tales-of-Fogo-Island
tales-of-Fogo-Island tales-of-Fogo-Island
The Good SheppardsOn the morning of June 28, 1912, Nicholas Keefe and Thomas Keefe werefishing from their bully boat. Nicholas was sixty years of age and Thomas wassixty-two. The brothers were having a good morning on the grounds whenthey noticed that the wind was breezing. They were experienced fishermenand knew they should return to the safety of Tilting Harbour as quickly aspossible.The Keefes hoisted their sails and were soon on their way. They were makinggood time when they had the bad fortune of running into a small piece of iceknown as a growler. Within minutes, their boat began to take on water. Theywere three miles from shore and they were in very serious trouble.As it happened, the Sheppards of Indian Islands were fishing in the area.Nathaniel aged sixty, Mark aged thirty, and Henry aged eight were about halfa mile to the windward of the Keefe's boat when they saw what washappening. The Sheppards changed course and raced toward the sinkingboat.When they got about thirty feet from the Keefe's boat, Mark Sheppard let thejib fly in the wind. Then he stood on the bow with one arm wrapped around theforemast. Nathaniel handled the mainsail and carefully steered their boat.Mark reached out with a gaff and hooked the Keefe's boat.By this time, Thomas and Nicholas were up to their chests in icy water. Markpulled the Sheppard's boat over the sunken stern of the Keefe's boat. Thiswould give the men a chance to climb aboard. Nicholas jumped aboard first,with Thomas following close behind. Just when it looked like everything wasgoing to run smoothly, an eight foot wave broke over the two boats andcaused them to slam together. As they separated, Thomas lost his footing andfell in the water. Thinking quickly, Mark dropped his boat hook over the sideand pulled Thomas to safety.For a few moments, the men were relieved. But now there was anotherproblem. A piece of plank, about a foot long and five inches wide, hadpunched a hole in the side of the Sheppard's boat. Young Henry Sheppardwas in the cuddy and saw the water pouring in. He grabbed a coat and stuffedit into the hole. This worked until they reached Tilting Harbour.
By the time they reached Tilting, a crowd had gathered on the wharf.Everyone was full of praise for the Sheppards. One old man said, "Well boys,you can thank the good Lord for your rescue." One of the Keefes answered,"No sir, we can thank the good Sheppards!"The parish priest in Tilting heard about the rescue and thought the Sheppardsshould be recognized for their bravery. Without telling them, he sent their storyto the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission in the United States.In November 1915, a package arrived for Nathaniel and Mark Sheppard. Theywere very surprised when they opened it and found two medals of braveryand five hundred dollars each. This was a small fortune in those days!The Carnegie Medal
- Page 64 and 65: The Dominion and AlarmMany sealing
- Page 66 and 67: Tragedy at the IceThe seal hunt is
- Page 68 and 69: time they made it, they found nothi
- Page 70 and 71: Jumping Ship on Fogo IslandOn Octob
- Page 72 and 73: Year's Eve, some of the men became
- Page 74 and 75: The Lumber WoodsMany local men fish
- Page 76 and 77: They would be hungry after a long,
- Page 78 and 79: Loading the Tractor Sleds Up With F
- Page 80 and 81: Lumber Woods TravelWhen on their wa
- Page 82 and 83: They did not have one thing dry to
- Page 84 and 85: true as I'm here! That was the firs
- Page 86 and 87: Since 'white ends' in the forest we
- Page 88 and 89: Man's Best FriendToday, most dogs a
- Page 90 and 91: Retriever or the 'Landseer'. The La
- Page 92 and 93: Strange EventsThe Ghost ShipA young
- Page 94 and 95: The Light in the BightOne evening i
- Page 96 and 97: BoatsBefore the days of long liners
- Page 98 and 99: The first 50 foot long liner of Fog
- Page 100 and 101: the loss of his wife and his daught
- Page 102 and 103: could hear strange noises. These so
- Page 104 and 105: medical facilities and other servic
- Page 106 and 107: Mr. William Donahue and his family
- Page 108 and 109: Anglican Church Indian Islands, 196
- Page 110 and 111: The Beheading of Michael TurpinDuri
- Page 112 and 113: Bringing WaterYears ago, people did
- Page 116 and 117: This is a copy of Nathaniel Sheppar
- Page 118 and 119: The Fogo ProcessMany people have he
- Page 120 and 121: When people watched themselves and
- Page 122 and 123: When the Markland finally came into
- Page 124 and 125: Bits and PiecesDrifting AwayOne day
- Page 126 and 127: Swan Skin MittsWhen birding and sea
- Page 128 and 129: TravelThis photo was taken in 1956
- Page 130 and 131: My First Pair of ShoesOne lady reca
- Page 132 and 133: A Poor Night, Not Too Long AgoApril
- Page 134 and 135: As darkness approached, fog and dri
- Page 136 and 137: All of the people involved in this
- Page 138 and 139: BibliographyArticles:Author Unknown
- Page 140 and 141: Photos and IllustrationsWinston Osm
By the time they reached Tilting, a crowd had gathered on the wharf.Everyone was full <strong>of</strong> praise for the Sheppards. One old man said, "Well boys,you can thank the good Lord for your rescue." One <strong>of</strong> the Keefes answered,"No sir, we can thank the good Sheppards!"The parish priest in Tilting heard about the rescue and thought the Sheppardsshould be recognized for their bravery. Without telling them, he sent their storyto the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission in the United States.In November 1915, a package arrived for Nathaniel and Mark Sheppard. Theywere very surprised when they opened it and found two medals <strong>of</strong> braveryand five hundred dollars each. This was a small fortune in those days!The Carnegie Medal
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