HISTORY
MINING HISTORY
MINING HISTORY
SHIPPING SEASON AT WABANA
The SHIPPING SEASON in Bell Island mining history ran from about late April of one year through to late February or early March of the next. Arctic ice travelling down the Newfoundland coast and packing into the bays impeded shipping most winters during March and April.
The ore boat captains were treated like dignitaries at Wabana. For example, it was customary for the first captain who arrived at the beginning of the shipping season to be presented with a gift, which was a silk hat in 1957 when Captain T.N. Bagnell of the S.S. Wabana arrived in April (story below left). In the photo on the right, the Captain of the Charlton Mira is gifted with a briefcase for being the first to arrive in 1959. Photo from the Submarine Miner, May 1959, p.8.
The ore boat captains were treated like dignitaries at Wabana. For example, it was customary for the first captain who arrived at the beginning of the shipping season to be presented with a gift, which was a silk hat in 1957 when Captain T.N. Bagnell of the S.S. Wabana arrived in April (story below left). In the photo on the right, the Captain of the Charlton Mira is gifted with a briefcase for being the first to arrive in 1959. Photo from the Submarine Miner, May 1959, p.8.
In October 1956, Captain P. de Heer of the S.S. Stadvlaardingen was presented with a Parker pen in recognition of his 31 years in the Wabana ore trade. Photo below is from the Submarine Miner, Nov. 1956, p.8.
The souvenir cigarette case pictured below may similarly have been presented to a captain after a number of years, or it may have been a retirement gift, or simply a souvenir at the end of a particular shipping season. It looks to be made of steel; if so, it would be made from Wabana iron ore. The flag is that of Nova Scotia and the case was likely made at Trenton, NS, where the steel manufacturing facility was owned by the Scotia Company that started the Wabana Mines in 1895. The engraved initials look like “WMS,” perhaps the initials of the captain who received this gift. Photo courtesy of Jesse Houle.
The photos and story below are from the first issue of the Submarine Miner in June 1954, in which the whole of page 8 was devoted to the ore carrier, M.S. River Afton. The ore carriers played an essential role in the Wabana mining operation.
When World War II broke out in September 1939, it had profound consequences for Bell Island and the Wabana Mines. Overseas markets were lost, causing slow-downs in the mines and lay-offs. In April 1940, the mines went on half-time due to some ore carriers being engaged for military use. This situation continued for the duration of the war, ie. through 1945. Iron ore was still needed for the continued production of steel, however, as it was essential in the manufacture of weapons, ammunition, ships, and other products necessary to wage war.
On September 5, 1942, the war came to Bell Island when a German U-boat sank 2 ore boats anchored in The Tickle killing 29 sailors. On November 2, 1942, another German U-boat sank 2 more ore boats killing 36 sailors. It was said that the Germans were “throwing back what they had bought a few years before!”
You can read more about the 1942 U-Boat attacks on the ore carriers at Bell Island on this website by scrolling down to "World War II" in the drop-down menu under "History," then click on the offshoot "U-Boat Attacks."
On September 5, 1942, the war came to Bell Island when a German U-boat sank 2 ore boats anchored in The Tickle killing 29 sailors. On November 2, 1942, another German U-boat sank 2 more ore boats killing 36 sailors. It was said that the Germans were “throwing back what they had bought a few years before!”
You can read more about the 1942 U-Boat attacks on the ore carriers at Bell Island on this website by scrolling down to "World War II" in the drop-down menu under "History," then click on the offshoot "U-Boat Attacks."
The photo below left shows 3 ore carriers "on the anchorage" awaiting loading at Bell Island in 1956. The photo on the right shows the Shipping Supervisor, Charles Belbin, as he bids farewell to the Office Manager of the British Empire Steel Corp., London, England. Photos from the Submarine Miner, July 1956, p. 7.
Below is a summary of the Shipping part of the Wabana operations as it looked in 1956-57. This excerpt was part of a souvenir issue of the Submarine Miner produced in October 1957 to commemorate the visit to Wabana on October 7, 1957 of members of the Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgical Congress. (From 1899 to 1950, ore cargoes leaving Wabana were shipped from two piers, Dominion and Scotia. From 1950 onwards, all ore was shipped from Scotia Pier.)