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Most pictures relate to
Mr. Percy Morris, friends, family and the Isle Haute
(Percy was the keeper of the light on Isle Haute)
Images courtesy and © copyright of Kerr Canning
Most images are 100 - 400 KB
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Percy Morris is mentioned in the article on the Leah & Lester Finley picture page as well.
There is a picture of the lighthouse at the Lighthouses of Nova Scotia, Canada site by the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society. (OFF SITE)
Berwick Register, January 19th, 1898
Black Rock:
Mr. James Moody relating the loss of the schooner Orient several years ago, spoke highly in praise of the courage shown by Alonzo White, one of the seamen, in the rescue of the crew. The Orient went ashore at low water at Spicer brook, one mile west of Black Rock light. It was a bitter cold day in midwinter with a strong northwest wind which rendered the rescue all the more difficult. Mr. White, an expert swimmer, attached a rope to his person and swam for the shore; when but part way he signaled to be hauled on board which was done. White told them he could not make show without some stimulants. After draining a brimming glass of "grog" he made the second attempt and succeeded, although thoroughly benumbed by the ice cold water. The rope was made fast and all on board went ashore by the aid of the line with the exception of the lady passenger, Miss Marion Vales, who refused to leave and was washed over board and drowned. Mr. Moody thinks had it not been for the courage and determination of this man the lives of all would have been sacrificed. Mr. White now resides in the eastern part of Cornwallis and no doubt will remember the circumstances.
Conversing lately with our esteemed postmaster, J. H. Rawding Esq. he related several stories bordering closely on the supernatural. One, the truth of which is touched for by himself, touches at least on the marvelous. About eighteen years ago - the narrator said - between 8 and 9 o'clock on a November evening, he with several others saw a bright light a few miles southeast of Isle Au Haute. As the light increased he could plainly distinguish - as he supposed - a large square rigged vessel under full canvas on fire. The flames could be seen running up the shrouds and spreading until the whole ship was in flames. The blaze continued about a half hour when the fire and vessel suddenly disappeared without showing that any part had been consumed or that there were any persons on board. About a year afterward at the same time on a November evening he witnessed again a repetition of the same. Mr. Rawding advances no theory and can offer no solution as to the phenomenon which it certainly was, as no such thing as a vessel burning actually took place near the Island within the memory of the oldest inhabitant.
"Ned" Chute and "Jim" Nichols with their fox hounds, one day last week pursued a wild cat ten miles, but the wily feline proved too wary and escaped capture. Judging from the track and stride the animal was very large of its kind.
Berwick Register
March 30th 1898
SCHOONER LOST – The schr. T.W. McKay, Capt. Albert Bullerwell, bound from Parrsboro for St John with a cargo of coal, foundered some ten miles off Isle au Haute on Wednesday. The McKay was a vessel of 97 tons register, owned by Capt. Vera B. Roberts. The crew were saved, having left the vessel as soon as they found she was filling with water. They landed at the Isle au Haute. The vessel and cargo are insured.
Berwick Register
July 20th, 1898
BAND PICNIC:
On Thursday last the Berwick Brass Band held its first picnic, leaving the band room around six o'clock a.m., bound for Isle au Haute.
The drive to Harborville was much enjoyed, and on arriving at the wharf the boys were cordially greeted by Captain Chute and soon stowed away on his little schooner which was pointed for the island about ten miles distant.
On reaching their destination, after a pleasant sail, lunch was disposed of, and the boys started to explore the island - some to wage war on the gulls whose nests were built on the side of the cliff, while others, more kindhearted and of a more peaceful disposition (?), stayed behind to beg eggs from the over-obliging lighthouse keeper's family - in this they were more successful than the former.
After spending about two hours on the Island, the Captain thought it about time to start for home, and with a good breeze and the Band playing, the schooner left for Harborville.
On their arrival at the wharf the Band played several selections for the benefit of those who had come down to meet them, and after saying good-by to Captain Chute they were soon in the wagon and driving toward home.
The only thing that in anyway disappointed the boys was their inability to be on hand to witness the pretty lawn wedding which took place at Somerset that morning and to salute the bride and groom before their departure on the train.
August 17, 1911
Harborville
Mrs. E. L. Curry and little daughter Nina are enjoying the cool sea breezes at the shore.
We are glad to see Mrs. Leander Margeson out again after her recent illness.
Capt. William Perry, accompanied by a party of friends, made a flying trip to Halifax Harbor recently, in his trim little yacht Crest.
Mrs. William Connor, of Wakefield, Mass., and Mrs. William Caldwell and son Robert, of Yarmouth, are visiting their father, Capt. Samuel McBride.
Our sporty fisherman, Fred O. Ayer, Boardman Margeson, Clyde Barteaux, and Willie Perry, although losing lots of sleep, report fish very scarce.
We regret to report our genial friend, Fred O. Ayer, sick with a bad cold.
Mrs. Wilbur Spicer, of Charlestown, Mass., is spending a few weeks at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Morris.
Mr. Ingram Connor is having the time of his life breaking his colt, and judging from the success he is having, we expect to see him on the race track soon.
Mrs. Dora Barteaux, of Bay View Cottage, is kept very busy these hot days serving lunches and ice cream to the tourists.
Mr. Watson Wiswell, of Lynn, Mass., has been spending a few days at the shore.
Miss Carmon Barteaux, of Advocate Harbor, spent a few days last week visiting Mr. and Mrs. William Perry.
Clarence T. Spicer arrived on Wednesday, of last week from a visit with friends in Canning and Halifax, and reports a very nice time.
Miss Grace Thomas, of Middleton, is visiting her aunt, Mrs. Kate Ayer.
Capt. Bloomfield Morris and wife arrived on Wednesday from Rockland, Maine, in his beautiful yacht Nile.
Our new bridge, near Mr. Leander Margeson’s, contracted for and built by Capt. E. L. Curry, is greatly admired.
Our fleet of vessels has been enlarged by the pretty little schooner Gleaner, recently purchased by the Spicer brothers, Capt. Ned and Clarence.
Mr. Percy Morris, light house keeper at Isle au Haute, with his wife, spent Sunday at Bay View Cottage.
Clarence T. Spicer, his sister Mrs. C. M. Perry and daughter Lila, who have been spending their vacation with their parents, left to return to Boston on Monday.
Mr. Morris Hussy, from the North West is visiting his cousin, Miss Lena Kennealy.
Capt. E. L. Curry and Michael Hannifin arrived on Wednesday from the North Shore with a cargo of sheep and cattle, in the schooner Aggie Curry.
Mr. Perlie MacBride, Officer on S. S. Prince George, was a recent visitor to Harborville.
Quite a number from this place attended campmeeting at Berwick this week.
Capt. Charles McBride and family have returned to their home in Waterville.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ogilvie and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Ogilvie of Morden were guests of Capt. and Mrs. Ed. Spicer on Sunday.
THE REGISTER
WEDNESDAY EVENING
JULY 22, 1931
OUR WEEKLY BUDGET FROM HARBORVILLE
Light Keeper Of Isle o’Haute Is Week End Visitor At Bay Shore Port.
Bernard Morris, accompanied by Mrs. Morris, Miss Aileen Clem, Donald Parker and Avery Spicer, enjoyed a delightful sail to Horseshoe Cove, on the Cumberland coast, Thursday, in his trim new motor boat. They made the return trip on Saturday and report a wonderful excursion.
Mr. Benj. Manning, of Martin Head, N. B., is the guest of Capt. and Mrs. Curry.
The following young ladies of the "Busy Bee" organization, Berwick, under the chaperonage of Mrs. J. W. Smith, are enjoying a week’s outing here while camping in the Congdon cottage: Helen Alcorn, Jean Wilson, Ella Schurman, Blanch Norton, Gladys Parker, Edna Patterson.
Capt. Ed. Curry has just completed the erection of a new cottage.
Mr. Benj. Bezanson is making good progress with construction work on his new bungalow.
In view of the rumor which has been in circulation for several weeks that it was the intention of the proprietor of the Berwick distillery to have the product piped through the mountain, direct to Harborville, where the bottling works would be established to facilitate shipping from this port direct to the Windward Islands, the present unfavorable outlook regarding a license for operation of the plant has created not a little disappointment in some quarters. Mr. Fred Ayer, one of our enterprising merchants, stated to a Register correspondent last night that should the project materialize, there was a likely prospect that the tides of the harbor could be harnessed to provide the necessary power for suction purpose, failing which he would undertake the erection of a windmill to do the trick. Mr. Brown expresses himself as a bit skeptical, however.
Deer are reported unusually plentiful in this vicinity (of course we mean the four legged species). Not infrequently are they to be seen on the hilltop on the Givan Road, while on one occasion recently, a beautiful fawn ventured over the bridge and wandered leisurely down onto the beach in the harbor.
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Phinney and son Robert, of Middleton, were week-end guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Hatfield at their cottage here.
Mr. Percy Morris, light-keeper at isle o’Haute, "taxied" over from the island on Friday, in his two-sticker auxiliary, on his first visit to Harborville this season, and was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Lem. Brown over the week-end. Mr. Morris, whom the writer had the privilege of Interviewing, has occupied the position of light-keeper and (with the exception of one helper) sole resident of the island for 28 years, and is still going strong. With a serviceable radio he is able to keep in touch with the outside world, with which, - except for an occasional trip to advocate and Harborville, - he rarely experiences a contact. That he has very little idle time on his hands in which to develop lonesomeness, may well be realized from the fact that, in addition to caring for from 50 to 100 registered black foxes that have the run of the island, the livestock population of Isle o’Haute consists of 12 head of cattle, 70 sheep and lambs, 14 pigs, 6 goats and 20 hens and chickens, all of which receive Percy’s personal attention. Last year the island produced 24 tons hay, 12 tons oats, 500 bushels potatoes and various other root crops. Sufficient hard wood is available for fuel and other purposes. Mr. Morris finds the radio a great source of information and entertainment during his leisure hours, which needless to say, are comparatively few and far between. This fall he purposes clearing a suitable landing field for airplanes, which quite frequently circle the island but unfortunately are unable to effect a landing. The island was originally the breeding ground for vast numbers of gulls and rabbits, but since the foxes were placed there two years ago, the rabbits have been entirely annihilated and the gulls have disappeared. The lure of Captain Kidd’s hidden treasure has attracted various searching parties to the island in recent years, and for the past two years a man by the name of Carmichael, from Vancouver, has spent the months of August and September actively engaged in seeking the treasure horde, but thus far apparently without any encouraging results. The island comprises 580 acres in all. The buildings include light-keeper’s commodious dwelling house, barns and outbuildings and massive tower in which is housed the large receiving, never-failing light, so well known to mariners whose vessels pass up and down the bay. Nowhere perhaps are climatic and atmospheric conditions more healthful than on this island, as evidenced by the fact that Mr. Morris has never experienced a sick day in all his 28 years experience as light-keeper. But most remarkable of all, perhaps, is the utter absence of any manifestation of business depression and unemployment, with which other parts of the continent are so seriously affected at the present time.
THE REGISTER
SEPTEMBER 9, 1931
Will Search For Captain Kidd’s Treasure On Isle O’Haute
Much Sought Treasure Trove Believed Buried In Lake On Island In Bay Of Fundy.
Captain Kidd’s treasure is now being sought at at the Isle o’Haute off Harborville. The plan is to put in a sluice to drain a small lake on the island so that the supposed wealth of gold and jewels may be recovered. While a vigorous search is being made by a syndicate at Oak Island, Lunenburg Co., for the same treasure, Dougald Carmichael of Advocate, Cumberland Co., is making plans to prosecute operations at Isle o’Haute. It is reported that a marble slab bearing a chart of the lake and certain specifications are now held by a bank in St. John, until a disagreement between Carmichael and a man named McCready is settled.
A well informed and responsible citizen of Harborville declares his faith in the Isle o’Haute project and believes that ere long Kidd’s treasures, which he declares total in value several million pounds sterling, will be taken from this lake.
The story as told by Mr. Carmichael is most interesting. The advocate man is 82 years of age and at one time was station master at Hampton, N. B. He was in the Northwest rebellion and was wounded, and was a visitor to Vancouver when that city was nothing but a camping site. Mr. Carmichael first learned of the alleged Kidd treasure being on Isle o’Haute from ancestors who are said to have secured first hand information from a member of Kidd’s crew. The sailor is said to have declared that he saw the gold and jewels landed and placed in the lake, which was then scheduled two fathoms deep. With a man named McCready, Mr. Carmichael started for Isle o’Haute to reclaim the treasure. Their efforts failed because of the water and sand that drifted into the lake and buried the chest of gold and jewels, it is believed. Some of these jewels came from South America, he declares and he refuses to allow a steam shovel to be used to dredge the lake in fear that some of these valuable jewels might be damaged.
Many years ago a builder of the light-house on the island, while walking on the beach, stepped on a marble slab. This attracted his attention and he stopped to turn the slab over. It was cut three-cornered shape and on the reverse side was inscribed in old English letters the words, "R. Kidd 5 fathoms east and two fathoms deep." This slab is shaped exactly like the lake on the island declares Mr. Carmichael. It may be seen by anyone going to the Bank of Montreal in Saint John.
The inscription on the slab tallied exactly with the location said to have been told by the member of Kidd’s crew to Mr. Carmichael’s ancestor.
In a few weeks operations are expected to be carried out at this place and Mr. Carmichael believes that the hopes of his whole life time will be realized.