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By contrast some Labradorians were used as scapegoats by e\\ found landers.
George. a Labradorian. tells this story from his grandfather's time about a schooner
anchored in Black Island TickJe. The cre\\, followed later by the caplain.lefi the
schooner in the morning and rowed away to the tmp.
So the crew came back before the skipper did and they found the cook
lashed (tied] to the mast. They asked her what happened ::md she said there
was a Labrador man came down the Tickle and came aboard. I don't know
what he done with her but he lashed her to the mast he said. They used to
have Justices of the Peace then who could have court but it was the
magistrate they got for this case. Indian I{arbour. which is about fony
miles from this place. well that was \\here they were going to hold coun to
about this girl that was lashed. The) went to all the places. They picked up
the men. the magistrate did. and they came to Rocky Cove and there was
quite a long (sand] bar there. The)' landed on the bar and was walking in.
My grandfather Anhur went to the woodpile and get a stick and met them
and drove them back. Wouldn't let them lake any ofhis sons. So that's
alright. Thcy \\ent again and e\'cl)one that was around fishing they lined
them aU up. They told the girl to pick out the one that lashed her. And
there was one man there he could hardly get out a word for stuttering and I
don't think he was too bright by \\ hal I heard. )'OU know. lie was one of
these I don't know \\hm you'd call it. lie used 10 stutter a let. And she
pointed to him. "This man! That's the man there ifhc's on eanh!" Now
this old man, he was quite an elderly man from whal I hear. he took
crying. lie said, '"No miss. Miss. I never seen the sky over you before...
He tried to sny something else bUI before he gel il oul the magistrale made
him shut up. That was enough. They took him oul anyway. Took him olll
to St. John·s. lIe was gone to 51. John's. lie was gone 10 51. John's. BUI In
the end she confessed the skipper did il himsclfarter the crew lert. 1K7
George went on to say that the Labrador lllan never brought any charges against
the girl and nevcr reccived any compensation for lost work time. George had a few of
these negati\'e stories about Nc\\foundlanders and the Newfoundland govcrnmcnt in his
'" MUNFLA 86-013. C862L
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