East Coast Folklore

The Bay Chaleur Phantom

The Bay Chaleur Phantom is a story about a mysterious “Firey Ship” that appears on it’s waters. Maritimers have shared many a tale about this Phantom Ship for generations now and swear by their actual sightings! Is it a story made up by the locals years ago about an apparition to scare the timid, a natural phenomenon or truely a Ghost Ship? Many have tried to explain its existance but it remains a mystery to all; even today! Is it your imagination or is it real!

Phantom Ship

The Bay Chaleur extends from the mouth of the Restigouche River down along the Northern Shores of the Province of New Brunswick and borders the Gaspe Coast of Quebec. It’s in this vast area that this Ghost Ship has been sighted. Legend has it that the best time to see it is on a still, clear moonlit night. Most viewings are in the summer months but it’s known to appear throughout the year. So; out of the blue, a firey ship suddenly appears and then will very slowly dissipate. It has been witnessed as a still form of a burning ship, as a huge ball of fire, a sailing ship with its masts ablaze and as a lantern shining bright. Some have even recanted they have seen men scurring about on it and even jumping overboard. Whatever it is; remains unexplained. To a non believer it is some sort of natural phenomenon but to a local who has witnessed it; it’s an actual Ghost Ship.

The Bay Chaleur

Many ships have sailed up the arm of the St Lawrence River to the Bay of Chaleur; in the past. The Phantom Ship is a legend about a sailing ship that met a horrible disaster in her waters. Many have said it was a Pirate Ship seeking refuge in the calm waters of The Bay. The John Craig sunk in the early 1800;s off the Coast of Shippegan. The Marquis de Malauze was a French frigate sunk by the British in these waters; in the late 1700’s. Whichever ship met its demise in these waters; returns frequently over time to display itself; in all its glory, and keeps the legend alive. Who are they! What is it! Who knows! But… to the eye witness… it certainly is true to life.

So; in your travels, be sure to roam the shoreline along the North Shore. If you so dare; settle in on the shore of The Bay one night and wait! Keep your senses heightened and be on the look out for this mysterious Ghost Ship. Who knows…you may become a believer. Being from the North Shore; its a story I grew up knowing, kept an eye out for but never did actually see. Maybe I was afraid too!

George Currie

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The Prince Edward Island connection to Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch

The Wild Bunch Connection

When you think of the Island; you think of a pleasant place with beautiful beaches, lobster, horse racing, the potatoe industry, golfing and perhaps the sweet Anne of Green Gables. Butch Cassidy and The Wild Bunch, would not even come to mind. I guess it probably should cause George Currie was a prominent member of The Wild Bunch! He was born and raised right in West Point.

Currie Family Homestead

West Point is a small settlement located on the south western part of the province. Today it is better known for the Cedar Dunes Provincial Park; now established there. In the 1870’s; it was probably home to fishermen and farmers settling the land.
George Curry was the 2nd of six children; born in 1871, to John and Nancy Anne Curry. Around this time though; many young Maritimers were packing up and heading south to the Boston States to find work. John and Nancy Ann were no different. They ended up settling in Chadron, Nebraska. This was cowboy and farming country!

Butch Cassidy & The Wild Bunch

George spent his formative years here. Somehow he ended up working at a Utah ranch makin’ a livin’ cow punchin’(branding cows). This was where he got into his first scrape with the law. George got off easy on that charge and then drifted off to Wyoming. Somewhere along the way; George got kicked in the face by a horse. This was to severely alter his nose. You guessed it, he was rechristened as “Flat Nose”. By this time; Flat Nose was probably in his early twenties and rabble rousing was in his blood. He became bosom buddies with another rouser known as Harvey Logan.(aka Kid Curry) Well; together the rustlin’ and robbin’ grew. One day they were staying at a ranch near the Hole-in-the-Wall, Wyoming. This was a popular gathering spot for criminals that were hiding out from the law. Its here that they hooked up with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Life now turned into rustlin’ and robbin’ trains, shoot outs and killings. The money was good and they extended their spree all over Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas. They came famous and feared! The Law was soon onto them! The heat got so bad; that in the late 1890’s, the boys had to split up. George drifted back to Utah and picked up a job as a Cow Puncher again.

Flat Nose Currie

To make ends meet and because russlin’ came easy to him; George picked up on his old habits. On April 17th, 1900; (in Grand County, Utah) it all caught up to him. He was evading the law once again and running from a posse. Well; George “Flat Nose” Curry; from West Point PEI, took a bullet that day and drew his last breath.

The Wild Bunch

You probably wonder what happened to the rest of them. Well Kid Curry was gunned down by a posse in Colorado in 1904. His grave is just a short distance from Doc Holliday’s; in Glenview Springs Colorado. If you saw the movie, you know that Butch and Sundance were killed by the federales in Bolivia in 1908.

All in all, it was a hell of a way to make a living for these boys. I wonder if George ever gave any thought to the quiet life he could have had! Fishin’ lobster off the south coast of Prince Edward Island? And maybe…just maybe…the Islanders were relieved!

Folklore from East Coast Shores

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Def: Folklore – are traditional beliefs, customs and stories. They are passed along; by word of mouth, amongst family members and their communities.

Folklore

These stories are community based Folklore with traditions common to a culture, subculture or group. They can be oral traditions with tales, proverbs and jokes. Customary folklore are the rituals of celebration like Christmas, weddings, birthdays and dances. These are all passed along informally to individuals by verbal instruction or demonstrations. Old folklore changes with more modern times and new folklore gets created.

East Coast Folklore

So the East Coast has a diverse culture with many old traditional customs and beliefs that we all carry along with us. It will be fun to explore the Folklore from East Coast Shores. Do you have a story, a joke, a custom, a belief, a proverb from days of old? Do you have new traditions of your own that you created within your own family? Share the tales and legends from your community that got passed along; for, eons on strange goings on in yer community. Well lets just explore all that!

The Dungarvon Whooper

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The tale of the Dungarvon Whooper is a bit of Miramichi folklore from the 1700’s. New Brunswick was settled by strong and hardy people. They had to make a living from resources that only the Land and Sea could provide. Many settlers would fish or farm during the spring and summer months. When the snow set in; they were cuttin’ wood in the forests. Families had to be fed and income was needed all year round. It was back breakin’ work but they met the challenges head on.

Lumber Camps

Lumber camps were set up; in the interior of the province, to harvest the bounty of wood. These camps could accommodate many people and provided the bare necessities to survive a working life in the woods. The lumberjacks(as they were known as) would stay in the woods for weeks even months at a time. Now lumberin’ was real hard work; plain and simple. You know; there were no chainsaws in those days. At the days end from logging; a warm homecooked meal was welcomed. So the Cook in the camp was of prime importance. These men were hungry and had to be fed. ‘Magine that job!

Dungarvon River

Our story ’bout the Dungarvon Whooper takes us to the Dungarvon River. This river flows through central New Brunswick, to the Renous River and then on into the Miramichi River. In the early days; this whole area was prime for lumbering operations. It was not yet settled and possessed massive stands of lumber. Camps were set up all through out the area to capitalize on this booming industry. Work was plentiful.

Miramichi Folklore

The Dungarvon Whooper is a tale told about one of these camps in the late 1700’s. The story begins with a young fella by the name of Ryan(probably Irish). He travelled to NB from PEI looking for work. Somehow he found his way to one of the Dungarvon lumbering camps where he scored a job as a cook. On his very first day; and once the lumberjacks left for the woods, he found himself alone with the Boss of the camp. Now the Boss; who obviously had a bit of a greedy streak in him, noticed that young Ryan kept a money belt around his waist. Well; to make the long story short; a struggle soon broke, Ryan was strangled, dumped on the floor and robbed of his money.

Stormy Night

A snow storm was raging outside. The men returned to the camp to find poor Ryan lying dead on the floor. The Boss claimed he had been away for the day and acted surprised at this turn of events. It appeared to everyone that he died of natural causes. Due to the weather; it was decided to quickly bury him before the storm got worse.

Eerie Sounds in the Night

Well; after it was all said ‘n done, the men turned in for the night. They were awakened by a distinct whooping and wailing sound. They discovered the eerie sound was coming from the direction of Ryan’s gravesite. The blood curdling sounds persisted long into the the night. By the mornings light; the men high tailed it out of there. Periodically; and only at night; the whooping and wailing could be heard all through the region. It is said that a Priest(from Blackville) was brought to the camp site to perform an exorcism at the gravesite. But the wailing never ceased. Needless to say; the legend continued and no one ever returned to log at this camp!

Train Whistles

During this time; there was a nightly passenger train that ran from the Miramichi to Fredericton. This train became known as the Dungarvon Whooper. On a frosty winter night; the train whistle travelling through the night sky, resembled the skin crawling sounds of the Whooper. It was a reminder to all that knew the story. The locals soon dubbed the train the Dungarvon Whooper!.

If you ever pass through the area; on a cold winters night, beware of the whoop and wail of the Dungarvon Whooper! Thats mighty Scarey!

Guy Fawkes Night

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Celebrated on November 5th in Newfoundland.

If you are lucky enough to live in Newfoundland ; most of you are familiar with Guy Fawkes Night. Do you know just who Guy Fawkes is? Are you familiar with the origin of this celebration? Just how did his name become synonymous with Bonfire Night in Newfoundland?

The Conspiracy

Guy Fawkes Night originates from a conspiracy that dates way back to the year 1605; in London, England. It was a very daring scheme hatched up by a radical group of English Catholic people. Lead by Robert Catesby; their sole intention was to overthrow the ruling English Protestant government and establish a Catholic Monarch on the throne. So they plotted to bomb the House of Lords in Westminsterl; with King James 1 in it.

The Gunpowder Plot

Now; just how did they go about this lavish scheme you say? Well; they leased a room under the Parliament building and They proceeded to fill this room up with 2 tons of gunpowder. Obviously security; at the time, was lax and this activity went unnoticed for quite some time. But rumors began circulating in the city of a plot to bomb the House of Lords. Eventually; the authorities got wind of this dastardly deed. On the morning of November 5, 1605; King James 1 and his members of Parliament were set to re-convene. Due to the present rumors of a threat a thorough search was conducted of the Parlisment Buildings. Low and behold; they found one Guy Fawkes lurking in the cellar; guarding a massive collection of explosives.

The Capture of Guy Fawkes

Now Guy was not about to co-operate with the authorities and acted quite confused as to why he was being arrested. He confessed that his name was John Johnson and claimed he was just guarding the contraband for a local man named Mr. Percy. He was sticking to his story! King James was soon made aware of the deadly plot and Guy’s non-compliance. So; he decided a little torture was in order. Well after a couple of days of this; old Guy started singin’ like a jaybird. He gave up his true identity, implicated the co-conspirators and confessed to the crime. They were all arrested, found guilty of high treason and sentenced to hang, drawn and quartered in London. on January 31, 1606. Over the years; the scheme to bomb the Parliament became known as the ”Gunpowder Plot.”

Celebrating King James 1

To honour the King’s escape from this conniving plot; the Londoners were encouraged to celebrate the day (Nov 5) by lighting huge bonfires. This tradition began in the United Kigdom and soon spread to all the British Colonies. In present day Canada; it is mainly celebratd in Newfoundland. Due to bonfire regulations in major cities, the whole celebration has been toned down to a social event. But in the more rural communities, bonfires roar!

Who is Guy Fawkes

So what of Guy Fawkes? How did he get involved in these shenanigans? Guy was born in to a Protestant family in York, England in 1570. He converted to Catholicism after his father died and his mother remarried to a Catholic gentleman. At the age of 21 he left England to travel the continent. He soon became a mercenary for wars and associated himself with like minded individuals. And so began his scheme to start a Catholic rebellion in 1604. Upon his death; it was reported that he was not actually hung like his co-conspirators. As he was called to meet his fate; he jumped off the platform, breaking his neck and died immediately at the young age of 36. So there you have it! That’s what happened to Guy Fawkes.

To this day; when Parliament convenes in Westminster, a thorough search of the cellars is conducted. It is very much a ceremonial search by official recreators, dressed in period attire and carrying old fashioned lanterns.

So there you have it. The story of the night Guy Fawkes got caught in the great scheme to overthrow the Protestant Government. Do you celebrate Guy Fawkes Night? Do you make a roaring bonfire to commemorate his failure?

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