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Pioneer Coastal Forestry Ready Reckoner - a good read
Many pioneers arriving at British Columbia in the late 1800's were drawn to our coast by a booming logging industry. Virgin stands of Cedar, Fir and Spruce trees were abundant and easy access to waterways allowed small independent companies a share of the market.

"Gyp loggers" as these smaller operations were sometimes known as, could harvest trees along the shorelines of our coastal islands with little more
than axes, cross-cut saws and block & tackle.

Working in small camps with 6 - 12 men, harvesting giant trees by hand was a hard and very dangerous business. Remote logging camps like the one on Read Island had no access to doctors or surgeons. Days passed between visits by Union Steamships and an injured logger might wait up to a week before receiving medical assistance. Many died before reaching help.



Logging Crew - in the BIG trees!

Denman Island Logger - Now... if I just push here...


Swedish Fiddle - Now how do you play THAT!

Springboards - No Diving Here!
GHOSTS OF READ ISLAND (PART 2)
Words and Music .
Play Lo-Fi Play Hi-Fi Download .mp3

The wind weathered rocks on the coast of Read Island
Guard over the mysteries of her own tragic lore
For it's said to this day that the ghosts of Read Island
Appear in the mist of her desolate shores

A magistrate came, Michael Manson by name
Who, along with Fred Hussey performed the inquest
Those who witnessed the act testified to facts
And a warrant was issued for Jack Myers arrest



A posse was sworn and with posted reward
They sailed from Nanaimo on the "Joan" and "Estelle"
When at last they found Myers holed up in Bute Inlet
They brought him for trial, his story to tell

The arm of the law is both strong and far-reaching
Though he swore self defense, at the end of the day
Jack Myers was sentenced to a long life in prison
For killing O'Connor in a blind drunken rage

The wind weathered rocks on the coast of Read Island
Guard over the mysteries of her own tragic lore
For it's said to this day that the ghosts of Read Island
Appear in the mist of her desolate shores

In the 1890s, loggers preferred to have their axes made by blacksmiths. Axe handles were custom made to suit the length of a loggers arm. Two-bladed or "double-bitted" axes were kept razor sharp and allowed the logger to cut for twice as long between sharpening.

Falling trees by hand was done using cross-cut saws. These were long saws (1.2 to 2.3 metres) with a handle on each end which allowed two men to work from opposite sides of the tree.

First-growth giants were often too wide at their base for a saw. Using his axe and reaching two metres up a tree, a logger would cut a small notch on each side of the tree. Springboards were jammed into the notches to provide a platform for the loggers.


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