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One lime. I remember. we were travelling to thc coast on the scaler. the SS
Ungom. As usual. the young men \\erc down around the girls' beds like flies
around a molasses keg. Some were singing songs and another had a concertina.
There was very little opportunity to get a good nap. Aunt Emily Taylor, of
Cupids. put up \\;th it as long as she could. Then she got up and grabbing a bed
lath, took ofT after the boys and chased them up the companionway to the deck
above. IIO
o mention is made in the archival accounts J read and inlerviews I conducted of
fights on the passage but there are references to tricks and pranks being played for
enjoyment
When they were lr3\'elling on the schooners. the mcn had 10 do all the cooking for
their families. The men created their own galley on deck by "rigging up" a fireplace made
from rocks placed in a puncheon. Some men used the occasion ofbringing food to the
women as an cnticement to share the sleeping accommodations. as Ihc following quote
illuslrates:
All the girls had bunks. All the rest ofthe girls gct sick. Incvcr. Ten days in the
hold--not allowed up. Father cooked. Jack Mahoney from North River. He was a
devil. I-Ie used to crawl into bed with mc. I said don't gct into bed with me or me
falher will kill ya. Jack used to cook big dinncrs to bring in to me. Used to throw
suit into their eyes and everything. Anastasia Walsh from Bacon Cove was crack
ubout lhe old man. I uscd to throw salt al her. lll
Ann Gracc recalls that the girls used to have ""a grand timc" even Ihough many of
thcm wcrc strangers to cach other. On the schooners they uscd to sleep on the pilcs of
fishing twine. They had bunks in the stcamer and had to dress for bed despite the frequent
110 Ilussey. p. 7.
'" MUNFLA 86-013. C8634.
85