Lost on the Twenty-one Barrens

I wasn't aware of the search, or that anyone was astray, until Victor Luddington called me when he got home. It was about nine in the evening and he had just returned from the east road, (Country Harbour Cross Roads to West Cooks Cove ) Where he had been on a search party for Merrill Latham, who went astray late that afternoon while hunting with his Dad ( Harry ) and brothers Allan and Calvin.

I had just returned home from the store............before the age of social media, news didn't travel so rapidly as it now does. Anyway, Vic ran it by me, and said with my experience huntng the Twenty one Barrens he said he thought I would be an asset to the search team at daylight, He also said that himself and Mac Martin, Beverly Manthorne's Dad, were close enough to shout to Merrill that evening , but couldn't reach him due to rough going and the fact that their batteries were going flat. Vic said he figured that he could go directly to Merrill in the morning. It was agreed that everyone take a change of clothes for Merrill, because that afternoon and throughout the night, there was scattered showers, and the temperature dropped; a typical fall night.

We got out to the Barrens road when it was just breaking day. The R.C.M.P. were on hand, saw that all were competent and wisely kept his mouth shut. Keith Luddington and me got talking and I told Keith that I planned to go in to the east of Round Lake, and told him that I had talked this over with Vic on the way up that morning from DH, and he thought it would be a good plan because we didn't knew if Merrill would try and travel during the night.

I must make an explanatory interjection here; Keith's Aunt Phoebe, was Merrill's step-mother and was my Aunt by her marriage to my Uncle, Bayfield Crooks. When she was widowed by my Uncles death, she married Harry Latham.

When it got light enough to see to walk, Victor put the muzzle of his 30/06 in the air and fired one shot. A moment later Merrrill answered with a single shot; we rejoiced knowing Merrill had made it through the night. Victor took a bearing on the sound of Merrill's shot, and we were off.

Keith and me went down the road ( main ) a couple of hundred yards and turned north onto the Barrens. Victor had told me were they had left the evening before, and I told Keith that it was an overgrown chopping, with young firs so thick that it would task a scared rabbit to make it through.

Keith and me travelled hard, and before long were abeam of Round Lake, and in a few more minutes could smell the pungent aroma of wood smoke; Mac Martin, Cecil Smith, (Cross Roads) and Victor had found Merrill, ( luckily, it was a very still morning, and they could hear his weakened voice from a distance off. He was down in the young firs, and would have died where he fell the night before had not help arrived.

Mac and Cecil fell a nearby pine ram-pike, while Victor plied Merrill with hot tea from a Thermos, loaded with sugar. With two crack woods men, both of whom had cut their teeth on a Swede saw and double bitted axe, it wasn't long before Mac and Cecil had a roaring fire going. I believe that this was about the time that you and I arrived, wasn't it, Keith.? The three of them had gotten Merrill into dry clothes, a bit of grub in him and he was good to go.

Mac took a slant for the west side of Round Lake, he was heading for the road. that runs to the back of the barrens and crosses the foot of Long Lake.

We made the western shore of Round Lake. The water is shallow there and a fine sandy bottom. This made for great walking and we made good time, marvelling at the myriad fresh water clam shells that were visable. After walking the shoreline for a way, we came to a fast flowing brook, which ran into the lake. I had wondered why Mac was wearing hip waders; now I knew, he undertook to piggy back us all across the brook. I had grave doubts when it came to Keith and me, without doubt the heaviest, but he made it, no sweat, and we commenced the trek again, and before long could see the hydro line which ran parallel to the East Road. About ten minutes later we were out to the cars, and the congrats and sincerely thank yous went around. Allan and Calvin loaded their brother in their car, and left for Seal Harbour.



November 01/ 2015