202 A VISIT TO SABLE ISLAND 



the south and east, bringing withal rain and thick mist, that we 

 could not see a cable-length before us. And betimes we were run 

 and foulded amongst flats and sands, amongst which we found 

 flats and deeps every 3 or 4 ships' length. Immediately tokens were 

 given to the Admiral to cast about to seaward, which being the 

 greater ship, and of burden 120 tons, was performost upon the 

 beach. Keeping so ill a watch they knew not the danger before 

 they felt the same too late to recover, for presently the Admiral 

 struck aground, and had soon her stern and hinder parts beaten 

 in pieces. The remaining two ships escaped by casting about 

 E.S.E., bearing to the south for their lives, even in the wind's eye. 

 Sounding one while 7 fathom, then 5, then again deeper. The 

 sea going mightily and high.' 



Fifteen years later another awful tragedy was wrought on this 

 desolate island. Is it surprising that this place of horrors has 

 a weird fascination for those who visit it ? The first settlers on 

 Sable Island became such not by their own free will. In 1598 

 the Marquis de la Roche, having been made Viceroy of Canada and 

 Acadia, set sail for his new territories with a shipload of convicts 

 released from royal prisons. Whether owing to mutinous conduct, 

 or to the desire of first preparing for the hapless prisoners some 

 stronghold on the mainland, he left them all here to their fate. It 

 is said that De la Roche made a vigorous attempt to return, but a 

 succession of gales kept him off the low shores with their surrounding 

 tumult of dangerous shoals, and drove him back to France. Landing 

 on the Breton coast, he was made a prisoner by the Due de Mercouer, 

 at that time in arms against the king, and held in durance for 

 five years. Meanwhile the unfortunate men, left to their own 

 resources, formed a shelter for themselves from the timber of 

 wrecked ships. They killed seals and the wild cattle then found on 

 the island, using their flesh for food, but varying this animal diet 

 with the wild berries which were everywhere abundant. They could 

 get fresh-water by digging anywhere to the depth of a couple of feet, 

 but they had no means of making fire, which must have been a 

 terrible hardship in the long tempestuous winters of these latitudes. 

 Small wonder that they waxed quarrelsome, as we are told, and 

 that disputes were often settled with the knife. In a short time 

 their clothes were worn out and their savage appearance enhanced 

 by their appearing clothed in the skins of seals. Seven years 

 afterwards, brought back to France by royal command, they were 

 presented to the great King Henry as they had been found. With 

 shaggy, tangled masses of hair and beard, and surrounded by the 

 minions of that splendid and luxurious Court, they told their 

 piteous tale of hand-to-hand contests with huge seals and walruses 



