19 Mar 1933
Capt Angus MacDonald (Ballantynes Cove)
Veteran Skipper Dies – At the ripe old age of ninety nine years and five months, Capt. Angus MacDonald died at his home at Ballantyne’s Cove last Sunday. He was buried at the Cove Tuesday morning after requiem Mass by Father Baton, leaving to mourn his passing three sons, and three daughters: Mrs. James MacEachern, Ballantyne’s Cove; Sister M. Austin, of the Order of St. Martha, Antigonish; conductor John McDonald, Revelstoke, B.C.; Colin F., at Ballantyne’s Cove; Angus and Miss Catherine at home. Deceased was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John MacDonald, Rear Georgeville. As a lad he determined to take up the trade of sail-making and went to Pictou to serve his apprenticeship, being accompanied by a Point Hastings youth named Reynolds, who also later became a master. While at Pictou the boys improved their time by studying navigation and other subjects, and when their term of service as apprentices had expired they went to sea, aboard ships in the coastal trade. The greater part of Capt. MacDonald’s life was spent afloat, and for thirty eight years he sailed to foreign ports, crossing the Atlantic fifty two times. After getting his master mariners papers in 1860 Capt MacDonald sailed ships belonging to C.B. Whidden and Sons, and Christoper MacDonald, two leading Antigonish merchants, but for most of his career he captained Halifax and Pictou craft. Naturally in his time the old skipper had many stirring experiences, the event which made the greatest impression on his taking place in the summer of 1873. He was at that time mate on the Barque Commissioner, owned and commanded by Capt Charles Graham, Antigonish, and about to make her maiden voyage from New Glasgow to South America. To accommodate a friend Mate MacDonald sailed a small coastal schooner from New Glasgow to Arichat, where, with the captain’s wife and children, he was to await the arrival of the Commissioner. Capt. Graham, his boat laden with coal, sailed from the East River, August 24. In St. George’s Bay the craft struck by the famous August gale” and foundered, all hands being lost. In November 1881, Capt. Macdonald was in charge of the brigantine “Trust” out of New York for San Sebastian, Spain, with a cargo of petroleum. After a voyage of about 10 days, the Trust ran into a nor -wester and was scudded along under light canvas when the watch sighed a dismasted ship, the “Coronet” of Liverpool, out of Saint John. Darkness fell just as signs of life were noticed aboard the wreck. Capt. MacDonald remained in the neighborhood throughout the night and most of the next day before evening had succeeded in taking off the captain, his wife and crew of 17. For his initiative and humanity in the rescue Capt. MacDonald was later presented with a silver teapot by the British Government, and the gift remains a treasured possession in the MacDonald home to this day. The crew received money gifts. It is interesting to note that one of hte rescued crew, Edward Flynn, lives at Merland, Antigonish county. In 1893, the captain left the sea and was appointed captain of the government ferry plying between Mulgrave and Point Tupper, and here he remained four years, retiring then to his farm at the Cape. Some forty years ago Capt. MacDonald was married to Miss Margaret MacNeil, Georgeville, who predeceased him by a few years.