TTalesales FFromrom the KKittiwakeittiwake CCoastoast Written by Robert E. Tulk Edited by Eileen Smith / Greg Seaward Published by Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation TTalesales FFromrom the KKittiwakeittiwake CCoastoast by RRobertobert EE.. TTulkulk © Robert E. Tulk 2001 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Tulk, Robert E., 1945 Tales from the Kittiwake Coast ISBN 0-9688372-0-4 Bonavista Bay Region (Nfld.) - History - Anecdotes. 2. Tulk, Robert E., 1945 - 3. Newfoundland - Biography - Anecdotes. I. Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation II. Title. PE1126.N43T84 2001 971.8 C00-901 786-0 Some of the tales & anecdotes in this book are transcribed from oral stories, as told to the author. Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation and editors accept no responsibility for inaccuracy of dates or facts written in this publication. For more information contact Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation or Robert Tulk P.O. Box 2222 General Delivery Gander, NF A1V 2N9 Newtown, NF A0G 3L0 709-256-2595 or 256-7368 709-536-5759 Cover Picture: One of the oldest houses in Newtown, once owned by the Norris family Tribute to the Inshore Fisherman was written by Ms. Faye Sturge, Wesleyville, NF Tribute to the Inshore Fishermen An inshore fisherman comes from a rare breed. Who harvest the sea to meet their need. He loves independence and the call of the wild. This feeling has been there since he was a child. Looking out to sea through knowing eyes He checks the wind and scans the skies. Today will be a good one to haul the traps. He scratches his head and refits his cap. He walks to his boat with lunch in tow Not noticing that the wind is cold. He sails his boat into the bay Thankful to God to have a good fishing day. Seagulls encircle his head like a wreath, Waiting for morsels to slip underneath. The drone of the motor, the roar of the sea Ah, this is where he wants to be. This way of life is bred within Generation to generation has passed it to him. But fishing is not an easy way to provide. The fishing can fail and the bottom can slide. An inshore fisherman needs to hear Words of encouragement, support and prayers. Don’t kick him when he’s hurting the most, May his way of life prevail on the coast. This book is dedicated to all inshore fishermen and all adult learners. i Acknowledgements I wish to thank the National Literacy Secretariate for continuing to fund literacy projects, and in particular this publication. Thank you to Ed Oldford and the Central Eastern Literacy Outreach Office for nurturing my idea until it became a reality, and for being there every step of the way. Thank you to the Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation for believing in my work and for applying for the funding. A special thank you goes to three students who returned to school to continue their education. Reginald Sheppard, Sherry Oakes and Audrey Woolridge piloted- tested the book and gave it their stamp of approval. Thank you to all the people who spent hours relating stories of the past to me. Thank you to Katie Bungay who urged me to go back to school during the Cod Moratorium and to Guy Perry, my instructor at the FFAW Training Centre, for encouraging me to start a writing career. A big thank you to Greg Seaward, who coached and encouraged me when I first started to write for the Gander Beacon. ii Foreword On the surface, this collection of short stories, musings and memories provides a delightful read for anyone who can look back at their life with a smile. And yet, it is so much more. Together, Robert Tulk’s colorful tales paint a picture of rural Newfoundland: its people, its values and lessons too often learned the hard way. These were times when hardship and tragedy were commonplace; when courage and faith were not reserved for heroes alone; when fellowship and humour were not mere social graces, but the most basic tools of survival. Robert himself has faced his share of obstacles and been knocked flat on his fanny more than once, only to pick himself up, dust himself off with a chuckle and run headlong in search of life’s next adventure. It is in this spirit that he relates these stories of a hardy, stoic people, beginning with the story of his own remarkable life. Greg Seaward iii Table of Contents My Childhood Days ............................................................................................................1 My Teenage Years ..............................................................................................................8 The Beginning of the Rest of My Life ............................................................................. 11 Uncle & Me ......................................................................................................................15 Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness...................................................................................17 The Faithful Commandment..............................................................................................19 The Tea Pot ......................................................................................................................20 Uncle’s New Fishing Rod .................................................................................................24 The Eel ..............................................................................................................................27 The Rat .............................................................................................................................30 The Lure ...........................................................................................................................33 The Ten Commandments ..................................................................................................36 Bingo & Me.......................................................................................................................40 The September Gale ..........................................................................................................44 A Close Call .....................................................................................................................46 Child Birth.........................................................................................................................48 UIC ...................................................................................................................................50 Granny Tell Me .................................................................................................................52 How The Cape Freels People Got Shifted .........................................................................54 The Saddest Sight..............................................................................................................56 A shot From The Past .......................................................................................................57 Cape Freels Branch Road .................................................................................................58 The Three Rocks Tragedy..................................................................................................61 The Pouch Island Tragedy.................................................................................................63 The Cabot Island Tragedy..................................................................................................65 The Last Mug-up ...............................................................................................................67 The Wheeler Tragedy ........................................................................................................69 The Pound Cove Tragedy..................................................................................................71 The Wonder Medicine ......................................................................................................72 The Storm Door ................................................................................................................73 Johnny Hall........................................................................................................................74 Lucky Strike ......................................................................................................................76 The Labrador Era ..............................................................................................................78 The Long Walk Home .......................................................................................................81 iv Seven Days Adrift ............................................................................................................83 The Pouch Island Ghost ....................................................................................................86 The Voyage Home.............................................................................................................88 The Riseover......................................................................................................................90 From The Past....................................................................................................................92 The Restless Spirits ...........................................................................................................94 The Bully...........................................................................................................................96 Against The Savage Sea ....................................................................................................97