Dorothy Baird, Holed by Her Own Spar

 Fogo

             A fight -- a fifteen day battle against the demanding ocean by the Newfoundland crew of the three-masted schooner Dorothy Baird, disabled by a mid-Atlantic storm en route from Brazil to Newfoundland -- was not enough to save the ship.

            Originally a Portuguese banker which had been purchased in 1923 by James Baird Limited of Water Street, St. John's, the three hundred nine ton Dorothy Baird was Baird's main workhorse in the foreign trade -- the Caribbean and Brazil. She had previously been skippered by Captain George Brown.

            However, on her final voyage she was under the command of Captain John "Jack" Willis. She left Pernambuco, Brazil, on January 4, 1930, with her crew: Captain Willis, his cousin Harvey Elijah Willis, Fred Gill, all of Fogo; Wallace Smith, Trinity Bay; William Pridham, Petty Harbour; a seaman named Dillon and a Portuguese sailor.

            Terns like Dorothy Baird required seven (sometimes six on smaller terns) men to work the sails and masts. Four men -- the captain, mate, and cook exempt -- were deck hands who to go aloft to handle and each had his mast and sails to look after. Younger sailors were given the foremast, most difficult mast to work due to its exposure to wind and its extra rigging, to look after. Senior men, who had already put in their time and experience, worked the mizzen and main masts. When the men were aloft they held on tight to the ropes and quickly learned the meaning to an old saying: One arm (to work) for yourself; the other for the company. On Dorothy Baird's last voyage, the crew had more than their share of strenuous labour, not only aloft, but also at the pumps.

            Not long after leaving port a storm carried away the mizzen mast and the sails; the spar struck the bottom of the vessel causing the tern to leak. Mountainous seas swept the ship before the storm and the crew pumped around the clock. Within a few hours, sand from the ballast clogged the pumping mechanism and water steadily rose higher. Captain Willis recalled what happened:

Finding ourselves in a desperate situation with our pumps clogged, our vessel leaking and our only lifeboat smashed to pieces in the storm, we kept a constant lookout. We hoped day after day for the sight of a ship. At night we burned our straw beds to attract attention. Five days after the mast was gone, we sighted the dim lights of a vessel and signaled desperately, but our signals must have gone unnoticed.

            It was only when the situation looked hopeless and we had just about given up that we sighted the British vessel Valour. I have never seen a more welcome sight. The ship (Dorothy Baird) would not have kept afloat another two days and our only lifeboat had been smashed in the storm.

            When the passing steamer found Dorothy Baird on February 10, 1930, the crew was working the pumps, but water had gained on them and was eight feet deep in the holds. Captain Willis and his six men were taken aboard the S.S. British Valour, bound for Holland, on February tenth at latitude 39.42 North, longitude 53.07 West about five hundred eighty miles south of Cape Race.

            Hunger etched the memory of the ordeal firmly in the minds the crew. Dorothy Baird had been supplied with sufficient food for a regular voyage, but this trip extended weeks beyond that. The cook, Harvey Willis, who had to literally scrape the bottom of the barrel to try to serve a square meal to the weary crew, related his version of the loss of the schooner:

We were sailing in heavy weather and ten to twelve days out we lost the full suit of canvas. All we did was lie around for a few days while we set up a new suit and then carried on. This time the three sticks came out of her with her canvas and we knew then we were in a bit of trouble.

            I think it was the Portuguese sailor who broke his leg when the vessel split in two.

            Dorothy Baird, as cook Willis termed it, "split in two" and, dismasted with opened seams, she was blown about the Atlantic. Her drift took her out of the usual shipping lanes, but the same storm that punished Dorothy Baird also pushed the vessel British Valour off course and close to the sinking tern. The officer on watch sighted the Newfoundland schooner and the steamer came within hailing distance. After Baird's crew were safely plucked off their sinking schooner, the British Valour's officers issued dry clothing, fed and offered up a dash of Nelson's Blood to any seaman who wanted it.

            Cook Willis summed up his experiences at Rotterdam, Holland: "They looked after us at something like a YMCA for a few days. Then we went on to Belgium and then to the port of Liverpool in England. We took a passage home for St. John's from there. We got back to our Fogo Island homes late in March, 1930 from a voyage that lasted a little longer than anyone expected."

            Fogo Island, 260 square kilometres, lies fifteen kilometres off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. It is connected across Hamilton Sound by ferry to the mainland. The name, Fogo, comes from the Portuguese word, fuego, meaning "fire". The Portuguese were among many European fishermen who visited the island from the early 1500s. Until the late 1700s the island was a summer retreat of the now-extinct Beothuck Indians. Fogo Island had English settlers as early as 1680; many dependant upon the sea for a living.

            The island, with combined population of over 2000, now supports ten settlements including Joe Batt's Arm and Fogo, the oldest and the island's unofficial capital with its population of approximately 1200 people. Each summer Fogo celebrates its Brimstone Head Folk Festival, a major tourist attraction.   

This story is an excerpt from Robert Parsons Survive the Savage Sea: Tales from Our Ocean Heritage (1998 Creative Publishers). For more exciting tales and books like this one go to Robert Parsons’ website:
http://www.personainternet.com/robertparsons

January 12, 1889

A Christmas Tree at Fogo (Part 1)

To the Editor of the Twillingate Sun:

Dear Sir:  A Christmas Tree was held in the new Roman Catholic school room at Fogo on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, for the purpose of raising funds to complete the buildings.  The Tree was opened by James Fitzgerald, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate, at 6 o'clock p.m.  He complimented the Roman Catholics for their efforts in erecting so handsome a building for the future education of the young; the ladies for the zeal and energy manifested, in so tastefully decorating the school room for the occasion; and hoped the good folks of Fogo liberally patronize the Christmas Tree on behalf of the cause aimed at.  It is needless to say that the stalls were well stocked and ornamented, and that Mrs. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Butt and Miss Brice (teacher) had a lively time in waiting on their numerous customers.  The refreshment table, fairly creaking under its load, and well provided with all the luxuries of the festive season, was attended by the Miss Fitzgeralds and Miss Deady of Joe Batt's Arm, whose duties were none the less active, nor better performed, by any of their lady friends opposite.  The Tree closed on Thursday night, having sold off everything, a most gratifying result, and the amount realized was beyond the most sanguine expectations.

The Rev. Father Walker, from Tilton Harbour, who was present at the opening, and during the time the Tree was open, closed the business with a short address, in which he congratulated the Roman Catholics of Fogo on the success of the Tree, and thanked the people of all denominations for their liberal patronage, and united efforts in a good cause; complimented them on their peaceful associations, and hoped that the present spirit of peace and harmony, would be long continued to the welfare of our citizens.  In the same school room, on Friday and Saturday nights, an entertainment of dialogues and recitations was given by the school children of Tilton Harbour, (the proceeds of which were for appropriation as above) songs by the Rev. Father Walker, Mr. John Sargent, (teacher of Tilton Harbour) and Mr. John Scott of Fogo.  The children acted their parts beautifully, exhibiting great talent and tact, and were a credit to themselves, their harbour, and their teacher.  Their performances called forth from the audience frequently, loud and prolonged cheers, clearly demonstrating that they fully appreciated that form of amusement.  Mr. Furze of Fogo closed the performances by exhibitions of the magic lantern, in which he clearly and distinctly pointed out the peculiarities and beauties of each figure, and was well rewarded by continual outburts of applause.  Thanking you, Mr. Editor, for space in your widely circulated journal, I remain yours & c., PEABODY. (Jan 3rd).

NOTE:  In the first paragraph....Wednesday and Thursday of last week would have been December 26th and 27th 1888.(nb)