Christie Boy
front page | the book | the author | extracts | to order
Capt. Robertson
...Captain Robertson,(Squeaky) of whom nobody could determine whether he was a younger or older brother of "Para Handy", was the master of the "Plover" for many years and the two of them had some anxious moments during their many trips together. One such took place while on passage from Tarbert, Harris to Lochmaddy during a severe storm. Under normal conditions the ship would have been calling at Stocknish Ferry and Rodel but by the time they were off Stocknish they would have settled for shelter anywhere and were more or less running before the storm.
The Stocknish ferryman, who had been standing-by on shore, just had a glimpse of the "Plover" taking an extra big sea and not reappearing. A telegram was received at Kyle that day saying that she had disappeared off Cluer Point and that it was feared the ship had foundered. However the "Plover" appeared at Kyle next day merely several hours late, with its funnel caked in salt and several ventilator trumpets and both companion ladders missing. Later in the evening the Captain visited the office and when addressed by John Budge thus, "You've had a bad trip," the Captain replied, "Yes, we had a bit of a breeze."...
The Plover
front page | the book | the author | extracts | to order