Lögberg-Heimskringla - 03.06.1988, Síða 5

LÖGBERG CENTENNIAL YEAR, FÖSTUDAGUR 3. JÚNÍ 1988-5
Productive summer poaching sturgeon
Continued from Page 4
Heading out onto the lake, they
kept a direction that would take them
to Georges Island, a fishing station in
the huge expanse of northern Lake
Winnipeg. The distance was such,
that only after a couple of hours
would the island loom up over the
horizon on a clear day. All was peace-
ful as the canoe headed out onto the
open lake at about five miles per
hour. A slight rolling motion was
caused by a seldom dead-calm inland
freshwater lake of sea-like propor-
tions. The bear cubs had fallen asleep
through the rocking motion. Their
full stomachs had allayed the hunger
pangs.
From the north an airplane flew
overhead on forest fire patrol search-
ing for any signs of fires usually ig-
nited by lightning, when hot weather
and dry spells made the trees vulner-
able to the hot flash of nature's
grounded electric charge. It was a bi-
plane of World War I vintage,
propellor-driven, with two open
cockpits for the pilot and observer.
Based in Norway House, these planes
were manned by a detachment of the
Royal Canadian Air Force. They
were responsible for forest patrol in
the northern reaches of the province.
To Bill, sight of the plane stirred up
teenage memories of bitter disap-
pointment. Being tall and husky for
his age, he had been able to convince
a recruiting officer that his age was
several months past 18. Donning a
khaki uniform he had entered basic
training including rifle instruction.
On the ranges he loved the smell of
burning powder and the oil of his ri-
fle. The popping sound of rifle shells
filled the air, exciting his overgrown
teenage body. The thrill of hitting the
bull's eye, never ceased to elate his
excited feeling. To him this was real
stuff and he savoured every moment
of being a soldier. The distant batt-
lefield held no fear, for like most war
combatants, he firmly believed it
happened only to the other guy.
Bullets were not meant for him.
He made one error and that was to
visit an uncle in the Sargent Ave.
Icelandic district. His uncle was a
pacifist and in a rage stormed down
to the recruiting office with young
Bill in tow demanding and obtaining
Bill's immediate release.
It took Bill a long time to forgive his
uncle. He long regretted having made
this visit, he felt he should have gone
overseas without any farewells, but
then his uncle was the only relative
who had shown him kindness. The
years healed his disappointment and
he began to appreciate his uncle.
Craving the excitement that by-
passed him during the war years his
adventurous nature led him into a
less than honourable occupation. His
daredevil approach and flair for auto
mechanics took him to U.S. border
towns.
Prohibition was in effect and dis-
tillation of liquor illegal in the Unit-
ed States. Canada had eased up some-
what on prohibition and production
of alcoholic beverages was legal. The
huge dry U.S. market was a lucrative
bootleggers' paradise, especially for
Canadian whiskey. The trick was to
get it over the border.
Bill loved those high powered six
cylinder Cadillac and Studebaker
touring cars, well appointed with
hardwood steering wheels, brass
headlamps and fittings. At ware-
houses distant from the Canadian
border, whiskey was inconspicuous-
ly yet strategically located.
A call would come to the local hotel
alerting Bill and others to be on
standby ready to make a border
crossing when the scouts sent in an
''all clear" message. In the meantime
the cars would be checked over by
expert mechanics and loaded with
valuable Canadian booze ready to go
on a moment's notice.
Once the all clear had been flashed,
the drivers would report to the ware-
house. Cars were dispatched in-
New fly-drive
program offer
Fly from New York to Luxembourg
and return with a free night at a su-
perb hotel in "The Green Heart of
Europe". Icelandair is offering fly-
drive packages starting at $656
throughout May and from $756 from
June 1 to Sept. 15, return fare.
Luxembourg is an ideal base point
for excursions into France, West Ger-
many, and Belgium.
dividually with an expert driver and
a co-driver. Prearranged routes were
followed, first along diversion roads.
and trails, then to a back road lead-
ing across the border. Instructions
were to bottom the accelerator at thLs
point and stop for nothing, includinq
road blocks and police bullets. Well
inside the American border,
representatives of the gangster-
bootlegger syndicate quickly trans-
ferred the load and the Canadians
would return empty at a leisurely
pace, all under cover of darkness.
The excitement was tense which
Bill had found exhilarating but as the
newness wore off, it tended to be-
come routine and that is when the
syndicate introduced drivers to the
use of a drug known as heroin.
Bill was a bright and well-meaning
person. The occupation began to
bother him and besides he knew
heroin was habit-forming offering a
dismal future. There was ample evi-
dence of human derelicts, by way of
former booze runners at border
crossings. He realized there was only
one thing to do — get out while there
was still hope for recovery. It was his
decision to return to the old
hometown. There he met Chris, a
cousin who suggested they go stur-
geon poaching. Bill had welcomed
the opportunity to retreat into the
wilderness along the banks of the
Poplar River. The agony of drug
withdrawal had passed and he felt
better. He was determined to follow
his trade of auto mechanics and even-
tually have his own garage.
His thoughts were interrupted as
the black clouds of a fast approach-
ing storm lay ahead. There was no al-
ternative, they would have to ride out
the storm. The squall came on with
high winds, the lake surface began to
become rough with waves forming,
which rocked the canoe as if it were
a cork bobbing up and down.
Chris expertly guided the canoe
into the waves at an angle, to ease the
motion. He cut the speed to where he
could maintain direction and there-
by ride out the storm.
They were forced to jettison the
sturgeon and eventually all their sup-
plies including personal belongings.
The bear cubs they kept. Bill was de-
termined that the bear cubs would
never be sacrificed, and if their end
came he would be with them.
Like humans generally do who face
danger, Bill's thoughts were directed
towards God. This surprised him for
he had never given the Almighty a
place in his life, but then he had
never before faced a crisis with some-
one for whom he had such a close
feeling as Chris, and furthermore he
felt for the two innocent cubs they
had snatched from nature. He want-
ed to call upon God but words failed
him, for he haid ignored his uncle's
plea to attend church and Sunday
School. He grew up without a mother
and had a father who failed him.
As he furiously bailed the canoe
with a large tin can, he would glance
back at Chris, who frequently looked
up and moved his lips. Bill felt bet-
ter, perhaps Chris was asking the
Almighty to come to their rescue.
The storm abated, they made Ge-
orges Island to the surprise of every-
one. Bill was convinced that Chris
had reached God in the storm.
Bill acquired his garage and be-
came a pillar in his church. The cubs
grew up in a zoo, relishing the
peanuts and popcorn cast to them by
the public.
The Canada Iceland Foundation
announces the following scholarships:
Emilia Palmason Student Aid Fund
Two awards of $500 each to be given annually. The recipients
must be of good moral character, Icelandic descent, college
calibre and primarily in need of help to continue their studies
in high school, college or at the University level. They are
asked to sign a pledge that ''somewhere along the highway
of life" they will try to provide comparable help to another
needy student. Closing date for applications June 30th.
Please contact:
Valdine Johnson
735 Home St., Winnipeg, Man R3E 2C5
Telephone 774-5185
TAYLOR \
McCAFFREY CHAPMAN
Barristers & Solicitors Winnipeg phone 949-1312
4th Floor - 386 Broadway Gimli phone 642-7955
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3R6 23 Stitt St., Winnipeg Beach phone 389-2999
Mr. David King attends in Gimli and Riverton on the first and third Friday of each month and Mr. David Marshall in Winnipeg Beach in the afternoon on the second and fourth Friday of each month.
Office hours are held in Gimli at 3rd Avenue and Centre Street between the hours of 9:30 a.m. -
12:00 noon and 4 - 5 p.ra.
In Riverton, Mr. King attends at the Riverton Village office between the hours of 1:30 and 3 p.m. Office hours are held at Winnlpeg Beach between 2 and 4 p.m. in the Winnipeg Beach office of Gimli
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