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The Wreck of the S​.​S. Ethie

from Gulf of St. Lawrence by Crosscurrents Music

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about

When I was at Gros Morne in the summers of 1985 and 1986, you could still see the wreck of the Ethie in the surf at low tide. I gather she's long gone now, but we loved to sing this song at park campfires.

lyrics

Come all you true countrymen, come listen to me,
A story I'll tell you of the S.S. Ethie;
She being the steam boat employed on our shore,
To carry freight, mail and passengers down on the Labrador.

On the tenth of December, as you all well may know,
In the year nineteen nineteen, on her last trip did go;
Where she leaves Daniel's Harbour about 4 P.M.
With a strong breeze from the south'ard, for Cow Head did steam.

The glass indicated a wild raging storm,
And about nine o'clock the storm did come on;
With the ship's husband on board, the crew had no fear,
Captain English gave orders straight for Bonne Bay to steer.

At first to the storm the brave ship gave no heed,
Until at length it was found she was fast losing speed;
And the great waves all around her like great Mountains did rise,
And the crew all stood staring with fear in their eyes.

The order went around to preserve for their life,
For the ship she is doomed and it's perish we might;
But still there is hope - there is one brave man on board,
Who says he can guide her safely on to the shore.

Walter Young, being our purser, as you may understand.
Volunteered for to guide her safely in to the land;
John Gullage, our first mate, bravely stood to the wheel,
Captain English gave orders and all worked with a will.

Up off Martin's Point about one o'clock,
Through bravery and courage, she escapes every rock;
And the people on the shore saw the ship in distress,
All rushed to the spot for to help to do their best.

And when we were landed in a rude boatswain's chair,
Taken in by the people and treated with care;
We stayed on the point until it was o'er,
And the brave little Ethie lay standing on shore.

O, what of the fright, the exhaustion and cold,
The depth of my story will never be told!
And all you brave fellows gets shipwrecked on the sea,
You think of the fate of the S.S. Ethie.

credits

from Gulf of St. Lawrence, released January 17, 2021

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Crosscurrents Music Boston, Massachusetts

Lynn Noel brings traditional song and heritage arts online to create community. Lynn has a voice of striking clarity and power, equally at home in rhythmic chanteys and flowing ballads.

Lynn is a respected song session leader on both sides of the Atlantic and the producer and host of the Mermaid's Tavern online folk club. She is currently Program Chair of the New England Folk Festival (NEFFA). ... more

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