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Archiver > NFLD-ROOTS > 2001-06 > 0991412343


From: (Sandy Campbell)
Subject: Re: [NF-ROOTS] SCARY Ferry Crossings
Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2001 13:19:13 -0300
References: <OF471FE68A.61EDD1E0-ON85256A5E.00537603@rockbreaker.com>


The Captain of the Caribou was Ben Tavener of Port Aux Basques. He was
lost, along with his 2 sons.

My grandmother lived in Channel. During those years, the people of
Channel / Port Aux Basques used to look out to sea & wonder if the Caribou
would make it home safely. That morning when she didn't arrive, they knew
something was wrong.

My uncle was working with Immigration in Port Aux Basques at the time. He
still remembers receiving the SOS call. It was a sad sad time for the town.
So many of the lost crew were from Port Aux Basques.

Barb Campbell



wrote:

> Hi everyone.
>
> I was reading all the notes from a few days ago on ferry crossings and
> thought I'd like to share a moment from my family's past.
>
> My mother's family left Newfoundland in 1942 via ferry from Port Aux
> Basque, where my grandfather was Bank Manager for a few years and then
> transferred to Bath, NB.
>
> My mother was 12 at the time and recalls all the men being on Torpedo Alert
> because of the presence of German Subs in the area. They crossed during
> extremely bad weather and she was violently sick all the time.
>
> A week or so later, the same ferry, with the same Captain, was sunk by a
> torpedo! There were some survivors, but the Captain, a friend of my
> grandfathers, went down with his ship. She can't remember the name of the
> Captain, but she has a picture of him and my grandfather together. My
> grandparents were saddened at the loss of their friend, and were extremely
> thankful that they made it safely.
>
> I imagine the rides are a bit safer and smoother these days!
>
> Linda (searching Rendell, Torraville, Simms)
>
> ==== NFLD-ROOTS Mailing List ====
> NORTHERN PENINSULA http://www.huronweb.com/genweb/nfdata/main_098.htm
> PLACENTIA BAY REGION http://www.huronweb.com/genweb/nfdata/main_028.htm

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