Nova Scotia Archives

Footprints in the Sand

Pre‐1867 Government Records for Sable Island

Letter to the Commissioner's of Sable Island from John Nisbeth, outlining the abuses he suffered while living on Sable Island

1848. — 4 pages : 30 x 48 cm.

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East End Sable Island 4th May 1848

Dear Sir

I thought when I left Halifax to come to this Island I was coming to a place of peace and hapiness for my self and family, but the contrary has been the case, that I am entirely wore out and oppresed to the lowest degree with the unprincipeled tyranical and diabolical treatment of the Superintendant Particularly these last tweve months, Or since the repairing and setting up of the Schooner Lady Echo, when no one could please him. But Damn this one and damn that one Continually, that i left him and walk home, every one doing there very utmost for him and his family, that for many days the men was not allowed to go to dinner till night although not a Quarter Mile distance all this was considered nothing If he was only satisfied but he never could get enough done, Which that vessel almost or entirely ought to belong to the Establishment of this Island, The Next thing he Atackted me personaly about was at the wreck of the Levant, When all hands knock-off from the wreck their was considerable left on board, Mr Darby and all his men went home intending not to return until the cutter came, Captain Reid was here and three or four of his Crew; Reid ask.d me if i would get my time and go down to asist him in getting the remainder of the materials on shore, that their might be no delay when the cutter came, I went and we suceeded in getting all on shore, Five Boat loads I hauled them where the rest of the materials was, hauled up the boat and came home. This was Saturday night. On Monday morning the cutter commenced loading, all was on board before sunset. When all was over Darby had learned that the remainder of the materials had been brought from the wreck. He then atackted me with Disobedience of orders, he told me i had no right to go their without being sent to save any materials that he would report my conduct to the Commissioners, and have me turned off the Island imeadetly, I told him very calmly i thought i was here for the purpose of saving wrecked property, He damned me and the wreck'd property and said i had no business to ^go their without his orders, after he took his satisfaction of abusing me I told him he might Report me to the Comissioners [a? or?] when he pleased, I learned directly afterward he had been advising his sons to purchase the wreck, so he thought of getting a greater haul if these materials had been left on board. For he never intended to asist in getting any thing more on shore. Two or three weeks after this the Lady Echo landed here from halifax. Nothing on board to eat [^only 24 hours out]. John Darby ask.d me if i could supply them Their happned to be some hard bread here and a few other articles we would not have had only the men being all lately here from the west end, I gave them what I could spare to keep them from starving, and they proceeded. But after ^that they took


4 pages 30 x 48 cm

Date: 1848

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 425 number 46

Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/sable/archives/

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