Castaways offered shelter at Seal Island

BY CARLA ALLEN

The Coast Guard

NovaNewsNow.com

“It was just supposed to be a day trip,” said Susan Quinlan of their recent stranding on Seal Island.

She and 12 others left Pubnico aboard the Amanda & Allison for an Aug. 18 excursion to the remote island, the last in the Tusket Island chain. The island is a seasonal home for fishermen and descendents of those who have century-old ties.

It was the first boat trip for most on board, including Quinlan. Michael Adams skippered the vessel.

The passage was a little choppy but not overly so and the passengers disembarked on the island with no problems.

As they made their way eastward towards Sand Cove they heard thunder and were subject to what they thought was a passing shower.

“By the time we got to the church it was blowing and just pouring. The wind was blowing so much that Michael said they had to go back and check the boat,” said Quinlan.

The men discovered the bowlines had snapped off. The stern lines were lost directly after the men boarded the boat. The vessel broke free of the wharf and the crew started the engine to take her offshore to wait for the storm to pass.

The women and children were left on shore. Quinlan says she remembers the rain feeling like hail on their faces and the children, five of them all under the age of 10, scared and crying.

“We were drenched. Just soaked,” she said.

It was then that two female residents of the island, ‘Nancy and Felicia’ came to their rescue.

“They called us into their cabin. It was so warm. They gave us clothes and told us anything we wanted, we could have. They opened up one of the cabins next door (Jeffrey Atkinson’s) and everyone fed us. Half the night people were bringing food - we actually had to turn food away – fish chowder, turkey soup, bread, milk, kraft dinner. They were awesome people,” said Quinlan.

Seal Island residents Teddy and Trudy Newell kept in touch with the boat for the castaways via CB radio and a man called ‘Stephen’ drove them to the church service the next day in a cart behind his four-wheeler.

“After church they took us down to the lighthouse. Then we went back to the cabins and waited for the boat.

“They are the most wonderful people. I honestly didn’t think that people like that existed anymore,” said Quinlan.

She says the experience of being stranded on the island ended up being a wonderful one and is open to a return trip.

“I’d go again in a heartbeat,” she said.