106 . .OUR ISLAND STORY

Another notable disaster occurred in the winter of 1885. Three boats left Cape Traverse at 10.15 o’clock on the'morning ' of Wednesday, the 28th of January, and nothing was heard concern- ing them until the followingFriday.

The'crews incl.uded—--boat No. 1——-Captain Newton Muttart, Hector Campbell, Montague Campbell, Ephraim Bell and James A. Howatt; boat No.'. 2~——Captain Muncey Irving, Alexander Mutt- art, Blucher Robertson, William Howatt and William Campbell; boat No. 5~—Captain Hanford Allan, John Allan, James Trenholm' and Daniel McGlasgey. The passengers were: Dr. McIntyre, M.P., afterwards Lieutenant Governor of the Province, on the way to Ottawa; James A. Morrison, a representative of J. F. McLean 81 ' Co., Halifax; Aaron Wilson of the International Hotel, Summerside;

Philip Farrell, a messenger of the House of'Commons coming from Sturgeon; Mr. Glydon, a clerk in the store of J. Myrick & C0,, Tignish and a Mr. Mallet of the United States.

According to the report of one the passengers the wind was blowing briskly from the Eastward when the boats left the ”board ice” and the “running. ice" was'floating Westward at the rate of from

three to four. miles an hour. A snowstorm prevailed during the

latter part of the day and the thermometer averaged 11/2 degrees below zero. '

j The boats with their'crews and passengers, were on the running ice all Wednesday night and all Thursday. Meantime there was intense anxiety particularly on the part of all the relatives and friends

' of those who were missing, the Post Office officials- on account of the

mails, and indeed everyone in the community. It was known that

- the party were without provisions and that the men were for the

most part ill-clad, while the thermometer registered on Wednesday night and Thursday 16%?0 below zero. As the boats proceeded into the Strait the storm increased in violence. Soon the Captains lost their bearings and the boats were carried up and down the Strait by the wind, tide and current. The men became so completely exhaust- ed before nightfall that they could not proceed further towards Cape Tormentine. They had therefore to remain all night by their boat

, on the running ice. As darkness increased sleet and hail pelted down upon them with painful effect. Towards midnight the ther-