The Adventures of Captain Heman Kenney and Lady Catherine 1833-1917

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Contents

CHAPTER ONE Lady Catherine 1882................................................................................................1CHAPTER TWO Cork, Ireland 1833 (49 years earlier)..............................................................................19CHAPTER THREE "The Queer Mist From The Irish Sea"..............................................................................39CHAPTER FOUR The Lady Catherine Has a Captain..................................................................................61CHAPTER FIVE Fugitive Onboard..................................................................................................91CHAPTER SIX Black Gold - The Great Lie.........................................................................................119CHAPTER SEVEN New Beginnings...................................................................................................128CHAPTER EIGHT The Irish Coffee Company.........................................................................................153CHAPTER NINE A Fort On A Hill 1860.............................................................................................176CHAPTER TEN Elizabeth, My Sweet Elizabeth......................................................................................207CHAPTER ELEVEN Steal Away, Steal Away To Jesus.................................................................................224CHAPTER TWELVE The Great Escape................................................................................................259CHAPTER THIRTEEN Romance, Sweet Romance........................................................................................274CHAPTER FOURTEEN Do You, Heman Godfey Kenney, Take Elizabeth Janet to Be Your Lawful Wedded Wife ...? I do.....................299CHAPTER FIFTEEN Cork Ireland 1866..............................................................................................314CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Hated Cholera..............................................................................................342CHAPTER SEVENTEEN A Seagull ... Or a Stork? Spring 1867........................................................................364CHAPTER EIGHTEEN "Reuniting Again".............................................................................................380CHAPTER NINETEEN Dominion Day 1867.............................................................................................395CHAPTER TWENTY Watt Section 1868...............................................................................................417CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE "Fire!".....................................................................................................440CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Why Punish William?.........................................................................................466CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Time Comes Full Circle....................................................................................493CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Beyond the Lighthouse......................................................................................508END NOTES......................................................................................................................522

Chapter One

1882

The activity on Watt Section Wharf was slowing down on this cold March evening. The sun was sinking into the Atlantic. It looked like a red-hot ball falling from the sky into the frozen ocean. Red and orange streams of light lit up the heavens. The cold made its way through one's coat, and it could be felt in one's bones. It was a sign of another cold winter's night that was just beginning along the coast of Nova Scotia.

All the fishing boats were tied down. Only a few hours before, they made their way up the Straight of Watt Section. It looked like a parade as all the fishing boats passed by the lighthouse. She seemed to smile and welcome them home. Each boat had its own place to tie up to the wharf. When all were secured, the job of unloading the catch of the day began.

It was a good catch, unlike some other days when the men worked hard, only to find the nets sparse with fish. But not today. Everyone was in a grateful mood. Deep sea fishing was a hard and dangerous job. The ocean can be one's friend one day and a dangerous adversary the next - a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex. There was a feeling of relief, for the fishermen were back on land. The ocean didn't win today.

The Watt Section Wharf was filled to capacity. Horses pulling wagons lined up four deep. The fish peddlers were buzzing around like bees. Since this was winter time and the bees were deep in their hives waiting for spring, it was a curious sight.

Thomas, a six-foot giant of a man from Cape Breton, was first in line. He was ready. "Hey, Gerald, my man. Looks like you had a good one." Thomas could see Gerald standing in his boat up to his knees in fish.

"I thought you moved back to Cape Breton by now." Gerald passed him a friendly smile.

"I keep saying I'm going. But maybe things are beginning to look up here. Looks like you got some fish."

"It's about time, wouldn't you say? I swear they were asleep all winter and today they awoke. We were there to invite them into our boat." Gerald's laugh was light and private.

"Everyone at the fish packing plant will be happy," Thomas added. "We are tired of eating porridge and deer meat all winter."

Gerald was happy. He sold his whole catch to Thomas in five minutes.

As the fishermen unloaded their great catch and peddlers loaded their wagons, a cloud of screaming gulls hovered over their heads. The scraps of fish were thrown over the sides of the wharf, causing a war of the gulls. No table manners here - everyone for himself. The strong got most of it; the old and weak were lucky to get any. No one seemed to notice the great battle going on. The fishermen had seen it daily, and somewhere back in their minds, it was music to their ears. No war meant no fish; no fish meant lean times. The music being played out by the gulls was more then welcomed that day. Every available barrel on the wharf was filled with cod, halibut and herring. The peddlers went away happily, and the fishermen were left with a sense of accomplishment and a pocket full of money. Life was good.

The fishing boats were cleaned and now it was their turn to rest. Everything around them was quiet. The slapping of the salt water on their bows was a reminder that at sunrise they and their masters would repeat the journey offshore. The ocean would be calling and they would answer that call. The fishing boats always took whatever the ocean threw at them. But on this clear, cool night, they were safe in this small Harbour.

This wharf was home not only to the fishing boats, but a string of dories added to the colourful sight. The various colours of the dories came from leftover paint, which protected them from the salt water. The Harbour also had more than one schooner anchored. These schooners brought trade goods from far off lands daily. The dories were kept busy going to and fro carrying the wares from the schooners to the wharf. That too had stopped for the day.

Gerald and Lloyd were the last to leave the wharf. Gerald looked at Lloyd, "That's a beautiful sunset tonight."

"Yeah," replied...