Nova Scotia Archives

Footprints in the Sand

Pre‐1867 Government Records for Sable Island

Report of the aggressions made on the British establishment on Sable Islan by American Citizens in the schooner Alpha

1843. — 4 pages : 30 x 49 cm.

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A Report of the aggresions and annoyances made on the British Establishment on Sable Island by American Citizens in a Schooner called the Alpha of Hull near Boston, State of Massachussets, United States, Commanded by Captain Berse in the year 1843 as follows, [Vis?]

William Myers, says I was sent by the Superintendant on the 8th day of August last to the West End of the said Island to look round the Shores that I saw a large American Schooner (which has since turned out to be the Alpha) laying close in shore off the West End on the North Side abreast of a little inlet from the Sea to the Lake, a Boat belonging to her was laying close into the land wash with Two men in her keeping her afloat whilst five men was on Shore with guns firing at Seals that as soon as they saw me on Horseback they ran to their boat and without waiting for [word?] to land they rushed into the water hove their guns into the Boat and one of them held on to the Boat whilst she was pulling off and dragged him through the water some distance in their haste to get away, they went on board and the Vessel soon got underweigh and stood off and was soon out of sight in Fog,
signed William Myers
Sworn to before me this 20th day of November 1843 at Sable Island
Joseph Darby, J.C.

James Jackson & Guy Hallett says that on the 19th of August last we were sent by the Superintendent to the West End to watch the Actions of the Crew of the Sch'nr Alpha that was then laying close in shore on the North Side and to prevent them from Shooting Seals or taking a Boat that was placed there in our uninhabited House, when we got near the N.W. Bar we saw a Boat on Shore with Six or eight men they were cutting some iron out of a piece of Wreck we saw where they had dug out a piece of Timber and cut three copper bolts and took away, as soon as they saw us they pushed off and went on board the large Schooner the Alpha as at this time there was a small Sch'nr in Company with her, in about half an hour the Boat returned on Shore with four men, two of them armed with percussion guns, loaded as the caps were to be seen on the tubes and one of them a [Gislol?] or some bulky weapon in his bosom. they had shot belts and powder flasks round their bodies and wadding stuck in their belts.
We asked them what they wanted, what was their business here, and what was their Names, with the name of their Vessel they told us the Vessel was the Alpha, the Master was Barras, and she belonged to Barras, they asked us what we were firing at they thought it was Mexican War on the Island, that the Black Warrior had been taken and Hell kicked up but guessed the cutter would not take them we told them if they were on [illiegible] for anything to come to Headquarters for it, but not to be shooting Seals or taking anything from the Shores of the Island, they said their old Fellow (meaning the Master) would not come to headquarters or land on the island for an hundred Dollars and after a great deal of the like conversation they went off and we remained at the little house


4 pages 30 x 49 cm

Date: 1843

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 425 number 10

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