12 EEV. GEORGE PATTEESON 



1842, (luring a severe gale, an old landmark in the form of a pyramid, said to be one hun- 

 dred feet high, was completely blown away, exposing some small huts built of the timbers 

 and planks of a vessel. On examination they were found to contain quite a number of 

 articles of furniture, stores put in boxes, bales of blankets, a quantity of military shoes, and, 

 among other articles, u dog-collar of brass, on which was engraved the name of Major 

 Elliott, 43rd regiment. On referring to the records of the regiment, however, it was found 

 that the party had Ijeen taken off the island. The site of the encampment is now under at 

 least five fathoms of \vater. 



In the year 1774 menti(ju is made of permission granted by Governor Legge, and 

 approved by the king, to Michael Flannigan and his associates to reside on the island.' But 

 we know nothing of the purpose for which they went there or how long they remained. 



But we find that the island continued to be occupied. In the year 1788 mention is 

 made of one Jesse Lawrence as residing there to receive wrecked people and to carr}' on the 

 seal fishery. Some people from Massachusetts landing there wantonly pillaged and destroyed 

 his house and eftects, and compelled him to leave the island. He received some compen- 

 sation from Governor Hancock and the council of Massachusetts, but not equal to his losses. 



Probably not a year elapsed without one or more vessels being wrecked and a number 

 of lives lost. But some disasters of this kind that occurred at the close of the century 

 directed the attention of the authorities to the subject. On the 9th November, 1797, the 

 brig " Princess Amelia," Capt. Wyatt, from London, was wrecked on the south side of the 

 island. Provisions and passengers' baggage were saved, and a hut found on the island, by 

 which those saved were enalded to live. On tlie 4th December the schooner " Hero," Thomas 

 Cunningham, master, being in the neighbourhood, he saw over thirty men on the island, 

 making signals. But the tempestuous weather drove him ofi^ He arrived at Cole Harbour 

 about the new year, in great destitution and disti'ess. There he and his crew were 

 received by a Mr. Mundy, an aged man inhabiting a cottage there, who gave them all the 

 provisions he had laid up for his family for the winter, after which Cunningham put to sea 

 again, leaving a written memorandum respecting the wrecked people he had found on Sable 

 island. The governor on receiving the information, by advice of his council, hired a 

 schooner belonging to Liverpool, the " Black Snake," Capt. Thomas Parker, and sent her to 

 the island with provisions, blankets and clothing, which the inhabitants of Halifax contri- 

 buted for the benefit of the wrecked men. Meanwhile Capt. Wyatt, with the Hon. Lieut. 

 Cochrane'- and four of the crew, left the island in the long boat, which they had decked 

 with canvas, and made one of our eastern harbours. The " Black Snake " left Halifax on the 

 12th January, 1798, and returned with the rest of the crew and passengers on the 28th, 

 leaving some men on the island during the winter to save property and assist vessels.' 



In the year 1799, the " Francis," bringing the equipage of his royal highness the Duke 

 of Kent, valued at £11,000, was lost here, and every soul on board perished. She had been 

 detained in England owing to an embargo imposed on shipping on account of the Ilelder 

 expedition, so that she was late in the season in leaving, and reached the coast toward the 

 close of autnnni, when, among the storms of that season, she met this untimely fate. The 



1 Munlodi's " Nova Scotia," ii., 526. 



^ It is said of tlie 7th regiment, but I think it probable that it was Lieut. Cochrane of tlie navy, afterward the 

 Earl of Dundonald, who at that time was serving on tlie North American station with that rank. 



' The above is from Murdoch's " History of Nova Scotia." He gives the details so fully that it is plain he had 

 before him some contemporary narrative, and there is every reason to regard it as correct. 



