Times of the Islands Winter 2020/21
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, real estate, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, real estate, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
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astrolabe newsletter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Turks & Caicos National Museum<br />
During <strong>the</strong>ir overnight stay in Blue Hills, <strong>the</strong> Dutch<br />
sailors were put up in <strong>the</strong> local schoolhouse, <strong>the</strong>n were<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered a local sailing boat for onward passage. At <strong>the</strong><br />
time, <strong>the</strong> government in <strong>the</strong> colonial capital <strong>of</strong> Cockburn<br />
Town, Grand Turk reimbursed local sailors for providing<br />
assistance to stranded sailors. They also reimbursed<br />
Islanders for returning items salvaged from torpedoed<br />
shipwrecks on <strong>the</strong> coast, though in some instances, items<br />
like tinned food and clothing were simply taken and used.<br />
The Islanders faced great difficulty finding a market<br />
for <strong>the</strong> salt <strong>the</strong>y harvested, due to <strong>the</strong> danger to ships<br />
in exporting it. “Although demand was up, delivery <strong>of</strong><br />
salt became difficult. With an enemy presence in <strong>the</strong><br />
Caribbean and North American waters, steamers stopped<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir business and export <strong>of</strong> salt to <strong>the</strong> eastern seaboard<br />
dramatically declined.” As a result, skippers in Blue Hills<br />
were eager to take <strong>the</strong> survivors east to <strong>the</strong> capital, with<br />
or without direct payment from <strong>the</strong> Fauna captain.<br />
The men set out for a longer voyage to South Caicos<br />
Island. After two days, in daylight on May <strong>21</strong> <strong>the</strong>y reached<br />
Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos, which is also known as<br />
East Harbour. Historian H. E. Sadler, in his study Turks<br />
<strong>Islands</strong> Landfall confirms that, “The K.N.M.S. Steamer<br />
Fauna, bound for Grand Turk with supplies, was a victim<br />
<strong>of</strong> submarine attack, but her crew <strong>of</strong> 27 landed safely at<br />
South Caicos.” The men remained on South Caicos for<br />
a week. During that time, three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m—Rab, who had<br />
an injured leg, Noordveld, who was burned, and Oiler<br />
Johannes Stroomberg, who had a cut foot, were treated<br />
for <strong>the</strong>ir wounds. After a period <strong>of</strong> recuperation, <strong>the</strong> men<br />
all set <strong>of</strong>f again on about May 27 for Cockburn Town,<br />
Grand Turk, which was <strong>the</strong>ir original destination. Again,<br />
<strong>the</strong> three injured men were treated, and again <strong>the</strong>y opted<br />
to remain and recover for a week.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> capital town, some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fauna sailors were<br />
put up in a guest house named <strong>the</strong> Dora Do Do on<br />
Middle Street on Grand Turk. Built in <strong>the</strong> 19th century,<br />
its matron was Dora Williams. Because she was believed<br />
to practice Obeah, or Voodoo, her nickname was “Dora<br />
Do Do.” Ano<strong>the</strong>r establishment where <strong>the</strong>y stayed was<br />
<strong>the</strong> Coverley boarding house, owned and operated by<br />
Felicia Grant and her husband Vincent Coverley. Probably<br />
SHERLIN WILLIAMS<br />
This old schoolhouse in Blue Hills, Providenciales, is where Fauna survivors were tended to in 1942.<br />
68 www.timespub.tc