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GHOSTS OF READ ISLAND (PART 2)
Words and Music
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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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