Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1912-05-09
ISLAND THAT IS
DREADED ALIKE
BY The SAILOR
and KEEPER

~" ing the heroism of Mrs. Fe
ter Borque, widow of the
keeper Of the lighthouse on Bird Rock
b the Magdalen islands in the Gulf Of
Bt Lawrence; but it is only one Of
he many tales of death and disaster
hat can be told of this barren and iso
ated bit of land.
After her husband had been wash
. overheard and drowned during a
storm that threatened the demolition
Of the lighthouse Mrs. Borque kept
the beacon burning for ten days, and
thus probably saved several vessels
from piling up on the rocks. Both she
and her young baby suffered severely
from exposure and hunger and she
was SO weak when rescued by the gov
eminent steamship Seal that 1t was
necessary to carry her on board. The
authorities say that the courage Of this
woman Is unsurpassed In the history
OF the Canadian lighthouse service.
For time / thought | would &c
mad" said Mrs. Borque after her res
cue, but knew had to do my duty
My baby suffered terribly from the
cold. but held 1t as tight as | could
1t was terrible task to crawl with
her into the light chamber to keep the
lamps trimmed, filled and burning
There was food, but you couldn't cook
and the baby cried constantly. Many
times ! heard the whistles, but they
went away when they heard the bell
ringing and saw the light"
The Magdalens are group Of 10
or IA islands that lie almost in the
center of the Gulf of st. Lawrence.
Their position makes them dangerous
TO vessels and 30 many are the wrecks
fhereabout that they have been styled
by sailormen the graveyard of the
gulf.
Inaccessible Bird Rock.
Bird Rock is the most northerly Is
land of the group and is little more
than a huge rock rising abruptly out
Of the sea to a height of 140 feet, on
which the Canadian government main
tains one of the most inaccessible
lighthouse stations of the Atlantic
coast. Thousands Of gannets, INJURIES,
kttiwakes and other sea fowl hover
over 1t at all times. while beneath on
its rocky lodges they have built myri-
ads Of nests in series of tiers. The
sides of the rock are very precipitous.
and until a few years ago. when a
roadway was blasted out Of the solid
rock leading to the top, all visitors
and supplies were taken ashore by a
cage lowered to the water and hoisted
np by means Of windlass. The
waves that generally break upon 1t are
30 tremendous that 1t is only possible
to effect landing In calm weather.
But 1t Is such wild and DESC
late spot that the man In charge Of
the lighthouse must make it his
home during the entire year. Jean
Quette, the first keeper, remained one
summer with two assistants Then the
solitude preyed 80 upon his mind that
he went insane. He recovered his rea-
son only when he returned to civiliza-
ton.
Keeper Perlshed With Son.
Pierre Wealen, the next keeper,
managed to hold out for nine years
He came to tragic end in $780, In
the spring Of that year he, his son
and an assistant ventured out on the
ice surrounding the Bird Rock during
a binding snowstorm and lost their
way. The assistant succeeded In re-
turning to the lighthouse In safety
Wealen and his son persisted.
Charles Chaisson. the third keeper
OF the lighthouse. was killed on Aug
ust 10, 1881, by the premature dis
charge Of signal gun he was prepar-
ing to fire. His son and an assistant
we're badly injured in the same acci.
dent.
Telesphore Turbide. the next keep
or, remained in charge Of the light
house for over 16 years, but even he
did not escape the dangers of his call.
ing. On June "a, 1891, he was putting
home charge In signal gun when
It exploded and blew off part of his
right hand.
Another tragedy of Bird Rock oc-
CURED In March. 1897 In the spring
OF the year the hooded and harp
seals come down on the Ice from Lab
rador and Anticosti, and hundreds of
men and boys from the Magdalens go
out to hunt them for their pelts and
oil. These seal hunts are attended
by many dangers. storm is liable
to come up and drive the hunters
out to sea on the moving ice. Snow
covered assures may mean death in
case Of a misstep. The danger of
drowning is ever present
Fatal Seal Hunt.
In March, 1897, Damien Cormier. an
assistant keeper OF the lighthouse
started out on a seal hunt accompan.
led by Charles Turbide, lad of II,
and Arsene Turbide, cousin of the
latter Cormier's wife was left in
charge of the lighthouse during his
absence. They had noticed a large
number of hair seals lying on the ice
to the eastward. and proceeded in
that direction, Dragging behind them a
small boat for use on the open glades
of water.
The hunters reached the seals and
made many killings. Finding night
approaching they slowed their spoils