beneficial to the growth of the plant. But the use of lime came in later years, when Grandaddy Shea had built a lime kiln down on the beach, by the foot of the hill. The writer just recently in searching, found splinters of lime stones and other remains, and remnants of his works, and of stone brought there to process for house plastering, chimney or fireplace construction, in pioneer days."

      Once again, I have retreated to my favorite portal, at Birch Hollow, looking out over The Bog, with my good friend Muffin, who has been studying the resident red squirrel who was born here at our modest Gravenhurst homestead. Muffin isn't fond of wet weather, and has to be coaxed to go for a walk. We have both come back, this afternoon, shivering from the cold wind and rain, over-taking this early March day. I've been listening to the steamship's whistle for the past few minutes, wondering what it would be like out on the lake, on such a blustery, rainy day. Despite what inclement weather unfurls from the heavens today, it is still a magnificent scene from here to there, and I cherish every moment. I have just had the pleasurable company, of the county crows, who find our hardwoods perfect for their great debates, of which are, me thinks, full of theatrics and bird-kind hubris, and all at considerable volume. I think I could retire to Birch Hollow, without any fear, of having little to write about; because even in the dullest, most adverse circumstance of weather, I am so glad to have this opportunity, to share nature as a comfortable voyeur. From this vantage point, I can very much relate to the pioneer stories told by Bert Shea, from his remarkable little history book about our family; the Muskoka pioneers.

    Thank you for joining with me today, to explore the life and times of the Muskoka homestead community.

The Allure of Muskoka

MUSKOKA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ALLURE, BRACEBRIDGE THE HOME TOWN

G.H.O. THOMAS WROTE ABOUT BRACEBRIDGE OF 1884 - BUT PENNED ELOQUENTLY ABOUT ITS PLACE IN MUSKOKA

     I was once again chased out of my studio setting, at our Gravenhurst music and antique shop, for some special guests, so I had to retreat home to Birch Hollow, and a chair on the front verandah, where I've been sitting for the past two hours. We are across from a wonderful little urban oasis, known with considerable affection, as "The Bog," and it is lively today. It is what I so enjoy about living and working in this beautiful district of Muskoka. There are hundreds of birds singing and chattering all around me here, this portal onto fern, forest and lowland. There are the sounds of squirrels thrashing from leafy bough to bough, and the country crows are cawing off to my right. The wind is washing through the full maples and thick, and thriving evergreens, and just now, several children rode by on their bikes, laughing and cracking their pedals; and how pleasant it all sounds to a writer, displaced from his usual digs. It is pleasant, and it does influence my writing. Muskoka influences us all, but we often don't think about it, and it doesn't come up in general conversation. Going back in history, many pioneer writers knew that such a rough topography, its huge watershed, and severe winters, hot summers, and bugs, would affect the way they lived, and how they prospered on respective homesteads. Even today, we are influenced by the hinterland, whether we choose to believe it or not. Today, at this precise moment, I am so pleased to be a part of this amazing scene, and feel fortunate I don't have to leave at the end of a vacation. And by the way, my vacations are spent in Muskoka. Much of it is spent on this verandah overlooking Birch Hollow and The Bog.

     "The end of winter reminds me I have lived in Bracebridge through fifty winters, (1884-1934) and a glance about town, assures me very few of my fellow townsmen have. This set me wondering whether Gazette (Thomas family owned Bracebridge Gazette) readers might be interested in a word picture of their home town as it then was. It is not easy to go back fifty years and be sure that no part of the picture of the intervening past, has not entered into it. In my case, I have seen Bracebridge change from the frontier village of fifty years ago, to the modern, sedate town of today (circa 1934). It may be, then, that slight chronological errors may creep into this story."

     I have always enjoyed reading, especially at intervals when I become uninspired, the insightful heritage notes made by former teacher, publisher G.H.O. Thomas, and his son, Redmond Thomas Q.C., who both wrote columns, at times, for the Bracebridge Gazette. Redmond wrote one of the best Bracebridge histories ever penned, known as "Reminiscences," because much of it is anecdotal. He was an exceptional story-teller, and he included social / cultural history, which often times, is excluded from some of the more detailed, factual, chronological histories. Redmond, and G.H.O. Thomas, put some color onto the black and white sketches, of town history. What draws me back to this Gazette history, which I acquired quite a few years ago, written by the elder Thomas, is that Muskoka is a fascination to him, and this aspect of nature, isn't excluded in what he determines as the town's chronicle. The editorial work of both G.H.O. Thomas, and Redmond Thomas, coincide with my own feelings about our region, and the development of our communities; as proportional to the environment and landscape. Our pioneer communities were influenced by nature, in this huge hinterland, but it is often omitted in tightly written histories, which I have always considered a tremendous shortfall of relevant information. The facts are important, but they are not the end-all. What roll did our geographic location, and topographical realities have on the community, that evolved, along the shoreline, and up the hillside, of the dark flowing Muskoka River? 

    Bracebridge, and all the other towns, villages and hamlets, of Muskoka, were profoundly influenced by the geography, environment and shortage of arable land; while impacted heavily by the reality, Muskoka was one of the accessible, and accommodating regions in the most populated province of Canada. For hunters and anglers initially, vacationers following close behind. Bracebridge, like other Muskoka communities, learned quickly, that the hardships of the frontier, and immense difficulties of homestead economy, could be supplemented, with the new tourism interest. Even as far back as the 1870's, tourism had become a minor economic interest, and homesteaders were often asked to take-in sportsmen, as lodgers, during their stay in the region. It became obvious, tourist accommodation was needed, and although the conversion of industries, from logging to tourism, took time to evolve, by the time Mr. Thomas had arrived in Muskoka, economic changes were favoring tourism, in significant increments, year by year. So Mr. Thomas gives considerable credit to the region, for its natural allure, which helped the early settlements progress and expand their economic base. The navigable waterways helped immeasurably, the fledgling economy take hold, and eventually, prosper with early industrial diversity. Logging, tanneries, Woollen Mill, agriculture and transportation. Tourism became the unexpected bonus, of improving transportation, and the availability of provisions.

     I like his work, because it reflects in so many interesting ways,  my own interest in our region. When someone asks me what it's like to live in Muskoka, I never base a response, entirely on my passion for a "rural" lifestyle. In many ways, and although I also like the idea of progress and diversity in the local economy, I often think our regional governance has forgotten, to some degree, the importance of maintaining and conserving a healthy environment. Tourism, as the region's number one industry, depends on the health and well being of the natural qualities of the lakeland. There has been an intrusive arrogance, about economic development and urban sprawl, such that protecting the nature of our region, has, to some of our movers and shakers, become a lesser concern. If the hinterland is compromised, it will change the nature of our tourist economy. The cottagers and day travellers who honor us with their regular trips to Muskoka, do not come here for what they can secure in the urban areas, where they have a permanent residence. They undoubtedly see enough urban sprawl elsewhere, and don't wish to see it encumbering the present wilds of our district. There is a passage written by Mr. Thomas, that I often quote, that points out, as far back as 1884, just how important it was to appreciate the natural surroundings, and its inherent beauty, as it related to the whole Muskoka experience; whether you were a seasonal visitor or a new homesteader, looking to farm this rocky, boggy, and heavily treed region of frontier Ontario. Nature had to be dealt with, in all its excesses, from early winters, heavy snows, frigid temperatures, to the rainy springs, and bug infested summers. Yet there was something compelling about the nature of Muskoka, that kept families here for generations; just as there are still descendants of the Thomas family still working and residing in the town today.

     "Before attempting to give you a picture of Bracebridge of fifty years ago, it might be in order to give a summary of its history prior to that time. Men are somewhat like fish; fish want to get as far up stream as the can, to begin family life; men want to get as far up country as possible. The spirit of adventure attracts some; hope of better things urges others. At any rate we find men always pushing into unknown regions. Muskoka was a rough, unbroken forest, when adventurers got as far as the unbridged river at North Falls, the present site of Bracebridge. Odd ones got this far even in 1861, but settlement was only beginning in earnest in 1866. When A.P. Cockburn built the Wenonah, and brought his good ship to Bracebridge in 1866, 'there were not more than twenty people to welcome her.' Yet in 1872 Bracebridge had a population of five hundred. Steamboats had much to do with the making of Bracebridge. Settlers were coming and going on, up country. With the advent of the Wenonah, and shortly afterwards, the Waubamik, all summer travel was by water to Bracebridge, head of navigation."

     The newspaper columnist writes, "Bracebridge was a forbidding place to build a town. It was one of the roughest spots in the district. But the necessity of changing from boat, to overland conveyance, just naturally made for business in Bracebridge. In 1878, the steamer 'Northern' was launched at Port Sydney, giving water transportation to all parts adjacent to Vernon, Fairy and Peninsula lakes. Next year the 'Dean' gave similar service on Lake of Bays. Settlers poured in; business boomed in Bracebridge. Buildings went up almost overnight. By 1878, the village had two newspapers, 269 children of school age, a Mechanics' Institute with public library, a Fire Company (department), with 50 volunteer members, who wear handsome uniforms, a powerful hand (pump) fire engine, a lofty bell tower, a Winter Amusement Society, Masonic Lodge, Orange Lodge, Cricket Club, Bowling Alley, Billiard Rooms, Agricultural Society for Muskoka and Parry Sound, five churches, several Temperance Societies, two hardware stores, six general stores, seven groceries, a drug store, a photographic gallery, three bakers, three butchers, tailors, two milliners, six dressmakers, a watchmaker, a cooper, five tinsmiths, seven painters, twenty-six carpenters, four wheelwrights, ten blacksmiths, six printers, five lawyers, and three editors. There were three wagon shops and two tanneries. So, you see, Bracebridge was no insignificant village in 1878."

     As the author notes, "But really, I started out to tell what Bracebridge looked like in 1884, and had better get back to my job. My first twenty years were spent chiefly in Victoria County, except when studying in Hamilton and Toronto. That stretch of Ontario from Lindsay to Toronto was all with which I had any familiarity. There was no Sunday motoring (by horse and buggy) then into regions 150 miles away. It was an event to go to a celebration ten miles from home. You readers have grown up in motor cars. You know what all parts of the country are like. Fifty years ago (1884) it was so different. You know that in the territory of my boyhood experiences, there is nothing but one hundred percent country. Level, fertile fields and orchards, straight roads, square fields, prosperous farms, villages, towns and cities. Until I came to Muskoka, at the age of twenty, I had never seen a rock or an unfenced bush. That's probably accounts for the vivid impression remaining after fifty years."

     "It was a warm, bright day in August 1884, that I left the train at Muskoka Wharf, to take a boat Bracebridge. The trip from Orillia to Gravenhurst, had a depressing effect. Instead of the fertile fields down home, I had come through what seemed endless miles of rocks and tangled forest, for even that time, all bush in that stretch, had been robbed of its timber. and left in horrible condition, in which many parts of our forest lands are still being left. Fires had followed lumbermen, and left bare rocks with charred tree trunks, in desolate confusion over them. At school in Toronto, that year, one of my classmates came from Barrie, and the other boys used to kid him about it. 'Isn't Barrie in Muskoka?' they would say, and laugh about it. And in a few short weeks afterward, I was coming to live in Muskoka. As I passed through those rocks with charred dead trees, how glad I was that my engagement was for four months only."

     Mr. Thomas reports of his boat trip, "At Muskoka Wharf, the scene changed. There was the beautiful stretch of water, the trim boats, (Kenozha and Nipissing), gay tourists, and all around the hum and bustle of sawmills. They told me there were over a dozen sawmills around the bay. The trip up the lake was enchanting. Never had I seen or imagined anything so beautiful. In those days the pilot houses were kind of down among the passengers, rather than secluded and unapproachably aloof, as they are now. Somehow acquainted with Captain Henry, on that trip, and it seemed to me we were always intimately acquainted from that day. Then suddenly the Kenozha turned into the river mouth (Muskoka River). On both sides dense forest. Again the feeling of depression but the feeling of gladness that the contract (as a teacher) was for four months only; and I vowed I would stick it for that time, if there was nothing but bush life in the interval. We are so familiar with Muskoka Lake, and the river mouth, that we hardly realize the surprise a visitor has when he first turns into the river. Earliest Bracebridge pioneers came overland. John Bell, however, came by water in 1861. He knew of the existence of the river but it took him five days paddling, along the shores, before he found it.

     "The depression didn't last. I got watching the marvelous shadows in the black water. You have often watched those shadows haven't you? Surely there is nothing like it anywhere else. In the water, deep down in the water, away under the land, are trees and hills and sky. Then rolling waves gently heave the trees, until the tops of one grove meet the tops of a similar grove, and they gradually merge into one grove, to be followed by other trees, shrubs and hills, kissing tips, and gradually growing into each other. Then in the water came a farm house, and barn, with cattle grazing in cultivated fields, natural but upside down. Then leaving shadows for reality, I found the Kenozha plowing a beautiful river, with fertile fields, and good farm homes on both sides. Yes, Muskoka River in 1884 was very much like it is now. The tannery, then a tall wooden building, was the signal that Bracebridge was reached. In a few minutes, the Kenozha tied up at the wharf. The wharf at that time, was on the point, opposite the present Motor Camp (Kelvin Grove Park, below Bracebridge Falls). Here all was a bustle. Busses for the various hotels, were there to meet passengers. Wharf Master, Andrew Harvey, was there to attend to freight. Quite a large freight house stood there, and from the boat came barrels, boxes, crates of all sizes that piled the freight shed high. It was surely a busy place."

     To get to Bracebridge, most passengers, including homesteaders, had to pass along the winding length of the Muskoka River with all its inherent enchantments. Not as wide, long, and deep, as the historic Hudson River Valley, in New York, made famous by revered American author Washington Irving, but the scenic Muskoka River did lead to a sort of "Sleepy Hollow;" the picturesque smoke-filled village perched high on the hillside, neatly above the sparkling cataract of North Falls. The title "Bracebridge," was the name chosen for the hamlet Post Office, by William Dawson LeSueur, of the federal postal authority, in 1864, inspired by Washington Irving's book "Bracebridge Hall," originally published in 1822. LeSueur, also a literary critic, and Canadian historian, when not working for the civil service, had also named Gravenhurst, two years earlier (1862), after a book written by British author / historian, William Henry Smith, being "Gravenhurst; or Thoughts on Good and Evil."

Part 2 Early Newspaper Publishers in Muskoka

ANOTHER GLIMPSE AT THESE HISTORIC NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS

     "LET US GLANCE FOR A MOMENT, AT ALL THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THESE TWO EDITORS," WRITES CAPTAIN LEVI FRASER, IN HIS BOOK, "HISTORY OF MUSKOKA," CIRCA THE 1940'S.

     "GEORGE (G.H.O.) THOMAS CAME TO BRACEBRIDGE WHEN ABOUT TWENTY YEARS OF AGE, TO FILL A VACANCY ON THE TEACHING STAFF (SCHOOL) FOR SIX MONTHS. THE COUNTRY LOOKED SO FORBIDDING TO HIM THAT HE WONDERED IF HE COULD ENDURE THAT LONG. BEFORE THE SIX MONTHS HAD EXPIRED, HE BECAME ENGAGED AS PRINCIPAL FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, 1885, A POSITION HE HELD FOR MANY YEARS DURING WHICH TIME HE BECAME ENGAGED IN THE JEWELRY BUSINESS, MARRIED AND OF HIS THREE SONS, ONE IS AN OPTOMETRIST (PHILIP), THE OTHER TWO STUDIED LAW, AND NOW ARE PARTNERS IN A LAW PRACTICE (DOUGLAS AND REDMOND). THE OLDEST (REDMOND) IS ALSO A MAGISTRATE AND EDITOR OF THE BRACEBRIDGE GAZETTE. D.E. BASTEDO CAME FROM BAYSVILLE TO BRACEBRIDGE, ON FOOT, IN 1870, WITH HIS MEAGRE BELONGINGS TIED IN A COLORED HANDKERCHIEF, ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF 'PRINTER'S DEVIL,' ON THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE, AND LATER WAS ON THE FREE GRANT GAZETTE. HE MARRIED AND RAISED A FAMILY OF FIVE BOYS, AND SEVERAL GIRLS; OF THE BOYS THREE ARE LAWYERS, ONE A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND ONE A DOCTOR (DR. A.F. BASTEDO OF BRACEBRIDGE). THESE ARE NOT ONLY MUSKOKA PIONEER FAMILIES, WHO HAVE TURNED OUT PROFESSIONAL MEN. THE BACK TOWNSHIPS AS WELL AS THE TOWNS, HAVE PRODUCED THEIR QUOTA. I ONLY MENTION THESE TWO FAMILIES, BECAUSE THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH THE PRESS, OUR PRESENT SUBJECT."

     CAPTAIN FRASER ADDS, "THE GRAVENHURST BANNER WAS THE LAST MUSKOKA PAPER, TO BEGIN PUBLICATION. IT MADE ITS APPEARANCE IN THE 1880'S. THE BANNER WAS THE FIRST NEWSPAPER THAT I EVER READ, AS AT THAT TIME, I WAS JUST LEARNING TO READ. IN MY CHILDISH IGNORANCE, I THOUGHT THAT A NEWSPAPERMAN MUST BE A WONDERFULLY WISE MAN. I WONDERED HOW HE COULD KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT APPEARED EVERY WEEK IN THE BANNER. I ANXIOUSLY LOOKED FORWARD TO ITS ARRIVAL EVERY WEEK. IN THE EARLY DAYS THE BANNER WAS ABOUT THE ONLY PAPER THAT CAME TO OUR SETTLEMENT. LIKE ALL OTHER DISTRICT PAPERS, IT WAS A GREAT BOOSTER OF MUSKOKA. ITS WEEKLY BUDGET OF NEWS, TOLD OF NEW SETTLER ARRIVALS, OF NEW ROADS BEING BUILT AND OF THE EVER-INCREASING LAKE TRADE. SUCH NEWS HAD THE EFFECT OF MAKING OUR PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE LIVING IN A FAVORED LAND. NOTHING STIMULATES CIVIC PRIDE LIKE GOOD NEWSPAPER LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT. ALTHOUGH MANY OF OUR PEOPLE FOUND THE GOING TOUGH ENOUGH, THEY RESENTED ANYTHING THAT CAST A REFLECTION ON THE COMMUNITY. AN INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE MID 1880'S, WHEN AN ELDERLY CLERGYMAN, WHO HAD CALLED TO ONE OF THE TOWN CHURCHES, (AND WHO EVIDENTLY HAD COME FROM A MORE ADVANCED COMMUNITY), MADE A REPORT, THAT APPEARED IN THE PRESS (NOT IN THE BANNER), DEPICTING MUSKOKA AS A POVERTY-STRICKEN DISTRICT. FEW INCIDENTS IN THOSE DAYS CAUSED SUCH WIDESPREAD INDIGNATION, AS DID THIS REPORT; THE RESULT BEING THAT THE REVEREND GENTLEMAN'S STAY IN GRAVENHURST WAS OF SHORT DURATION.

     "THE BANNER WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1882 BY W.R. TUDHOPE, LATER IT WAS TAKEN OVER IN TURN BY A. FAWCETT OF UFFINGTON, THE GRANT FAMILY, G.H.O. THOMAS, DALTON CAMPBELL, MR. REYNOLDS, AND FINALLY BY ALF AND R.T. DASS, OF WHOM ALF IS STILL THE PUBLISHER (CIRCA 1942). IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY, ANOTHER GRAVENHURST PAPER, THE HERALD, FOUNDED BY DR. BEATTIE NESBITT, RAN FOR AWHILE, AND WAS THEN ABSORBED BY THE BANNER."

     CAPTAIN FRASER ASTUTELY OBSERVES, THAT, "AS AN UNBIASED OBSERVER, WITH NO AXE TO GRIND, I WOULD SAY THAT THE PRESS OF MUSKOKA DESERVES THE COMMENDATION OF THE WHOLE DISTRICT, FOR THE PART IT HAS PLAYED IN PROMOTING THE VARIED AND NUMEROUS INTERESTS OF THIS FAIR LAND OF OURS. TO THE PRESS, I WOULD SAY, 'DO NOT REST ON YOUR OARS FOR THE GOAL HAS NOT BEEN REACHED; MUSKOKA IS NOT YET FULLY DEVELOPED AND THE PRESS CAN BECOME A POWERFUL INSTRUMENT IN STIMULATING INTEREST IN SUCH PROPOSITIONS, AS RE-FORESTATION AND TREE-PLANTING ALONG OUR HIGHWAYS AND THE BANKS OF RIVERS AND STREAMS, TO PRESERVE MOISTURE AND KEEP THE LITTLE BABBLING BROOKS ALIVE AND ACTIVE TO THE DELIGHT OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN FROM MANY LANDS. STAY OUT IN FRONT; GIVE US LEADERSHIP AND EARN THE GRATITUDE OF AN INTERESTED PUBLIC; FOR AFTER ALL MUSKOKA IS DESTINED TO BE JUST WHAT WE MAKE OF IT."

     THIS WAS THE PERSPECTIVE OFFERED IN MUSKOKA, BY A MUSKOKAN, DURING YEARS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. WHY WOULD THE MEDIA EVER BE OF LESSER CONCERN, AS A LEADERSHIP MODEL, EVEN IN THIS, OUR MODERN ERA OF DEVELOPMENT?

The First Newspaper in Muskoka - "The Northern Advocate"

THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN MUSKOKA - "THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE"

NEWSPAPERS KEPT A RURAL POPULATION IN TOUCH WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD

LET'S LOOK AT SOME OLD TIME VALUES IN THE COMMUNITY PRESS

     SO HOW IMPORTANT WERE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS DATING BACK TO THE LATE 1860'S? HOW RELEVANT WERE THESE PAPERS, TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION, SINCE THEIR NEWS PAGES BEGAN ROLLING OFF THE PRESSES? HOW ABOUT POLITICS? HOW RABID WERE THESE PUBLISHERS AND EDITORS WAY BACK.....EVEN A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO, WHENEVER THERE WAS A MUNICIPAL, PROVINCIAL OR FEDERAL ELECTION? HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO HAVE A NEWSPAPER OFFICE ON THE MAIN STREET OF OUR MAJOR TOWNS?

     AS AWARE AS I CAN BE, REGARDING THE MODERN DAY ECONOMICS FACING NEWSPAPERS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, I WOULD LOVE A RETURN TO THE OLD TIME,  FAMILY OR PARTNERSHIP OWNED PUBLICATIONS, LIKE WE USED TO COUNT ON......TO KEEP US UP TO SPEED ON THE LATEST NEWS FROM HOME AND ABROAD. BACK TO A TIME WHEN JOURNALISM WAS MORE THAN JUST A REPORTER HUSTLING UP A STORY, OR A PHOTOGRAPHER GETTING A GREAT FRONT PAGER........OR THE PUBLISHER CELEBRATING A "SOLD-OUT" EDITION. IT WAS WHEN A COMMUNITY LOOKED AT ITS REPRESENTATIVE PAPERS, AND BELIEVED IT WAS AS MUCH A SIGN OF PROSPERITY AND FUTURE POTENTIAL. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE ME....BUT POSSIBLY YOU MIGHT BELIEVE THESE HISTORICAL OBSERVATIONS, FROM FOLKS WHO DID, FROM CLOSE QUARTERS, APPRECIATE THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY PRESS IN OUR REGION OF ONTARIO.

     "THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN THE SETTLEMENT (BRACEBRIDGE) WAS PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR (THOMAS MCMURRAY), ON THE 14TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1869, BEARING THE TITLE OF THE 'NORTHERN ADVOCATE.' IT WAS FIRST PRINTED AT PARRY SOUND, BUT FROM THE FACT THAT BRACEBRIDGE WAS MORE CENTRAL IT HAS BEEN REMOVED THITHER. THE OBJECT OF THE PUBLISHER WAS TO GIVE RELIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FREE GRANT LANDS, AND HIS LABOURS HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. THE CIRCULATION IS 1,000 COPIES WEEKLY. A GREAT MANY COPIES GO TO ENGLAND, IRELAND AND SCOTLAND FOR INFORMATION OF INTENDING EMIGRANTS, AND THROUGH THE ADVOCACY MANY HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO SETTLE IN OUR MIDST."

     THOMAS MCMURRAY, WAS OF COURSE, THE AUTHOR OF MUSKOKA'S OWN SETTLERS' GUIDEBOOK, SIMPLY ENTITLED "MUSKOKA AND PARRY SOUND," IN THE EARLY 1870'S, AND HE USED THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER AS THE BOOK.....TO ENCOURAGE SETTLERS TO INVEST IN OUR REGION OF THE PROVINCE. THE CONFLICT FOR MCMURRAY, THAT HE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT, WAS THAT HIS EDITORIAL CONTENT, AND OUTRIGHT SOLICITATION FOR EMIGRANTS, WAS TIED INTO HIS BUSINESS INVOLVEMENTS, FROM NEWSPAPERS TO REAL ESTATE SPECULATION IN ITS INFANCY.  THE SETTLEMENT OF THE FREE GRANT LANDS, OF OUR DISTRICT, EARNED HIM MONEY, FROM THE SALE OF NEWSPAPERS, THEN HIS BOOK, AND PROPERTY SALES ON TOP OF THAT. BUT HE WAS ALSO HEAVILY INVESTED IN THE COMMERCIAL AREA OF PIONEER BRACEBRIDGE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY BENEFITTED FROM A POPULATION INCREASE. MCMURRAY DIDN'T HAVE PARTICULAR INTEREST, IN SHARING THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT PIONEERING DISADVANTAGES IN MUSKOKA, BECAUSE HIS PROFITS WERE BASED ON ATTRACTING EMIGRANTS.....NOT DISCOURAGING THEM FROM TAKING A CROSS-ATLANTIC ADVENTURE.

     MCMURRAY WAS AMBITIOUS AND MADE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF BRACEBRIDGE, AND INDEED, THE SETTLEMENT OF MUSKOKA, BUT HE MADE ERRORS IN JUDGEMENT THAT COST HIM SERIOUS FINANCIAL REPURCUSIONS. IN BRACEBRIDGE, FOR EXAMPLE, HE WAS IN SUCH A HURRY TO ERECT HIS BRICK BUILDING, ON MANITOBA STREET, THAT HE FAILED TO ALLOW THEM TO CURE PROPERLY, BEFORE HAVING THEM CEMENTED IN PLACE. SO THEY BEGAN CRUMBLING EARLY IN THE HISTORY OF THIS MAIN STREET ARCHITECTURE. THE LARGE BUILDING WAS LATER HAULED DOWN, AND THE PROPERTY RE-DEVELOPED. MCMURRAY DESERVES A STREET NAMED IN HIS HONOR, IN BRACEBRIDGE (BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL IS ON THIS STREET), AND HIS NAME IS PERMANENTLY ETCHED ONTO THE PAGES OF REGIONAL HISTORY. HE WAS A BIG MUSKOKA BOOSTER, A CHAMPION OF THE PIONEERING MOVEMENT INTO THE HINTERLAND, THE FIRST MUSKOKA HISTORIAN, AND THE FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER. FOR ALL THAT HE DID ACCOMPLISH, IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN, THINGS JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT AS HE WOULD HAVE LIKED.  HE THEN RETURNED NORTH TO PARRY SOUND TO RECOUP HIS LOSSES.

     ACCORDING TO MCMURRAY, "IT IS SOMEWHAT SINGULAR, THAT WHEN THE WRITER FIRST CAME TO MUSKOKA, HE HAD TO ROW ACROSS MUSKOKA LAKE, AND WHEN THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE, WAS PUBLISHED, IT SO HAPPENED THAT THE STEAMER WAS UNDER REPAIRS, AND HE HAD TO ROW SIXTEEN MILES ACROSS THE SAME WATER IN ORDER TO DELIVER THE FIRST NUMBER." NO ONE SAID THAT THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS WAS GOING TO BE EASY.

     "THE FREE GRANT GAZETTE (THEN BY THE 1940'S, THE BRACEBRIDGE GAZETTE), IS MENTIONED FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN THE AUDITOR'S REPORT OF 1872 AND 1873, BEING PRINTED BY IT. THE FIRST AUDITOR'S REPORT FOR 1869, WAS PRINTED BY THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE, BRACEBRIDGE'S FIRST NEWSPAPER, WHICH LATER BECAME DEFUNCT. WE OFTEN HEAR IT SAID THAT PEOPLE TODAY ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY WERE 75 TO 100 YEARS AGO. THERE IS, OF COURSE, A VAST DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE TODAY, AS COMPARED WITH 75 YEARS AGO, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY HUMAN NATURE IS THE SAME." WROTE CAPTAIN LEVI FRASER, IN HIS 1940'S CHRONICLE, "HISTORY OF MUSKOKA." MCMURRAY RECOGNIZED THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER, AND WRITES ABOUT IT, IN THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES, TAKEN FROM HIS CHAPTER THREE.

     "THE PRESS OF MUSKOKA HAS INDEED BEEN A GREAT STIMULUS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT; AND IN THE EARLY DAYS ALONE, BUT UP TO THE PRESENT TIME (1940'S), OUR NEWSPAPERS HAVE GIVEN SUPPORT IN FULL MEASURE TO EVERY PHASE OF LIFE IN THE DISTRICT. IN POLITICAL AFFAIRS THERE HAS BEEN, AT TIMES, BITTERNESS; BUT TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT, COMPLETE ACCORD, AND WOE, TO THE ONE WHO WROTE ANYTHING DISPARAGING OF THE HOME FRONT. THE APPRECIATION OF THE PUBLIC IS EVIDENT IN THAT EVERY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN MUSKOKA, IN 1874, OR LATER, IS STILL GOING STRONG. THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE IS NOW ONE OF THE FEW TOWNS OF ITS SIZE IN ALL OF ONTARIO, WHERE TWO WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS ARE STILL PUBLISHED. TODAY ONE MARVELS AT THE ENTERPRISE OF SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. IN 1869 THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE WAS PUBLISHED IN PARRY SOUND BY THOMAS MCMURRAY, BUT FINDING THAT LOCATION WAS TOO FAR TO ONE SIDE OF THE TERRITORY, IT WAS MOVED TO BRACEBRIDGE ONE YEAR LATER, IN 1870."

     CAPTAIN FRASER WRITES, "BRACEBRIDGE AT THAT TIME, BEING THE CENTRE AND DISTRIBUTING POINT FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY, AS FAR NORTH AS LAKE NIPISSING. MR. MCMURRAY WAS BY THIS TIME WELL KNOWN, AS HE WAS ONE OF THE VERY EARLY ARRIVALS, AND HAD BEEN ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS; HAD BEEN REEVE OF THE UNITED TOWNSHIPS OF DRAPER, MACAULAY, STEPHENSON AND RYDE. HE WAS ALSO A BUILDER AND REAL ESTATE MAN, OWNING CONSIDERABLE LAND IN BRACEBRIDGE. THE LAND ON WHICH THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND THE BRACEBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL STAND, WAS PART OF HIS HOLDINGS. HIS RESIDENCE, FOR A TIME, WAS THE FINE BIG HOUSE, 'THE GROVE,' LATER THE HOME OF THE LATE J. EWART LOUNT, AND WHICH WAS TORN DOWN TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PRESENT HIGH SCHOOL (CLOSED AND RELOCATED). MR. JAMES BOYER (FATHER OF GEORGE BOYER, AT PRESENT, CUSTOMS OFFICER AT BRACEBRIDGE, WAS EDITOR. FOUR YEARS LATER, IN 1873, MR. MCMURRAY FAILED IN BUSINESS AND THE ADVOCATE WAS CONTINUED BY A MR. COURTNEY WHO, A SHORT TIME LATER, WAS DROWNED. THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE WAS THEN DISCONTINUED. LATER IN THE YEAR OF HIS FAILURE, MR. MCMURRAY BEGAN PUBLICATION OF THE NORTH STAR IN PARRY SOUND, WHERE HE HAD BEEN APPOINTED CROWN LANDS AGENT.

     "THE SECOND NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE DISTRICT, THE FREE GRANT GAZETTE, IN 1872, BY MR. E.F. STEPHENSON, APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A LIVE NEWSPAPERMAN, AS THE GAZETTE SOON BECAME VERY POPULAR THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, AND STILL RETAINS ITS POPULARITY AFTER 73 YEARS OF PUBLICATION (CIRCA 1940'S). MR. STEPHENSON STARTED THE PUBLICATION OF "THE LIBERAL" IN HUNTSVILLE UNDER THE EDITORSHIP OF DR. HOWLAND; IT WAS PRINTED IN BRACEBRIDGE BUT AFTER AWHILE, IT WAS DISCONTINUED AND IN 1877 THE HUNTSVILLE FORESTER, MADE ITS APPEARANCE AND FOR 68 YEARS IT HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT. FEW JOURNALS HAVE SHOWN MORE ENERGY AND FORESIGHT, OR HAVE GIVEN BETTER LEADERSHIP IN FURTHERING THE MANY VARIED PROBLEMS WHICH ARE OF VITAL INTEREST, TO A NEW AND GROWING TOWN AND ADJACENT COMMUNITIES (WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE TOURIST TRADE) THAN HAS THE HUNTSVILLE FORESTER. THE FORESTER MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A CONTINUATION OF THE LIBERAL, THE DIFFERENCE BEING THAT THE PAPER WAS NOW BEING PRINTED IN HUNTSVILLE, WITH MR. F.W. CLEARWATER, ASSOCIATED WITH DR. HOWLAND, WHO STILL RETAINED THE EDITORSHIP. THREE YEARS LATER MR. CLEARWATER PURCHASED DR. HOWLAND'S INTERESTS AND CONTINUED AS EDITOR AND PUBLISHER UNTIL 1899 WHEN THE BUSINESS WAS SOLD TO MR. GEORGE HUTCHESON WHO CONTINUED THE PUBLICATION UNTIL 1913 WHEN IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY MR. H.E. RICE, WHO, TOGETHER WITH HIS SON PAUL, STILL EDITS AND PUBLISHES THE FORESTER (1940'S).

     "THE LUMBERMAN WAS PUBLISHED IN GRAVENHURST IN 1876 BUT AFTER SIX MONTHS CIRCULATION WAS DISCONTINUED," NOTES CAPTAIN FRASER. "IN 1878 MESSRS. GRAFFE AND OATEN BEGAN PUBLICATION OF THE MUSKOKA HERALD; THE HERALD WAS THE FIRST CONSERVATIVE NEWSPAPER TO BE PUBLISHED IN MUSKOKA, ALL OTHER JOURNALS WERE OF LIBERAL PERSUASION. SO WITH THE ADVENT OF THE HERALD, BRACEBRIDGE SOON BECAME A HOT-BED OF PERMISSIBLE POLITICAL PROPAGANDA."

     HE WRITES, "ALTHOUGH THE LIBERALS WERE STRONGLY ENTRENCHED AT QUEEN'S PARK, MUSKOKA HAD ALWAYS BEEN GOOD FIGHTING GROUND, BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF THE HERALD, THE POLITICAL PENDULUM BEGAN A DECISIVE SWING TOWARD TORYISM. FROM THE TIME AWAY BACK IN 1886, WHEN G.F. MARTER WRESTED MUSKOKA FROM THE LIBERALS, UNTIL 1934, ONLY ONE LIBERAL, THE LATE DR. BRIDGLAND, MANAGED TO CRASH THE CONSERVATIVE STONEWALL DEFENSES, BUT IT WAS DR. BRIDGLAND'S OWN POPULARITY THAT CARRIED HIM THROUGH, AS HE WAS BELOVED BY THE RANK AND FILE OF THE MUSKOKA PEOPLE. IN 1884 MR. D.E. BASTEDO PURCHASED MR. GRAFFE'S INTERESTS AND FOR A TIME THE HERALD WAS PUBLISHED BY OATEN AND BASTEDO. IN 1886 MR. BASTEDO SOLD HIS INTEREST IN THE HERALD, AND WENT TO GEORGETOWN AND PURCHASED THE GEORGETOWN HERALD, THAT WAS IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES AT THE TIME; MR. BASTEDO SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING A SUCCESSFUL NEWSPAPERMAN AND IN A SHORT TIME HE HAD THE GEORGETOWN HERALD ON ITS FEET, BUT HIS HEART WAS IN MUSKOKA AND WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY OFFERED FOR SALE OF THE GEORGETOWN PAPER, AT A SUBSTANTIAL PROFIT, HE SOLD IT, RETURNED TO BRACEBRIDGE AND PURCHASED THE MUSKOKA HERALD; THIS WAS IN THE 1880'S. HE CONTINUED AS EDITOR AND PUBLISHER UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1919, WHEN THE HERALD WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE MUSKOKA PUBLISHING COMPANY, LIMITED, AND IS STILL BEING CIRCULATED BY THAT FIRM, WITH MRS. R.J. BOYER AS EDITOR. MR. E.F. STEPHENSON CONTINUED PUBLICATION OF THE FREE GRANT GAZETTE UNTIL ABOUT 1903, WHEN HE SOLD IT TO MR. DUNCAN MARSHALL, WHO AT THAT TIME WAS THE FEDERAL LIBERAL CANDIDATE IN MUSKOKA.

     "MR. STEPHENSON WENT TO NEW ONTARIO WHERE HE FOUNDED THE NEW LISKEARD SPEAKER. MR. MARSHALL'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND A SHORT TIME LATER, THE GAZETTE WAS SOLD TO MR. ALF MCISAAC. WHILE OWNED BY MARSHALL THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO BRACEBRIDGE GAZETTE. IN 1906 THE GAZETTE WAS SOLD TO MESSRS. G.H.O. THOMAS AND HARRY LINNEY. A SHORT TIME LATER, MR. THOMAS MR. LINNEY'S INTERESTS AND CONTINUED AS EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE GAZETTE, WHICH SOON BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS IN THE PROVINCE. DURING ELECTION PERIODS THE PEOPLE OF MUSKKOA LOOKED FORWARD WITH ZEST TO THE WEEKLY DUELS BETWEEN THE GAZETTE AND THE HERALD. FEW MEN IN ONTARIO HAD THE PLATFORM ABILITY OF MR. THOMAS, BUT FOR POLITICAL ORGANIZING ABILITY, THERE WERE NONE IN MUSKOKA AT THAT TIME, THE EQUAL OF MR. BASTEDO. I HAVE OFTEN THOUGH THAT MUSKOKA AND SCOTLAND PRESENTED A SIMILARITY, NOT IN SCENIC GRANDEUR ALONE, BUT IN THE FACT THAT EACH HAD PRODUCED A SURPLUS OF PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN. WHERE A CONDITION OF THIS KIND OBTAINS THERE MUST BE A DEFINITE INCENTIVE, AND IN MUSKOKA THE INCENTIVE WAS THAT MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS WERE PREPARED TO LABOR AND SACRIFICE IN ORDER THAT THEIR CHILDREN MIGHT RECEIVE AND EDUCATION."

     IN TOMORROW'S BLOG, I WILL CONTINUE THE STUDY OF CAPTAIN FRASER'S OVERVIEW, OF THE EARLY YEARS OF THE NEWSPAPER PUBLISHING ENTERPRISE IN MUSKOKA....AND SOME IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE PUBLISHERS WHO RAN THEM.

The Unceremonious End Of The Steamer "Lake Joe"

THE UNCEREMONIOUS END OF THE STEAMER "LAKE JOE" - THE HIGH PRESSURE FLAME THROWER

ACCORDING TO CAPTAIN FRASER, IT WAS A FIRE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTINGUISH

     "EARLY IN MAY, 1906, WHILE UNLOADING MY LITTLE STEAMER, LINDEN, AT MUSKOKA WHARF, I WAS ALARMED AT HEARING THE CRASH OF HEAVY TIMBERS, AND A WARNING CRY TO WORKMEN FROM ACROSS THE NARROW BAY, WHERE THE MIGHTY STEAMER, SAGAMO, WAS BEING BUILT. ON LOOKING OVER I WAS HORRIFIED TO SEE A SCORE OR MORE OF WORKMEN RUSHING FRANTICALLY FROM UNDERNEATH A SECTION OF THE SHIP, THAT HAD CRASHED THROUGH ITS FOUNDATION TIMBERS AND WAS TUMBLING TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY NONE WERE INJURED, AT LEAST NOT SERIOUSLY. THE SAGAMO WAS BEING PUT TOGETHER ONTO A HUGE TIMBER TRESTLE AT THE WATER'S EDGE IN MICKLE'S YARD, JUST ACROSS FROM MUSKOKA WHARF. SHE WAS BROUGHT FROM THE SHOP IN WHICH SHE WAS BUILT IN NINE SECTIONS, THE BOW OF THE SHIP, BOTH PORT AND STARBOARD, MADE UP ONE SECTION. THERE WERE FOUR SECTIONS IN EACH SIDE, EASH SECTION BEING ABOUT THIRTY FIVE FEET LONG. THESE WERE ELEVATED ON TO THE TRESTLE, RIVETED ONTO THE KEEL AND TIED TOGETHER AT THE GUNWALE WITH STEEL CROSS BEAMS, AND IT WAS WHILE PLACING ONE OF THESE SECTIONS, THAT THE TIMBERS GAVE WAY, CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. I DO NOT REMEMBER SEEING THE SAGAMO AGAIN UNTIL SHE WAS PLOUGHING HER WAY UP MUSKOKA LAKE, ROLLING UP BOAT SWELLS IN PROPORTION THERE AFTER, UNKNOWN ON THE MINOR INLAND WATERS OF CANADA; A BEAUTIFUL SHIP, THE QUEEN OF NOT ONLY THE MUSKOKA LAKES FLEET, BUT OF ALL INLAND WATERS EXCEPT THE GREAT LAKES." CAPTAIN LEVI FRASER, 1942 "HISTORY OF MUSKOKA."  

     A FEW DAYS AGO, I RECALLED A STORY ABOUT OUR MARINE HERITAGE, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS BLOG, REGARDING CAPTAIN LEVI FRASER'S EXPLOITS, WORKING ABOARD THE SMALL STEAMER, "LAKE JOSEPH." AS THE FINAL STEAMSHIP-RELATED STORY, FROM HIS 1940'S BOOK, "HISTORY OF MUSKOKA," I COULDN'T RESIST RE-VISITING ONE OF MY FAVORITE CAPTAIN FRASER RECOLLECTIONS, PROFILING THE ILL-FATED JOURNEY, OF THIS TOUGH LITTLE BOAT; THAT FOR THOSE WHO WORKED ON HER FOR MANY YEARS, SEEMED INDESTRUCTIBLE. I USED THIS STORY MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS AN ASSOCIATE WRITER OF THE MUSKOKA SUN, BACK IN THE LATE 1990'S. AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D HEARD OF A STEAMBOAT BEING DESCRIBED AS A "HIGH PRESSURE FLAME THROWER." THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STEAMSHIPS GIVEN THIS UNFORTUNATE TITLE, RATING THEM AS FIRE STARTERS. IT WAS SO BAD, IN FACT, THAT SPARKS WOULD LAND ON THE MEN OF THE CREW, AND START THEIR CLOTHING ON FIRE. THERE WERE LOTS OF LITTLE FIRES THAT WOULD BREAK OUT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME, THEY WERE EASILY EXTINGUISHED. IN THE CASE OF THE LAKE JOE, THE SPARKS WERE NOTORIOUSLY PREVALANT, BUT THE SEASONED CREW NEVER ALLOWED ANY OF THE OUTBREAKS TO GET A HOLD, BEFORE BEING PUT OUT. ON THIS EVENING, THE STORMY CONDITIONS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE, AND THE FIRE FOUND A CAVITY FROM WHICH TO GENERATE FROM, IN THE WOOD PILE, THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTINGUISH.

     IN THE WORDS OF THE MASTER STORY-TELLER, CAPTAIN LEVI FRASER, HERE IS THE MARINE CHRONICLE OF DISASTER...A SPARK UPON DRY WOOD:

     "NOW FOR THE LAST TRIP THE ILL-FATED 'LAKE JOE,' WAS TO MAKE. IT WAS AGAIN ABOUT THE SAME TIME OF YEAR. WE LEFT BOYD'S MILL WITH A TOW OF RAFTS FOR HARDWOOD JUST AFTER DARK. IT WAS RAINING AND A MODERATELY STRONG WIND WAS BLOWING. AFTER CLEARING BURNT ISLAND, THE ENGINEER AND COOK WENT TO BED; THE FIREMAN AND I WERE TO STAND THE FIRST WATCH. MY CREW CONSISTED OF ENGINEER, T. DUNCAN, MATE TOM BRUCE, COOK MALCOLM BLACK, AND THE FIREMAN HERB MEEKS. BRUCE HAD OCCASION TO GO TO TOWN THAT AFTERNOON, SO WAS NOT WITH US WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. I HAVE ALWAYS REGRETTED THIS BECAUSE TOM WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A FAR BETTER STORY, OF THE BURNING OF THE SHIP ON A STORMY NIGHT AT SEA, THAN I CAN HOPE TO DO.

     "AN HOUR PASSED. WE WERE NEARING THE BROTHER ISLANDS. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE GOING FINE. THE WIND WAS GETTING A LITTLE STRONGER. IT WAS STILL RAINING WHEN, MEEKS, IN AN ALARMED VOICE, SUDDENLY CALLED FROM BELOW, 'CAPTAIN,' THE SHIP IS ON FIRE!' MEEKS WAS A NEW HAND. I MENTION THIS BECAUSE THOSE OF US WHO WERE ACCUSTOMED TO THE OLD HIGH PRESSURE FLAME THROWERS, THOUGHT NOTHING OF A LITTLE FIRE STARTING HERE OR THERE. OUR GREATEST DIFFICULTY WAS TO KEEP OUR CAPS AND SHIRTS FROM BEING PERFORATED BY THE CONSTANT SHOWER OF SPARKS, WHEN THE EXHAUST WAS IN THE STACK; SO I TOLD HIM TO THROW A PAIL OF WATER ON IT AND PUT IT OUT. IN A FEW MINUTES HE CALLED AGAIN THAT HE COULD NOT PUT IT OUT. I THEN TOLD HIM TO CALL THE COOK AND ENGINEER, THINKING AS THEY WERE ACCUSTOMED TO THOSE LITTLE FIRES, THEY WOULD SOON PUT IT OUT. BUT IN THIS, I WAS MISTAKEN." MEANWHILE, THE STORMY CONDITIONS WERE MAKING THIS AN EVEN MORE PRECARIOUS BATTLE BETWEEN CREW AND THE OUT OF CONTROL FIRE; AND THE WAVES AND WIND, MAKING A SHORE-LANDING VERY DIFFICULT.

    "IN A FEW MINUTES BLACK, THE COOK CAME ON DECK SAYING THEY COULD NOT GET AT THE FIRE AS IT WAS UNDER THE WOOD PILE; THE FRONT CABIN WAS FULL OF SMOKE AND HEAT THAT THE ENGINEER WAS SCARED STIFF. I ORDERED BLACK BELOW TO TRY AND HOLD THE FIRE IN CHECK WHILE I LET THE CRIBS GO AND RAN IN CLOSE TO SHORE, THINKING THAT WITH ALL HANDS WE COULD YET PUT OUT THE FIRE. BUT BEFORE WE REACHED THE SHORE FLAMES WERE COMING THROUGH THE PILOT HOUSE FLOOR AND THE SIX WINDOWS, IN THE FRONT CABIN, WENT OUT WITH AN EXPLOSION AND FLAMES TEN FEET OR MORE HIGH, ROLLED OUT OF EACH WINDOW, A BEAUTIFUL, YET TERRIFYING SIGHT. IT WAS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO LAND BUT THERE WAS NO CHOICE OF LOCATION; THE OLD JOE GROUNDED WITH HER BOW PERHAPS THIRTY FEET FROM THE SHORE, BUT THAT THIRTY FEET WAS IN DARKNESS WITH WAVES DASHING HIGH ON THE ROCKS, WAS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT SWIM, WHAT THE ENGLISH CHANNEL WAS TO HERR HITLER, A DANGEROUS PASSAGE.

     CAPTAIN FRASER NOTED THAT, "NEITHER BLACK NOR DUNCAN COULD SWIM. IN LATER DAYS OF WAR AND EXCITEMENT WE HEAR SUCH REMARKS AS 'WHY DID NOT SO AND SO DO SUCH A THING?' THESE WISE PEOPLE FORGET, OR PERHAPS NEVER KNEW, THAT IT TAKES A CRISIS TO MAKE A HERO; THAT IT TAKES SOMETHING UNUSUAL TO BRING OUT THE BEST THAT IS IN A PERSON. MALCOLM BLACK, A TYPICAL SCOT, IN HIS EARLY FORTIES, WAS A REAL GOOD COOK AND A JOLLY SHIPMATE; A DEVOUT ROMAN CATHOLIC, A FACT WHICH I DID NOT LEARN UNTIL WE HAD BEEN TOGETHER FOR OVER SIX MONTHS, NOT THAT I EVER THOUGHT (OR CONCERNED MYSELF) ABOUT WHAT A MAN'S RELIGIOUS VIEWS WERE, SO LONG AS HE WAS A GOOD SAILOR. BUT WITH ALL HIS GOOD QUALITIES, I HAD LONG SINCE DESPAIRED OF EVER MAKING A SAILOR OUT OF BLACK. HE NEVER LEARNED TO HANDLE A ROPE OR PIKE POLE PROPERLY. IF YOU SPOKE SHARPLY TO HIM, HE LOST HIS NERVE AND BECAME ALMOST USELESS, BUT TONIGHT, WITH RAIN FALLING, WIND BLOWING, TOTAL DARKNESS, BOAT GROUNDED A DISTANCE FROM SHORE, WITH LURID FLAMES BURSTING FROM EVERY FORWARD WINDOW, BLACK WAS THE COOLEST AND MOST USEFUL MAN ON BOARD. HE CAME FROM BELOW JUST AS I HAD PULLED THE CLEARANCE BELL, FOR THE LAST TIME ON THE OLD JOE. HIS ONLY REMARK WAS 'WHAT NOW, CAPTAIN?" TO ABANDON SHIP WAS OUR MOST IMMEDIATE NEED. I SENT HIM BELOW TO GATHER HIS BELONGINGS AND TELL THE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME, AND TO COME ON DECK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO PUT ON SHORE WITH THE LIFE LINE."

     CAPTAIN FRASER RECALLS THAT, "IN A FEW SECONDS, THEY APPEARED ON DECK. DUNCAN ALMOST PARALYZED WITH FEAR. I GAVE BLACK THE LIFE BUOY. HE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED IN, GOING OUT OF SIGHT AT FIRST, BUT SOON APPEARING AGAIN, MAKING HEADWAY TOWARD SHORE. HE HOWEVER, SOON GAINED FOOTING AND WAS SHOUTING ENCOURAGEMENT FROM SHORE. WE ALL GOT ASHORE WITHOUT ANY MISHAP AND WATCHED THE OLD VESSEL BURN TO THE WATER'S EDGE. WE LANDED BETWEEN WHAT IS NOW CLEMSON'S AND COLSONS, ON THE MONCK SHORE OF LAKE MUSKOKA, BUT THESE HOUSES WERE NOT THERE AT THAT TIME. WE WANDERED THROUGH THE WOODS FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS, ARRIVING AT MAURICE FITZMAURICE'S ABOUT ONE IN THE MORNING. ON HEARING OUR TALE OF WOE, MRS. FITZMAURICE GOT UP AND GAVE US A REAL GOOD MEAL. ONE OF THE BOYS DROVE US TO BRACEBRIDGE, ARRIVING AT DAY-BREAK. BLACK AND DUNCAN WENT WEST A FEW DAYS LATER, AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BLACK SINCE. DUNCAN AND MEEKS HAVE BOTH PASSED ON. HERB WAS THE FATHER OF BOB AND NORMAN MEEKS OF BRACEBRIDGE."

     HE CONCLUDES, "A MONTH AFTER THE FIRE, ANDY BOYD BOUGHT THE SOUTHWOOD AND SHE BECAME MY SECOND CHARGE. CREW WERE AS FOLLOWS: ENGINEER, DAVE CLAPP, A WELL KNOWN FIGURE AROUND BRACEBRIDGE IN THOSE DAYS, MATE, BERT CAMPBELL, LATER CAPTAIN OF A NUMBER OF BOATS INCLUDING THE MEDORA (AND THE EATON YACHT, WANDA); FIREMAN, SIM RUSK, WHO LATER LIVED ON MCMURRAY STREET FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS."

     CAPTAIN FRASER, REGARDING ANOTHER STEAMBOAT STORY, WRITES, "ONE FINE MORNING, SHE "THE COMET" WAS RUNNING FROM MILFORD BAY TOWARD BALA WITH A PARTY OF FISHERMEN. THE FELLOWS WERE ALL BUSY GETTING THEIR FISHING TACKLE READY. SOME WERE SITTING, SOME WERE STANDING. THEY HAD JUST PASSED FAIRHAVEN ISLAND. THE ENGINEER WAS PUTTING A FIRE IN THE FURNACE; THE CAPTAIN WAS SITTING IDLY ON HIS HIGH STOOL WITH THE WHEELHOUSE DOOR OPEN. THE BOAT DREW SIX AND ONE HALF FEET OF WATER. ALL OF A SUDDEN HER KEEL CAME IN CONTACT WITH A ROCK JUST FOUR AND ONE HALF FEET BELOW THE SURFACE, SO IN ORDER TO GET OVER IT SHE MUST, OF NECESSITY, RAISE TWO FEET, WHICH SHE DID NOT GRACEFULLY; BUT WITH A SUDDEN FIERCE LURCH WHICH THREW ALL THE PASSENGERS, ALONG WITH THEIR CHAIRS AND FISHING GEAR TO THE DECK. THE CAPTAIN, NOT BEING ABLE TO SECURE ANYTHING TO STOP HIS SUDDEN FLIGHT, JOINED HIS PASSENGERS AT THE RAIL, NOT VOLUNTARILY, BUT HORIZONTALLY, AND BY THE TIME HE HAD EXTRICATED HIMSELF FROM THE DEBRIS, REALIZING THAT AT THE HELM IS THE CAPTAIN'S PLACE, WHEN HIS SHIP IS IN TROUBLE, HE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THE SHIP ON EVEN KEEL PUFFING ALONG AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED, WITH THE OFFENDING SHOAL NOW FAR BEHIND. LUCKILY THERE WAS A STRONG RAILING AROUND THE DECK SO THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES, AND IT WAS NOT REPORTED THAT THE SHIP HAD SUFFERED ANY DAMAGE."

The Bear, The Moose And The Omen - A Folk Tale

THE BEAR, THE MOOSE AND THE OMEN - A FOLK TALE ABOUT THE INTERACTIONS OF CIVILIZATION ON NATURE

BUT IT WAS OUR PAST! GOOD OR BAD!

     THE SUPERSTITIONS OF NAVIGATION, OF COURSE, GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF MARITIME EXPERIENCE AND ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE. IT MAY NOT BE A STORY-WORTHY TO SOME, WHO ARE INFINITELY MORE INTERESTED TO READ ABOUT THE OPERATIONS, OF SAY, THE BOAT'S STEAM PROPULSION SYSTEM, AND ABOUT ITS PORT OF CALLS. BUT THE SUPERSTITIONS ATTACHED TO MARINE HERITAGE ARE NUMEROUS AND FASCINATING. ALTHOUGH THESE MANIFESTATIONS OF SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS, DIDN'T ALWAYS MAKE THE GRADE OF FOLK STORY, REGIONALLY, THERE ARE A FEW THAT ARE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT.....IF YOU BELIEVE IN THESE THINGS. MARINERS OFTEN SEE THINGS THAT JUST CAN'T BE EXPLAINED; ENCOUNTERS ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT, THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED THE MIND PLAYING TRICKS, THE SCENERY TAKING ON A SURREAL APPEARANCE, THAT MAY HAVE CREATED A SUSPICION OF A PENDING, INTRUSIVE OMEN. ONE OF TWO STORIES TODAY, HAS A MILD MORAL SIDE, WHILE THE OTHER POSSESSES A LITTLE PARANORMAL "SHADOW OF DOUBT". YOU BE THE JUDGE. BUT ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN. THEY ARE BOTH NEAT FOLK STORIES, THAT ENHANCE OUR VIEWPOINT OF WHAT THE HISTORY OF MUSKOKA WAS LIKE, BEYOND THE BARE BONES OF ITS RECORDED HISTORY.

     THIS IS NOT A STORY FOR EVERYONE. IF YOU'RE A LITTLE SQUEAMISH ABOUT CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, YOU MAY WISH TO BYPASS TODAY'S BLOG, BECAUSE IT INVOLVES THE VERY POOR TREATMENT OF A MOOSE AND A BEAR, ONE THAT JUST HAPPENED TO GET IN THE WAY OF A STEAMSHIP, AND A CREWMAN WITH A GUN.

     CAPTAIN LEVI FRASER, IN HIS BOOK, "HISTORY OF MUSKOKA," WRITES THE FOLLOWING, ABOUT THE INCIDENT WITH A VERY LARGE MOOSE:

     "WILD LIFE AT THAT DATE (LATE 1800'S) WAS PLENTIFUL THROUGHOUT MUSKOKA. PARTRIDGE, DEER, BEAR AND AN OCCASIONAL MOOSE WERE TO BE SEEN. A STORY WAS TOLD OF THE KILLING OF A MOOSE IN THE FENN'S POINT SETTLEMENT. FATHER FLEMING WAS HOLDING A WEEK-DAY MASS AT THE HOME OF THE KELLYS. FROM THE HOUSE COULD BE SEEN THE LAKE AND AN ISLAND IN THE DISTANCE. DURING THE SERVICE SOMEONE NOTICED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A LARGE DEER OVER ON THE ISLAND. IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF HUNTING SEASON AND SOME FRESH MEAT WOULD BE VERY WELCOME, SO THE MEN DECIDED THEY WOULD TRY TO GET THE DEER. A LAD OF FIFTEEN OR SIXTEEN SAID HE WOULD GO TO THE ISLAND WITH A DOG, AND DRIVE THE DEER INTO THE WATER TOWARD THE FARM. THE LAD AND THE DOG SOON PICKED UP THE DEER'S TRACK AND WERE HURRYING ALONG, THE DOG NOW KEEN ON THE SCENT, LEFT THE BOY BEHIND. THEY WERE NO NEARING THE SHORE, BUT SO FAR THE LAD HAD SEEN NO DEER, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DOG CAME RACING BACK WITH HIS TAIL DOWN, AND CLOSE BEHIND HIM, APPARENTLY IN NO HURRY, WAS THE LARGEST ANIMAL THE LAD HAD EVER SEEN; A HUGE MOOSE. AS THE DOG CONTINUED TO FLEE, THE LAD, FOR SAFETY, CLIMBED THE NEAREST TREE AND REMAINED THERE UNTIL THE MOOSE WAS DISPOSED OF." THE MOOSE, SENSING THE INTRUDER HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, TURNED AROUND, SNORTED, AND LEFT THE SCENE.

     "IT WAS NOW EVIDENT THAT THE MOOSE WAS NOT GOING TO SWIM TOWARD THE FARM, SO A GUNMAN WENT OVER TO TRY FOR A SHOT AT THE MOOSE ON THE ISLAND, BUT BY THIS TIME THE ANIMAL HAD TAKEN TO THE WATER, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND, AND WAS OUT OF GUNSHOT RANGE. SEVERAL MEN HAD COME OVER WITH ANOTHER BOAT; THEY FOLLOWED THE MOOSE AND GOT HIM, SOME DISTANCE OUT, AND TOWED HIM TO SHORE. THE ANIMAL WAS SO LARGE THAT IT TOOK SEVEN OR EIGHT MEN TO DRAG HIM ACROSS THE BARN, WHERE THEY AT ONCE SKINNED AND DRESSED THE CARCASS. THE MEAT WAS DIVIDED AMONG THE NEIGHBORS, A CHOICE CUT OF FIFTEEN OR TWENTY POUNDS, GOING TO FATHER FLEMING. NEXT MORNING AS FATHER FLEMIING WAS TAKING THE BOAT, A DECK HAND RUSHED OUT TO TAKE HIM ONE OF HIS GRIPS (SUITCASES), GETTING THE ONE CONTAINING THE MOOSE MEAT. HE SAID, 'WHAT ON EARTH FATHER, DO YOU CARRY IN YOUR GRIPS TO MAKE THEM SO HEAVY.' FATHER FLEMING REPLIED, 'OH I CARRY MANY THINGS, IF IT IS TOO HEAVY FOR YOU, I WILL TAKE IT MYSELF. I HAVE LEARNED TO BEAR BURDENS, MY OWN AND THOSE OF OTHERS.' A FEW DAYS LATER, A NEIGHBOR FROM SOME DISTANCE, WHO WAS NOT IN AT THE KILL, STOPPED AT THE KELLY HOME FOR DINNER, AND DURING THE MEAL REMARKED THAT MRS. KELLY'S BEEF WAS CHOICE STUFF. THE LADY ASKED HIM IF HE REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS BEEF. HE ANSWERED YES AND THE VERY BEST OF IT. SHE TOLD HIM IT WAS MOOSE MEAT, ALSO TELLING HIM HOW THEY GOT IT.

     "SOMEHOW THE KILLING OF THE MOOSE LEAKED OUT (ALTHOUGH THEY WERE PRETTY SURE IT HAD COME FROM THEIR DINNER GUEST), AND TWO MONTHS LATER A GAME WARDEN (MICHAEL WOODS) AND A CONSTABLE (ROGER MAHON), ARRIVED AT THE KELLY HOME, TO SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE OF A VIOLATION OF THE GAME LAWS. THE LADY, I AM TOLD, WAS A BIG WOMAN, COMMANDING AN ELOQUENT FLOW OF LANGUAGE WHEN THE OCCASION REQUIRED IT. SHE NOW PROCEEDED TO POUR OUT HER VIALS OF WRATH ON THE CONSTABLE WITH WHOM SHE WAS ACQUAINTED, WHILE MICHAEL SEARCHED THE HOUSE. THE ONLY EVIDENCE OF THE MOOSE WAS THE HIDE WHICH WAS IN A SMALL OUTHOUSE ENTERED BY A DOOR FROM THE KITCHEN. THE KITCHEN WAS LINED WITH V-JOINT AND THERE WAS NO CASING AROUND THE DOOR. THE WALL APPEARED AS THOUGH THERE WAS NO DOOR. MICHAEL, NO DOUBT, WAS ANXIOUS TO COMPLETE THE SEARCH OF THE HOUSE, AS THE TIRADE WAS IN NO MANNER COMPLIMENTARY, SO HE MISSED THE DOOR THAT CONCEALED THE EVIDENCE. HE THEN SEARCHED THE BARN WITH THE SAME RESULT; WENT ON TO JOE FENN'S, AND GAVE HIS PREMISES THE ONCE OVER, BUT JOE HAD NOTHING HIDDEN, SO MICHAEL FOUND NOTHING. THE BOY AND THE DOG RETURNED SOME HOURS AFTER THE KILL. WHEN ASKED WHERE HE HAD BEEN, HE REPLIED, 'IF YOU HAD SEEN THAT DOG RUNNING AWAY, YOU WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME AS I DID; CLIMB THE FIRST TREE YOU CAME TO." ME THINKS, HOWEVER, THE HUNTING VIOLATION WAS NEVER PROVEN, WHICH WAS A GOOD THING FOR FATHER FLEMING....AS IT WOULDN'T HAVE LOOKED VERY GOOD TO HIS FLOCK, IF HE'D BEEN BUSTED FOR ILL-GOTTEN MOOSE MEAT.

     NOW IN THE WORDS OF CAPTAIN LEE, AS QUOTED IN CAPTAIN FRASER'S HISTORY, THERE IS A UNIQUE STORY ABOUT AN ILL-FATED BRUIN, IN THE WRONG PLACE IN NATURE, CROSSING THE PATH OF A STEAMSHIP, AND A CREWMAN WITH A GUN....UNAFRAID OF FIRING IT WHILE TRAVERSING THE LAKE WITH PASSENGERS ABOARD.

     "SAILING ON THE MUSKOKA LAKES HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE OR LESS FASCINATING TO THOSE ENGAGED IN IT. OF ALL THE CAPTAINS ON THESE LAKES, DURING THE LAST 50 YEARS (BEFORE 1942), ONLY A SMALL NUMBER HAVE LEFT FOR OTHER OCCUPATIONS; CAPTAIN JACKSON, CAPTAIN W. BOARD, AND CAPTAIN E.E. TAYLOR, LEFT THE WAVES FOR THE FARMS; CAPTAIN GEORGE PARLETT WENT INTO THE LUMBER BUSINESS; NEARLY ALL OTHERS HAVE MADE OF IT A LIFE JOB.

     CAPTAIN FRASER, AS AN INTRODUCTION, WRITES OF HIS FRIEND, IN THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION: "CAPTAIN LEE RELATES THE STORY AS FOLLOWS - 'IT WAS A NICE COOL MORNING. WE HAD LEFT PORT COCKBURN. IT WAS THE STEAMER NIPISSING. CAPTAIN GEORGE BAILEY IN CHARGE. I WAS MATE. WE HAD GOT DOWN NEAR ROUND ISLAND. I WAS AT THE WHEEL, CAPTAIN BAILEY WAS AT BREAKFAST, WHEN A LADY PASSENGER, SITTING NEAR THE BOW OF THE BOAT ASKED ME WHAT WAS CAUSING THAT STREAK ACROSS THE SURFACE OF THE CALM WATER. SHE THOUGHT IT LOOKED LIKE A BIG SNAKE CROSSING SOME DISTANCE AHEAD OF THE BOAT. I LOOKED AND AT FIRST, THOUGHT IT WAS A DOG, BUT AS WE GOT CLOSER, I PERCEIVED IT WAS A BEAR, AND A BIG FELLOW AT THAT. I AT ONCE CALLED THAT A BEAR WAS CROSSING OUR BOW. THE CAPTAIN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY APPEARED ON THE DECK WITH A RIFLE. BY THIS TIME, WE HAD SLOWED DOWN AND WERE VERY CLOSE TO THE BEAR. THE CAPTAIN FIRED TWICE BUT FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER, BOTH SHOTS MISSED; UNDER ORDINARY CONDITIONS BAILEY WAS A REAL MARKSMAN."

     WHAT'S IMPORTANT, IN TERMS OF FOLK HISTORY, ABOUT THIS ENCOUNTER WITH THE BRUIN, AND THE FACT THAT BAILEY WAS INDEED A GOOD SHOT, (AND SHOULD HAVE STRUCK THE BEAR EASILY, FROM THAT DISTANCE).....IS THE CURIOUS SUGGESTION, A SORT OF CURSE WAS ENVELOPING THAT WOULD STRETCH OUT FOR SOME TIME AFTER.

     ACCORDING TO CAPTAIN LEE, "THE BOAT WAS STILL GOING AHEAD AND BY NOW WE WERE RIGHT ON TOP OF THE BEAR. A PADDLE WHEEL CAUGHT THE BEAR, AND PULLED HIM UNDER. WE THOUGHT, OF COURSE, HE WAS DEAD BUT IN A FEW SECONDS HE APPEARED ON THE SURFACE, SNORTING AND SHAKING HIS HEAD, AND SWIMMING AS STRONGLY AS EVER. BY THIS TIME WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO THE SHORE. THE CAPTAIN FIRED AGAIN AND CALLED US TO BACK UP. I SIGNALLED TO REVERSE THE ENGINES AND IN A FEW TURNS THE PADDLES. OF THE BIG WHEEL. ONCE MORE CAUGHT THE BEAR AND PULLED HIM UNDER, AND AGAIN HE CAME TO THE SURFACE APPARENTLY UNHURT. ANOTHER SHOT, HOWEVER, TOOK EFFECT AND THE BEAR'S HEAD WENT UNDER WATER. HE WAS NOW QUITE DEAD. WE AT ONCE LOWERED A BOAT AND PULLED OUT THE BEAR. TO GET HIM TO THE STEAMER WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT A ROPE AROUND HIS NECK AND TOW HIM IN. HE HAD PUT UP SUCH A FIGHT FOR LIFE, AND HAD BEEN SO HARD TO KILL THAT WE WERE IN NO HURRY PUTTING THE ROPE AROUND HIS NECK. HOWEVER, WE AT LAST HAULED HIM ON BOARD.

     "A GENTLEMAN ON BOARD BOUGHT THE BEAR AND WAS TO TAKE IT ASHORE, A DISTANCE FROM THE GRAVENHURST WHARF, SKIN IT AND SINK THE CARCASS. TWO WEEKS LATER, AS WE WERE NEARING THE LITTLE ISLAND OUT FROM THE GRAVENHURST WHARF, THE CAPTAIN SIGHTED SOMETHING UNUSUAL IN THE WATER. HE CALLED TO ME, 'WHAT IS THAT IN THE WATER RALPH?' AS WE DREW NEARER I RECOGNIZED IT AS THE BEAR'S CARCASS. WHEN WE GOT TO THE DOCK, THE CAPTAIN ARRANGED WITH A MAN TO GO OUT, AND MAKE A SURE-JOB OF SINKING THE BEAR. NEARLY A MONTH LATER, WHEN APPROACHING THE WHARF, WE AGAIN SIGHTED THE BEAR'S CARCASS, BUT THIS TIME IT WAS NEARLY TWICE THE SIZE. WHEN WE LANDED, THE CAPTAIN GOT A BOAT, SOME OLD IRON AND SOME WIRE; HE ALSO TOOK ALONG A BUTCHER KNIFE. ARRIVING AT THE BEAR, HE COULD SEE NO WAY OF FASTENING ON HIS SINKERS AS THE BEAR'S LIMBS WERE ALL UNDER THE WATER, AND THE CARCASS WAS TERRIBLY INFLATED. IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE JOB WAS TO BE DONE, THE CAPTAIN THOUGHT THAT BE PIERCING THE BALLOON SHAPED CARCASS, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET AT IT BETTER; SO HE PLUNGED THE BUTCHER KNIFE INTO THE CARCASS. BUT ALAS, THE THING EXPLODED, AND WITH SUCH FORCE AND SUDDENNESS, THAT THE CAPTAIN'S FINE UNIFORM WAS BESPATTERED WITH DECOMPOSED BEAR. THE STENCH SO SICKENED THE CAPTAIN, THAT IT WAS WEEKS BEFORE HE AGAIN COULD ENJOY A GOOD MEAL. AFTER HAVING TAKEN HIS REVENGE, WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE BEAR SETTLED PEACEFULLY INTO THE DEEP, AND WAS SEEN NO MORE."

     ACCORDING TO LEVI FRASER, "THE STRANGE PART OF THE STORY, IS THAT IT WAS ALWAYS THE NIPISSING'S CREW THAT CAME UPON THE CARCASS IN THE WATER; NO ONE ELSE EVER REPORTED HAVING SEEN IT. THE CREW OF THE NIPISSING AT THAT TIME, WAS CAPTAIN BAILEY; MATE RALPH LEE, ENGINEER C, MCARTHUR, PURSER W. LINK, BOB SIMMONS, JAMES MCCULLEY, JOE MORTIMER, AND BOB MCINTYRE, WERE THE OTHER MEMBERS."

     HAD THE BEAR BEEN TAUNTING THE STEAMSHIP CREW? KILLING THE BEAR TO EAT, FOR SUSTENANCE, WAS ONE THING. TO KILL THE BEAR ONLY FOR ITS SKIN, WAS WASTEFUL, ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME, THE BEAR POPULATION WAS CONSIDERED INEXHAUSTIBLE. POSSIBLY GOD DIDN'T FEEL THE SAME WAY, AND LET CAPTAIN BAILEY KNOW ABOUT THIS INDISCRETION, ALL FOR THE PRICE OF A FEW DOLLARS' PROFIT.

The Great Steam Powered Merry-Go-Round and The Medicine Shows in Bracebridge

THE GREAT STEAM POWERED MERRY-GO-ROUND - AND THE MEDICINE SHOWS ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE

REDMOND THOMAS BRINGS THOSE HALCYON DAYS BACK TO FULL BRIGHTNESS - UNDER THE GLOW OF THE SILVERY MOON

     WE MORTALS, WERE GIVEN THE CAPACITY TO MAKE MEMORIES. WE WERE GIVEN IMAGINATION IN ORDER TO EXPLORE "THE FANTASTIC," OF LIFE AND BEYOND. EACH OF US HAS A PERSONAL ARCHIVES, FULL OF MEMORIES, AND ALL THE PRECEDENTS OF FAR FLUNG ENTERPRISES, OF THE IMAGINATION. IS IT THEN, SO FAR FETCHED, TO THINK OF OURSELVES INTIMATELY, AS ARCHIVISTS AND HISTORIANS IN OUR OWN RIGHT? RECOLLECTIONS, LIKE THE ONES PUBLISHED BELOW, ARE THE QUILTED TOGETHER SHREDS OF EXPERIENCE, AND SHADES OF CREATIVE THOUGHT, IMBEDDED IN FOND MEMORY, OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE BRACEBRIDGE, IN THIS CASE, AS A HOMETOWN. IT'S WHAT I HAVE USED, TO INSPIRE A MAJORITY OF MY COLUMNS, ABOUT GROWING UP IN BRACEBRIDGE; AND I AM SO PLEASED THAT I HAVE REMEMBERED SO MUCH, OF WHAT WAS AN AMAZING CHILDHOOD, AND EXCITING YOUTH SPENT IN WHAT REDMOND THOMAS, HIMSELF, WAS A HOMETOWN WITH BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL, AND NEIGHBORLINESS. HERE NOW, ARE SOME OF HIS OBSERVATIONS, ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE, IN THOSE EARLY YEARS OF COMMUNITY-BUILDING, ESPECIALLY IN SOCIAL / CULTURAL ENTERPRISE.

     "THE GOOD SIZED FIELD," WROTE WELL KNOWN BRACEBRIDGE COLUMNIST, REDMOND THOMAS Q.C., "COMPRISED THE LAND OF THE PRESENT CARNEGIE LIBRARY, AND NEARLY ALL THE LAND OF THE SERVICE STATION, NOW SOUTH OF IT. IT WAS RENTED OUT FROM TIME TO TIME, TO SUCH VISITING ACTIVITIES AS THE MERRY-G0-ROUND, AND THE MEDICINE SHOWS."

     THIS IS ONE OF THE STORIES CONTAINED IN HIS 1969 BOOK, "BRACEBRIDGE, MUSKOKA REMINISCENCES," PUBLISHED BY THE HERALD-GAZETTE PRESS. HIS FOLKISH STORIES, ARE FROM THE HEART, AND BRING THE READER INTO HIS REMINISCENCES, SUCH THAT YOU MIGHT HEAR THE HAUNTING ECHO OF "MEET ME IN ST.LOUIS," THE CHUG OF THE STEAM ENGINE, THAT DROVE THE WHEEL ON ITS IRON TRACKS. YOU CAN SMELL THE BURNING COIL OIL FROM THE LAMPS AROUND THE FIELD, AND POSSIBLY HEAR THE SMOOTH-TONGUED BARK OF THE PROPRIETOR, FROM THE TRAVELLING MEDICINE SHOW, WHO HAS JUST PUT OUT HIS SIGN-BOARD TO ANNOUNCE THE COMING DEMONSTRATION. PEOPLE ARE GATHERING. IT IS ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE. MANITOBA STREET. WHAT A WONDROUS, FASCINATING SCENE, IS UNFOLDING IN FRONT OF OUR EYES. THANK YOU MR. THOMAS, FOR LEADING US DOWN THIS FAMILIAR PATH TO OUR PAST!

    IT SEEMS SUCH AN APPROPRIATE REVIVAL, TO PRESENT THIS STORY, AT A TIME IN OUR HISTORY, WHEN THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN, IS IN THE MIDST OF ITS OWN REVITALIZATION FOR THE FUTURE.

    REDMOND'S ORIGINAL COLUMN, CARRYING THIS STORY, RAN IN THE JULY 1967, AND MARCH 1968 ISSUES, OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE.

    NOTE: THE FIELD THAT REDMOND THOMAS IS REFERRING TO, IS WHERE THE OLD STATION RESTAURANT IS NOW LOCATED, INCLUDING THE PROPERTY OF THE BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE CURRENT POST OFFICE.

    "ON THAT FIELD I HAVE RIDDEN ON THE BIG STEAM-POWERED MERRY-GO-ROUND, WHICH RAN ON A HEAVY CIRCULAR STEEL TRACK, AS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL, IN ONE OF MY PREVIOUS ARTICLES. ANY MEDICINE SHOW WAS GIVEN (BY LIGHT OF COAL OIL FLARES), ON A WAGON, OR SMALL STAGE. THE USUAL SHOW WAS PUT ON BY AN ENTERTAINER, (GENERALLY, A BURNT-CORK COLORED MAN) WHOSE PROGRAM WAS JOKES, SONGS AND BANJO MUSIC, AND WHO WAS SOMETIMES ASSISTED BY THE SPIELER. BETWEEN THE NUMBERS OF THE SPIELER, HE GAVE HIS PITCH TO SELL HIS MEDICINAL PRODUCT - MAYBE A WONDERFUL OIL MADE FROM HIS OWN SECRET FORMULA, GUARANTEED TO BE THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD FOR HUMANS, HORSES AND HARNESS. THOSE SPIELERS WERE MARVELS OF SMOOTH LOQUACITY."

JULY 13TH, 1967, THE BIG ATTRACTION

     Redmond Thomas was fond of attending these community events. It was a big deal, when the train arrived with something special on board. It was for the entertainment of the local citizenry, and reportedly, it came courtesy a fine fellow from Gravenhurst.

     "Nice merry-go-rounds now come to Bracebridge but, though more glittering, none of them is nearly as big, heavy, or spectacular as the old steam-powered one. It was built in North Tonawanda, New York, but was owned in (or at any rate managed from) Gravenhurst. It was a feature in itself, and was not accompanied by any other amusement device, or any kind of game. It was in Bracebridge every summer, usually twice and for a week each time. Its arrival and departure were on a Grand Trunk Railway freight train, with a steam locomotive."

    Mr. Thomas paints a picture for the reader. What a tantalizing one it is, such that we wish to see it, spinning in the moonlit summer night. "The merry-go-round was located at several places on land, which was then vacant, but its chief and final location, was on the north side of Thomas Street, where now stand the bowling alley building, Muskoka Trading Company Store, but which, in those days, was vacant land, except that far back from the street, there was the Storey wagon-shop, and closer to the road, was a rusty boiler on its stone foundation, remains of a planning mill, which had burnt before my time." The land referred to, by Redmond Thomas, was behind the former Queen's Hotel (which became the Patterson Hotel), a building still standing on the corner, and the former Albion Hotel, adjacent to the train station. This was a much easier haul, from the station, where the ride was unloaded, and moved in pieces to the site; versus when it had to be brought up a steep length of the Queen's Hill, to upper Manitoba Street.

     "The big merry-go-round revolved on a heavy circular steel track, of which the rails were almost square instead of the shape of those used by the railroads. The track was laid in a shallow trench, and great care was taken to have it absolutely level. The heavy body of the machine, rested on numerous heavy steel wheels, which had flanges on the inside much like those of railroad cars. One of the wheels was under every pair of animals, and every seat, and the individual motion of the animals, was provided by eccentrics from the wheels," wrote Mr. Thomas.

     "The merry-go-round had a broad lower deck, of heavy slatted wood and passengers stepped onto it, in the spaces between the pairs of hand-carved wooden horses, lions and other animals, or the sets of wooden seats - then the passengers climbed to the upper wooden deck, from which they took their places for the ride. To collect tickets, the conductor made a circuit of the upper deck, while the ride was in progress. The centre of the machine was an open circular area, in which suspended from a pole, were the big coal oil flares, which provided the light at night, which was about the only time the machine was in use. The top of the merry-go-round was of rather flattened conical shape, and was made of canvas with scalloped edges. (When not in use, the sides of the machine were closed by canvas curtains.)"

     He writes that, "receiving its power from one of the wheels was a melodious organ, which the conductor cut in as soon as the merry-go-round was nearing full speed. Some distance behind the merry-go-round stood a powerful stationary steam engine, with an upright boiler. The engine operated from a drum, from which (through a series of fixtures containing pulleys), a heavy wire cable ran into a deep groove, in the outside edge of the lower deck, and caused the merry-go-round to revolve; on the same principle as an old fashioned top, which was spun by rapidly pulling a string, which had been wound around it. There were, in Bracebridge, no automobiles or moving picture show - and, of course radio, and television had not been invented."

     "So the merry-go-round, was a centre of attraction for a throng of spectators, as well as for the patrons. Not only children but grown-ups (especially young men with their girl friends) were customers, and so were some older people. Some of those of rather mature years, who rode, claimed that they were doing it solely to look after their small children, or grandchildren aboard. Once I saw a sedate middle-aged businessmen, fall off the outside, one of a pair of animals, because he became dizzy, while his young daughter, had been expertly riding the inner one of the pair - fortunately he suffered only a shaking up."

     "Tickets for a ride were small dark-blue, oblong pasteboards, with rounded corners, like milk tickets of those times," writes the master story-teller, Redmond Thomas. "They were five cents each, or six for a quarter, regardless of whether for use by a child or an adult. (But in those days the little silver five cent piece, would also buy a loaf of bread, or a quart of milk) The ticket seller was a man who had a satchel, suspended from a strap over his shoulder, and who stood on the ground sufficiently close to the merry-go-round, to be within the circle of light cast by its big flares. After having later been collected by the conductor, the tickets were sold again, just like the milk tickets were used again and again."

     Redmond concludes, "To start or stop a ride, the conductor blew a whistle of the kind used by sports referees, and this was acknowledged by two toots on the whistle of the steam-engine. A ride was really spectacular. After the whistle by the conductor, and the two toots from the engineer in answer, the engineer gradually opened the throttle, and the merry-go-round, in its mellow glow, began to revolve with gathering speed, while from those aboard, came the delighted shouts of the kids, and the rippling laughter of the young ladies. Soon the conductor cut in the organ which forthwith, gave out the very latest popular tunes. A few years ago, the nice song 'Meet Me In St. Louis,' had a revival of popularity, because of the splendid motion picture of the same name, and then whenever I listened to it, there came to mind the first time I heard that piece - from the merry-go-round organ, when I was a very small schoolboy, in the summer of the St. Louis World Fair of 1904."

THE TALE OF THE FIRST "TAILS" WORN HERE (FROM A COLUMN WRITTEN BY REDMOND THOMAS, IN THE APRIL 27TH ISSUE, OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE)

     "This tale, of the first tails work in Bracebridge, is brief, but so was the wearing of them. It was told to me more than once by the gentleman who wore them. Mr. J. Ewart Lount, who as long as I knew him, was Registrar of Deeds, and at whose funeral I was a pallbearer. In 1868, the first Ontario Government, under Premier John Sandfield MacDonald, appointed C.W. Lount (a Toronto Barrister, related to Samuel Lount, who was hanged for being a leader of the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion), to be Muskoka's first Division Court Judge, Stipendiary Magistrate, Registrar of Deeds, Crown Lane Agent, etc. Leaving his family in Toronto, Judge Lount came to Bracebridge, and put up at the Victoria Hotel, of which Alex Bailey was the proprietor, and which stood on the west side of Muskoka Road (the pioneer colonization road) at the top of Free Methodist Hill. Shortly afterwards in that year, his eldest son, Ewart, then barely out of boyhood, came here to help in the Judge's work, as Registrar of Deeds and Crown Lands Agent; and Ewart alighted from the stage in front of the Victoria Hotel, and, like his father, put up there. It chanced that a ball had been arranged for that night at the hotel, and shortly before it was due to begin, the landlord invited young Ewart Lount to participate in it. Ewart, being fresh from the refinements of society life, in Old Ontario, went upstairs, unpacked from his trunk, his suit of formal evening clothes, and donned them. As soon as he heard the fiddles, he began to descend the stairs, to the main room of the hotel, which was then a ballroom, but stopped in amazement, when part way down. A square dance was in progress."

    Redmond writes, "Many of the dancers were shantymen, dressed in rough clothes, and wearing heavy boots with soles studded with corks (calks). The apparel of every such man, included a brightly colored sash around his waist, with a long end, adorned by a tassel, hanging down. The women wore very plain attire. One of the men, who had been 'tamaracking'er down,' caught sight of Ewart, and stopped in amazement at the sight. This stalled the shindig and everyone followed his gaze. It was a time of general amazement. Ewart Lount was amazed. The dancers were amazed too - but not for long. The shantymen 'let out one roar,' (as Mr. Lount used to say in telling of it), and they rushed up the stairs, grabbed Ewart, and carried him down into the ballroom, where they tore off his suit and left him standing in his underwear. According to Victorian etiquette, the genteel thing for the ladies to have done, was swoon. But not so the belles of Bracebridge. They just roared with laughter."

Muskoka History and Its Healthy Harvest Of Folk Tales

MUSKOKA HISTORY AND ITS HEALTHY HARVEST OF FOLK TALES

CAPTAIN L. R. FRASER CIRCA 1942

     I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I GOT MY COPY OF CAPTAIN LEVI FRASER'S SELF-PUBLISHED HISTORY OF MUSKOKA, BUT IT LOOKS TO HAVE FIRST BEEN RAVAGED BY A LAWNMOWER BLADE, BEFORE IT BECAME PART OF MY ARCHIVES. IT HAS ENOUGH INTEGRITY LEFT THOUGH, TO MAKE A HELL OF A RESOURCE FOR MY SUNDRY HERITAGE PROJECTS.....BUT AS FOR RE-SALE, IT'S NOT WORTH MUCH. I USED TO BUY AND SELL BOOKS LIKE THIS, ON MUSKOKA HISTORY, BUT THE SUPPLY OF THE BEST ONES DRIED UP. THE LAST TIME I BOUGHT A LEVI FRASER BOOK, IT WAS OFF A FRIEND FOR FIFTY BUCKS. I SOLD IT A FEW WEEKS LATER FOR A HUNDRED. BY ANTIQUE BOOK SELLER RETAIL PROTOCOLS, A HUNDRED PERCENT PROFIT IS PRETTY MODEST, SEEING AS HIS WORK TODAY CAN SELL FOR TWO TO THREE HUNDRED OR MORE, ESPECIALLY VIA EBAY AUCTIONS.

     WHAT I LIKE ABOUT LEVI'S WORK, IS THAT HE WASN'T SHY OF OFFERING AN OPINION, AND I'VE HAD A FEW FEMALE CONTEMPORARIES, WHO WERE OFFENDED AT WHAT THEY PERCEIVED WAS HIS SEXIST SLANT ON, FOR EXAMPLE, WOMEN BEING ABLE TO VOTE. IT'S ALL PART OF THE PACKAGE OF THE TIMES, I HAVE EXPLAINED OVER AND OVER, AND WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH HIS POINT OF VIEW OR NOT, WE'RE USING THIS BOOK FOR THE CAUSE OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, AND RE-DEVELOPMENT, NOT TO WRITE A PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY.

     MY ONLY GRIEVANCE WITH HIS OVERVIEW, OF THE PIONEER PERIOD, IN OUR DISTRICT, IS THAT IT IS, WELL, JUST A NO FRILLS, SHALLOW RESEARCHED GENERALIZATION, WITH A CONTRARY OPINION ATTACHED, OF WHICH I DON'T HAPPEN TO CONCUR. HE HAD A CLOSER GLIMPSE UPON THE PIONEER PERIOD, THAN I'VE HAD, SO HE HAD BETTER INSIGHT TO OFFER AS AN INFORMED JUDGEMENT. IN A RETROSPECTIVE DEBATE HOWEVER, HE WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY SIDE WITH MUSKOKA'S FIRST PUBLISHED AUTHOR, HISTORIAN, THOMAS MCMURRAY, WHEN IT COMES TO HIS ASSESSMENT, THAT THE PIONEER PERIOD WASN'T SO BAD AS IT WAS....., AND STILL IS PORTRAYED BY OTHERS; THOSE DISTRICT-HATERS, WHO MADE INTERPRETATIONS BASED ON THE MOST DEPRESSING OF HOMESTEADING ACCOUNTS. BASICALLY, CAPTAIN FRASER BELIEVES, THAT BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF IMMIGRANT ATTRACTED TO THE HOMESTEAD GRANT LAND, OF THE 1860'S, THE OBSTACLES OF POVERTY, PHYSICAL INABILITY TO FARM, INEXPERIENCE AND SKULLDUGGERY, HAD NO SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE MISSION OF THE SETTLERS TO ESTABLISH PROSPEROUS FARMS AND THRIVING BUSINESSES.

     LEVI FRASER WAS UNQUESTIONABLY A STALWART MUSKOKA ADVOCATE, AND WHETHER IT WAS IN BUSINESS, WITH HIS OWN STEAM BOAT, OR AS A LOCAL POLITICIAN, A FREQUENT NEWSPAPER CONTRIBUTOR, OR HISTORIAN, HE FIRMLY BELIEVED IN THE INHERENT ABILITY OF HOME-GROWN MUSKOKANS, TO WEATHER THE STORMS OF ADVERSITY. WHAT HE WAS ALLUDING TO, WAS THAT THE PIONEER PERIOD WAS MUCH LESS DIFFICULT AND TRAGIC, AS OTHER CRITICS, FROM THE 1860'S ONWARD, WERE CLAIMING, IN THEIR WIDELY PUBLISHED LETTERS, TO NEWSPAPERS, WITH SUCH BOLD HEADLINES AS "THE BLACK PICTURE IN THE DISTRICT."

     I COULD NOT AGREE WITH CAPTAIN FRASER IN THIS REGARD, BUT I RESPECT HIS OPINION. HAVING RESEARCHED THIS PERIOD OF OUR HISTORY, FOR WELL MORE THAN THREE DECADES, MY IMPRESSION IS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE, AND I'VE TRIED TO PRESENT SOME EVIDENCE, IN THIS REGARDS, OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. BUT THERE ARE NO STATISTICS TO BACK UP EITHER POINT OF VIEW. THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T KEEP THE STATISTICS OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE ON THE HOMESTEADS, OR HOW MANY SETTLERS FROZE TO DEATH, STARVED, OR WERE KILLED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF FARMING ACCIDENTS, DUE TO INEXPERIENCE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, IN THE EARLY 1880'S, PUBLISHED A GLOWING COMMITTEE REPORT, ON THE PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT IN THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS. INDICATING BASICALLY, AS A SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATION, THAT THE EXPERIMENT TO SETTLE THE MUSKOKA AND PARRY SOUND DISTRICTS, HAD ACHIEVED ENOUGH GAINS, SINCE THE 1860'S, WITH SUCCESSFUL, PROSPERING HOMESTEADS, TO DECLARE THE WHOLE INITIATIVE A POLITICAL TRIUMPH. IF YOU READ BETWEEN THE LINES, YOU'D RECOGNIZE THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD ASSESS THIS, IS IF THE NUMBER OF FAILURES, AND THE DEATHS THEY KNEW ABOUT, FELL UNDER WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS "ACCEPTABLE LOSS." IN OTHER WORDS, THEY HAD NO DOUBT FAILURES AND DEATH, AS A RESULT OF THEIR PROGRAM OF SETTLEMENT, WAS GOING TO OCCUR, BUT UPON SURVEY IN THE 1880'S, ASSUMED BY WHAT THEY SAW, LIFE ON THE WHOLE WAS GOOD AND PROSPEROUS....WHICH BY THE WAY, GAVE THE GOVERNMENT FUEL, TO COMMENCE SETTLEMENT INITIATIVES FURTHER NORTH, WHERE THE LANDSCAPE WAS EVEN MORE ADVERSE THAN IN MUSKOKA. IN MY OPINION THE REPORT WAS FUDGED TO READ BETTER THAN IT WAS, TO SERVE THE POLITICAL AMBITIONS OF THE POLITICAL PARTY IN POWER. IF THEY HAD DONE A PARALLEL REPORT, FOCUSING-IN ON THE DISGRUNTLED FARMERS, WHO FELT THE PROVINCE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS HAD LIED TO THEM, AND FAILED TO LIVE UP TO PROMISES, IT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A TRULY, NO HOLDS BARRED "BLACK PICTURE." INSTEAD, THEY ACCENTUATED THE POSITIVE. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED, HAS IT?

     BESIDES THIS, WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE A SOURCE OF CHAGRIN FOR ME, BECAUSE I KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CASUALITIES THAN CAPTAIN FRASER DID, IN 1942, WHEN THIS BOOK WAS RELEASED FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION. LIKE MY FAVORITE MUSKOKA WRITER / HISTORIANS, LIKE BRACEBRIDGE'S REDMOND THOMAS, AND BERT SHEA, OF UFFORD, LEVI FRASER WISELY CONSERVED MANY IMPORTANT STORIES IN THIS BOOK, ABOUT EVENTS IN WHICH HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED.....WHICH RANK, IN MY OPINION, AS A RICH MINE OF HERITAGE FOLK TALES. I HAVE USED HIS WRITINGS, IN MY RESEARCH WORK, FOR AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS, AND FOUND SEVERAL OF HIS ACCOUNTS SOME OF THE FINEST, MOST INTERESTING, IN ALL OF MUSKOKA'S COLLECTION, OF WHAT CAN BE CONSIDERED "FOLK HISTORY." ONE OF MY FAVORITES INVOLVES THE EERIE ENCOUNTER OF TWO SMALL STEAMSHIPS, IN DARKNESS, THAT COULD WELL HAVE ENDED WITH SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. GOD'S WILL, IT SEEMS, SPARED ALL ON BOARD. BUT WHAT A GREAT STORY TO GRACE OUR HISTORY PAGES.

     "I REMAINED IN CHARGE OF THE (STEAMER) 'SOUTHWOOD' FOR ANDY BOYD, AND LATER FOR THE LAKE ROSSEAU LUMBER COMPANY, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. DURING THOSE YEARS I BECAME VERY MUCH ATTACHED TO MY EMPLOYER, BOYD; I FOUND HIM TO BE A MAN OF STERLING QUALITIES, ALWAYS LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE, TRYING TO BE HAPPY AND MAKE OTHERS THE SAME. TO ANDY THE FUTURE ALWAYS SEEMED BRIGHT AND PROMISING BUT THEN THE PRESENT NEARLY ALWAYS HELD ITS DIFFICULTIES, BECAUSE HE WAS DOING A LITTLE MORE BUSINESS THAN HIS FINANCIAL SET-UP COULD COMFORTABLY STAND. ONE OF HIS PECULIARITIES WAS A HORROR OF BAD BUTTER.

     CAPTAIN FRASER WRITES, "DURING THE WINTER HE AND I TRAVELLED A LOT TOGETHER, BUYING LOGS AND LOOKING AFTER CAMP OPERATIONS, FREQUENTLY STOPPING AT HOTELS. ANDY USUALLY SELECTED A TABLE WHERE WE WERE MORE OR LESS BY OURSELVES, AND HE PROCEEDED AT ONCE TO SMELL THE BUTTER, THEN TURNING TO THE WAITRESS WITH A GOOD NATURED GRIMACE, WOULD SAY, "SUSIE, LIKE A GOOD GIRL, SEE IF YOU CAN GET US A BIT OF GOOD BUTTER - THAT STUFF WOULD POISON ANY DOG IN TOWN.' SUSIE USUALLY RETURNED WITH A SMILE AND THE GOOD BUTTER.

     "ALONG ABOUT 1900 ANDY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIS BROTHER DAVE, OF GRAVENHURST, BOUGHT BIG ISLAND, THE LARGEST ISLAND IN MUSKOKA LAKE, CONTAINING ABOUT 1,200 ACRES. IT WAS WELL TIMBERED WITH HARD AND SOFT WOODS, AND HAD LARGE TRACTS OF GOOD FARM LAND AND SCORES OF BEAUTIFUL POINTS SUITABLE FOR TOURIST COTTAGES. ANDY SAW GREAT POSSIBITIES IN THIS VENTURE, LUMBERING, FARMING AND TOURIST DEVELOPMENT. WITHIN THE FOLLOWING FEW YEARS, HUNDREDS OF MEN FOUND EMPLOYMENT ON BIG ISLAND; WINTER AND SUMMER WORK WAS CARRIED ON. THE PLAN WAS TO REMOVE ALL THE MERCHANTABLE TIMBER FROM AN AREA SUITABLE FOR FARMING. THE TIMBER NOT SUITABLE FOR SAW-LOGS WAS CUT INTO CORDWOOD. (THERE WAS IN THOSE DAYS AN UNLIMITED DEMAND FOR ALMOST ANY GRADE OF CORDWOOD). THE LAND WAS THEN BURNED OVER, CLEARED UP AND SOWN OR PLANTED. SO IN COMPARATIVELY SHORT TIME, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TWO FINE FARMS WAS STARTED. THE ISLAND WAS DIVIDED EQUALLY. ANDY KEEPING THE NORTH AND DAVE THE SOUTH. THE FINE LARGE FRAME BARNS WERE ERECTED, WITH STONE STABLES UNDERNEATH."

    CAPTAIN FRASER NOTES, "WHILE THE ISLAND WAS OWNED BY THE BOYDS, WHO ALWAYS ENCOURAGED THE GENERAL PUBLIC, LARGE SCALE PICNICS WERE BECOMING AN ANNUAL AFFAIR; THE IDEA WAS TWO-FOLD - TO MAKE THE ISLAND A SPORTS CENTRE FOR BOTH GRAVENHURST AND BRACEBRIDGE, AND TO ATTRACT AND ACQUAINT POSSIBLE BUYERS OF THE TOURIST PROPERTY, WITH THE GENERAL LAYOUT OF THE ISLAND. THOSE PICNICS WERE BECOMING VERY POPULAR; THE NAVIGATION COMPANY CO-OPERATING TO THE EXTENT OF SENDING THE ISLANDER AND THE MUSKOKA, EACH LOADED TO CAPACITY. SOMETIMES THE ISLANDER MADE SEVERAL TRIPS. THERE WAS NO DOCK THEN IN WHAT WAS LATER CALLED ROWAN'S BAY. WE USUALLY MOORED A GOOD SIZE SCOW AT A CONVENIENT POINT, MAKING A VERY SATISFACTORY WHARF. THESE PICNICS CONTINUED TO BE HELD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT WHEN THE ISLAND CHANGED HANDS THESE GATHERINGS WERE DISCONTINUED. AMONG THOSE WHO HELD SUCH PICNICS WERE THE BRACEBRIDGE CITIZEN'S BAND.

     "AN INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE NIGHT OF ONE OF THESE PICNICS THAT NEARLY SENT THE SOUTHWOOD AND THE COMET TO DAVEY JONE'S LOCKER. THE COMET WAS RUNNING DOWN FROM THE ISLAND SHORTLY AFTER DARK, WITH A PARTY THAT HAD ATTENDED THE SPORTS; THE SOUTHWOOD COMING BACK FROM GRAVENHURST RUNNING ITS LIGHTS. THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR WAS IN FULL SWING AT THE TIME, AND AN ACCOUNT OF A FIERCE RUNNING NAVAL ENGAGEMENT WAS IN THAT DAY'S PAPER. I HAD SECURED A PAPER AT MUSKOKA WHARF AND AFTER CLEARING THE NARROWS LIGHT-HOUSE, I GAVE THE WHEEL TO THE MATE, ELWOOD IRELAND, AND WENT INTO MY ROOM BEHIND THE PILOT HOUSE, TO READ OF THE GREAT SEA BATTLE. IN A FEW MINUTES THE MATE CALLED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A BOAT'S LIGHTS AHEAD, AND ASKED AS TO WHICH SIDE HE WOULD KEEP. I TOLD HIM TO KEEP ON HIS OWN SIDE WHICH MEANT STARBOARD, AND CONTINUED TO READ THE WAR NEWS. TEN MINUTES LATER I WAS ALARMED AT HEARING THE EXTREMELY UNUSUAL TWO BELLS, A SIGNAL TO REVERSE ENGINE. RUSHING OUT ON DECK I WAS HORRIFIED TO SEE THE COMET, NOT MORE THAN THIRTY FEET AWAY, WITH OUR BOW POINTING DIRECTLY FOR FINE MIDSHIPS. SO CLOSE WE WERE THAT I HEARD DISTINCTLY THE COMET'S CLEARANCE BELL, AS THE CAPTAIN RANG FOR MORE SPEED AHEAD, AND HEARD THE ACCELERATED CHUG OF HER ENGINE. OUR HELM WENT HARD TO PORT, THE COMET'S HARD TO STARBOARD IN AN EFFORT TO LAY THEM ALONGSIDE, AND IF POSSIBLE, ESCAPE WITH A GLANCING BLOW; AND TO ADD TO THE INTENSE HORROR OF THE MOMENT, TWO WOMEN APPEARED AT THE COMET'S WINDOWS, THEN A SPLINTERING CRASH."

     CAPTAIN FRASER STATES, OF THE COLLISION, "THE SOUTHWOOD'S BOW GRAZED THE COMET'S STERN AND SAVAGELY CRASHED INTO THE RIVER-DRIVERS LARGE PUNT THAT WAS BEING TOWED BEHIND THE COMET, CUTTING THE PUNT TO THE CENTRE. THE COMET AND THOSE ON BOARD WERE SAFE AND CONTINUED ON THEIR WAY. I RUSHED BELOW TO DETERMINE WHAT DAMAGE WE HAD SUFFERED BUT TO MY SURPRISE AND RELIEF, I FOUND NO SIGN OF A LEAK. THIS WAS THE ONLY NEAR COLLISION OR ACCIDENT INVOLVING ANOTHER VESSEL THAT I HAVE EVER HAD, AND THE ONLY TIME I HAVE EVER KNOWN FEAR IN A CRISIS. THE MUSKOKA LAKES SAILORS ARE JUST AS FEARLESS AS THE MEN WHO RECENTLY FACED HELL IN THE CLOUDS OR DESTRUCTION ON THE HIGH SEAS. NEITHER FIRE NOR FLOOD NOR TEMPEST WILL DISMAY THEM, SO LONG AS THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO FIGHT BACK. THIS HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.

     "A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THE AHMIC, ON A COLD, SNOWY DAY IN LATE NOVEMBER, AT ST. ELMO (ISLAND - MOUTH OF THE MUSKOKA RIVER), AN OVERTURNED CANOE, WITH TWO MEN CLINGING TO IT, WAS SIGHTED. THE AHMIC AT ONCE SPED TO THE RESCUE. COMING ALONGSIDE, THE BOAT'S SWELL BROKE THE HOLD OF ONE OF THE BENUMBED MEN, AND HE BEGAN TO SINK. MATE (LATER CAPTAIN) JACK BIBBY, WITHOUT WAITING TO REMOVE HIS WINTER COAT, DOVE FROM THE UPPER DECK AND KEPT THE EXHAUSTED MAN AFLOAT, UNTIL THEY COULD BE TAKEN ABOARD. NO HERO IN ANY CASE WOULD HAVE DONE MORE. THEN THERE WAS THE CREW OF THE CAPSIZED STEAMER, WAOME, (BLOWN OVER BY A SUDDEN AND VIOLENT WINDSTORM ON LAKE MUSKOKA, NEAR BEAUMARIS. THEY DID JUST WHAT THE SAILORS ARE DOING TODAY (1942 NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS), SEIZED UPON THE WRECKAGE THAT WOULD FLOAT, ASSISTED AND ENCOURAGED EACH OTHER AND MANAGED TO GET TO SHORE; THE SURVIVORS WERE ENGINEER ALVIN SALTER, FIREMAN BOB BONIS, COOK REG. LEADER (SOON TO BE CAPTAN OF THE SAGAMO), AND PURSER, GEORGE HARVEY. THESE MEN DID ALL THAT SHIP-WRECKED SAILORS COULD DO, AND BY HELPING EACH OTHER, PERHAPS SAVED A LIFE. THEY HAD A CHANCE TO FIGHT BACK AND WON. BUT WITH US THINGS WERE DIFFERENT; THE CASE WAS HOPELESS BEFORE I BECAME AWARE OF DANGER, THE SIGNAL TO REVERSE ENGINES HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN, BUT AS A SINGLE ENGINE CANNOT BE REVERSED UNTIL THE VESSEL HAS LOST MOMENTUM, I KNEW THAT BEFORE THE ENGINE COULD BE REVERSED (IF THE COMET COULD NOT CLEAR) THE SOUTHWOOD'S RELENTLESS BOW WOULD PIERCE HER VERY VITALS AND SHE COULD NOT REMAIN AFLOAT FIVE MINUTES. THE IMPACT WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE LEFT THE SOUTHWOOD, ALSO IN A SINKING CONDITION. IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THOSE WOMEN AT THE WINDOW, WERE STANDING AT THE VERY PORTALS OF DEATH, AND THAT I, IN MY HELPLESSNESS, WAS IN SOME UNACCOUNTABLE WAY RESPONSIBLE. I LEARNED LATER THAT SEVERAL CHILDREN WERE PEACEFULLY SLEEPING IN THE COMET'S CABIN. TO THIS DAY I CANNOT ACCOUNT FOR HOW THIS NEAR COLLISION HAPPENED. CAPTAIN W. FINDLAY OF THE COMET, (A BROTHER OF R.A. FINDLAY, BRACEBRIDGE ASSESSOR), COULD SHED NO LIGHT ON THE CAUSE. BILL WAS ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTWORTHY FAITHFUL-TO-DUTY AND UPRIGHT MEN, THAT I HAVE EVER MET; AND ON HIS PASSING SOME YEARS AGO, I FELT I HAD LOST A REAL FRIEND."

    THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INCLUSION, IN THE PROFILE OF MUSKOKA HISTORY; A STORY FULL OF PARALLELS TO OTHER WORLDLY EVENTS, INCLUDING THE EARLY YEARS OF WORLD WAR II. THANKFULLY, CAPTAIN FRASER DECIDED THIS WAS THE KIND OF STORY, FUTURE GENERATIONS WOULD FIND INTERESTING. FRASER MAY HAVE CREDITED A GUARDIAN ANGEL, FOR SPARING ALL THOSE LIVES, DURING THAT DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER BETWEEN TWO WELL KNOWN STEAM BOATS, PLYING THE MUSKOKA LAKES. WHAT A TERRIBLE WAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, TO END A DAY OF RECREATION WITH UNTOLD TRAGEDY.