32 CHALLENGER 



while parties landed daily to delineate the coastline, all such 

 sounding and coastlining work being fixed in relation to the 

 triangulation marks. 



One morning when the ship was surveying oft Nain a boat came 

 out towards her and a burly man hailed her from a position in 

 the bows. He was the Master of the American schooner Minnie B 

 lying in Nain, He requested the Captain's aid in arresting his 

 crew who had deserted in Nain and were now in the settlement, 

 but the circumstances did not appear to the Captain to warrant 

 their arrest. However, it was most undesirable to have a number 

 of unemployed white men hanging round a settlement where 

 there was no accommodation or any amenities, and it was lucky 

 that the Newfoundland steamer Kyle was due in a couple of days' 

 time and arrangements were made with the master of the Kyle 

 to take these men to St. John's, Newfoundland, while the Master 

 of the schooner remained onboard his vessel. 



The Secretary of State of Newfoundland and a Customs official 

 happened to be travelling onboard the Kyle and the dissatisfied 

 deserters must have talked on the passage to St. John's for a signal 

 was received from the Secretary of State ordering the Captain of 

 the Challenger to detain the Minnie B on suspicion of illicit trading 

 and obtaining customs clearance under false pretences. So on 

 Sunday morning an officer from Challenger boarded the schooner 

 and, to the consternation of the skipper, removed the ship's 

 papers, her sails and essential engine parts, and he seemed little 

 mollified by the offer of the Captain of Challenger for him to use 

 her radio to get in touch with his consul. 



The mosquitoes were as bad as ever and three cases of septic 

 mosquito bites developed among the ship's company, one of these 

 being the ship's Medical Officer. As he was unable to carry out a 

 satisfactory operation on himself, the ship had to sail south 

 to Cartwright, where a hospital was supported by the Grenfell 

 Mission. 



Whilst lying at Cartwright the Kjle arrived with the Customs 

 Officer for the East Coast of Labrador and a magistrate onboard 

 bound north to try the case of the Minnie B. So the ship's papers, 

 sails and the engine parts were handed over to the Customs 

 Officer and Challenger' s police duties were over. 



