The Islands: Island Stories: Rival Boats; Wolfe Island Poem

Rival Boats Island Poem

Please let me know if you know of any
other such poems or stories!

Note: Irene Dixon Bamford wrote this while
riding the ferry one day to Kingston.
She used to take butter, eggs etc to sell there.

THE RIVAL BOATS

Written by Grandma Bamford
April 18, 1897

(1)
Two rival boats of noted fame
Unto our dock last Thursday came
First, the Pierpont the dock did make
With the Paul Smith close in her wake

(2)
The people waiting on the dock
Appeared to be amazed and shocked
For in the years that are passed and gone
Every year you�d hear this song,

(3)
Please Mr. Folger send your steamboat down
So we can get our eggs to town
See here now do not get too gay
There will be time enough by the first of May

(4)
At last the welcome sound would come
And the people to the dock would run
And old McKenzie loud would shout
�Come on� look sharp, what are you all about.

(5)
Who owns these bags? Who owns this hide?
Tickets, tickets get along inside
For old George will rule as in days of yore
You must submit or stay ashore.

(6)
Then in a mild way old George would say
Ah! Ha! All the old maids are out today
Oh! If once more I was young
I�d love them all yes! everyone.

(7)
But to return to where I first began
The Pierpont was the first to land
The Captain shouted all aboard
But no one moved or said a word

(8)
Free passage and compassions sake
Persuaded five the trip to make
And yes there was a ram that went
A poor lone sheep for slaughter sent

(9)
While standing by I heard a sigh
And looking up what did I spy
Alone in the gang was standing there
Old George McKenzie�s Ghost I swear.

(10)
Now superstition I do detest
And I tried and done my best
To drive that vision far away
But in my mind its there to stay
And they say at night there can be seen
Hi Marlows Ghost on the walking beam.

(11)
Poor old Pierpont: Alas: Goodbye.
Although a tear bedims my eye
I know from you we�ll have to part
For you know the �Smith� has got the chart

(12)
There is one thing more I want to tell
It was when the Paul Smith rang her bell
And stopped her engine at the dock
The passengers then aboard did flock
As it was her first trip to our bay
Only 45 went aboard that day

(13)
I�ll just mention here about the freights
They have cut them down upon the rates
The way it was done before was too
Collect all they could and more.
But times have changed since Hannah died.
And hence forth on the Smith we�ll ride.

The Islands: Island Stories: Rival Boats- Wolfe Island Poem

Rival Boats Island Poem

THE RIVAL BOATS

Written by Grandma Bamford April 18, 1897

Written by Grandma Bamford
April 18, 1897