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Seaman's Chest - Donated by Dawson Hoover
Selkirk, Ontario - This trunk was left with my parents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Hoover, by Seaman S. Peterson who was sailing on the ill fated sailing ship Montcalm that was blown around in front of our home Lot 2, Concession 1, Township of Rainham during a severe storm one night in November 1892.
My Uncly John Cooper was living in our place at that time and at daylight a rap was made on the door of his home, he opened the door and there was no one there, he waited a few minutes and the rap came again and there stood a man with no clothes on and so cold that he could not speak but he pointed to the ship which could be seen from the house, he took the man in and wrapped him in blankets till he could get a fire going and get him warmed up and get the story from him. The main mast of the vessel had broken off some where near Long Point so they were helpless and drifted with the wind till they grounded on the rocks about 300 feet off shore, there were five men and a woman cook aboard, they waited till daylight and the man was tied to a ladder and thus drifted ashore. My father who lived where Winfred Cooper lives now, saw the ship, they had no telephone then and came down with a horse and tried to get it to swim out to the ship as Abigail Becker had done earlier at Port Rowan where she rescued several people under the same circumstances, but his horse would not take to the water so he was helpless in the effort. They finally got the word spread around to Selkirk and by noon the wind had subsided enough to get a boat out of Stoney Creek which they either had to row or sail and eventually made the rescue of the remaining crew.
I believe it was Darius Swarts, who fished out of the creek at that time who owned the boat which made the rescue and no doubt he was assisted by some of the Wardells who were also fishermen.
The ship was loaded with Iron Ore so there was not much could be salvaged except ropes, pulleys and some of the sail.
The ship broke up and sank to the bottom the following spring and since that time pieces of wood have been breaking off ot the hull and drifting ashore, the two pieces in the trunk I picked up May 30, 1967. It was one piece but I sawed it in two so the condition of the wood could be seen to a better advantage, not bad for being on the bottom of the lake for at least 74 years.
The round block of wood with the tree holes in came off the same boat and until someone else can tell what it should be I will call it a Deadeye, it will not float in water.
Dawson L. Hoover
May 31, 1967
P. S. The man ran around the house to keep warm till Uncle John could get there to let him in.
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Rainham Builders
1864 - 1947 (83 years)