- TRANSCRIBED FROM ‘The Grosse-Isle Tragedy and the Monument to the Irish fever victims, 1847’ (1909, J.A Jordan, Telegraph Printing. Co. Quebec) Some details differ from other accounts.
“BESIDES the national monument at Grosse Isle, the only other mile-stone on the shores of the St. Lawrence, marking the flight of the Irish famine-sufferers, as well as one of the saddest and most tragic incidents of 1847, is to be found at Cap-des-Rosiers, on the coast of Gaspe.
God was more merciful to the 187 emigrants from the County Sligo, who had taken passage for Canada on the ship “Carricks of Whitehaven”.
Death came to them swiftly and they were at least spared much of the terrible suffering and the hideous agony of the last hours of their unhappy kindred at Grosse Isle.
In a blinding snowstorm, which swept the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the 23rd May, 1847, the “Carrick” ran in the middle of the night upon the rocks at Cape des Rosiers and was dashed to pieces.
Out of the 187 emigrants on board, scarcely half a dozen were saved, all the others perishing.
One of the survivors, a Mrs. Fingleton, still resides in Montreal. At the time of the sad event, she was a young girl, coming to this country with her father, mother and several other children. The father and two of the children were drowned.
The few rescued from the wreck were well cared for by the good people of the coast. One of the good Samaritans of the occasion was Rev. Father Dowling of Douglastown, who happened to arrive on the spot the next morning and who found one of the victims in a most pitiable condition.
His feet were lacerated and bleeding from cuts by the rocks. The good Irish priest, taking the shoes from his own feet, put them on the poor man and, walking barefooted himself, led him to a place of refuge.
Eighty-seven bodies of the unfortunate victims of the wreck were washed ashore and received Christian burial on the beach from the good clergy and people of the locality.
For fifty-three years, however, their last resting place remained unmarked until the beginning of the present decade, when their sad fate was pressed upon the attention of the late Rev. Father Quinlivan, the beloved pastor of St. Patrick’s, Montreal, by Messrs. J. A. Whelan, postmaster of Cap des Rosiers, Henry Bond, Pierre Guevremont and Eugene Costin, of the same place, with the result that, through his patriotic initiative, a few spirited Irishmen in Montreal contributed and raised the necessary amount to place a suitable monument over their graves.
On Sunday, the 10th August, 1900, this monument, which is of red granite and artistic design and which bears suitable inscriptions, was solemnly unveiled and dedicated in the presence of a large gathering of the population of Cap des Rosiers and the different other parishes along the coast, many hundreds of whom from Gaspe Basin, Douglastown and other points were, through the kindness of the present Government at Ottawa, conveyed to the scene, free of charge, on the Government steamer ” Aberdeen”.
The dedication ceremony was most imposing. The officers of the Marine Department had loaned their flags and a solid platform had been erected and decorated with the green harp of Old Ireland and the flags of all nations.
Trees had ben cut from the adjoining mountains,flowers gathered from the neighborhood, garlands strung together by deft fingers, and the monument, draped in artistic fashion, was covered with things of beauty. Captain George D. O’Farrell, of Quebec, Government lighthouse inspector, was the moving spirit in all this good work and His Honor Judge Curran had come down specially from Montreal, delegated by Father Quinlivan, and the subscribers of the monument fund, to preside at the unveiling, of which the following account was published by the Montreal True Witness in its then next issue : “At half-past four on Sunday afternoon all was in readiness.
The “Aberdeen” had brought her hundreds from Gaspe Basin, the people from the neighboring parishes had poured in, driven by their hard-pushed horses.
The Cure, Rev. W. Landry, accompanied by Revds. Trois-maisons and Morris, had marched from the church down the hill, headed by the cross and accompanied by thirty choir boys, all dressed in immaculately white surplices, to the platform.
Twenty marines from the “Aberdeen” were ranged immediately alongside of the choir boys.
On the platform the Mayor, Mr. Anthony Foley, occupied the chair. On his right was Hon. Mr. Justice Curran, and about twenty seats were occupied by ladies and gentlemen.
Now the scene was complete, but its impressiveness was heightened when the gathering, comprising not less than 800 persons, suddenly became silent as Father Landry pronounced the benediction upon the monumental pile.
Judge Curran pulled the string, and the flag surrounding the pillar fell amidst the plaintive chant of the “De Profundis,” and the “Miserere.”
Then the religious ceremony being over, the Mayor Mr. Foley, said a few words, and introduced Father Landry, who made an eloquent address, and then introduced Mr. Justice Curran. All are agreed that the Judge’s speech was worthy of the occasion. He spoke of the Irish race, of its glorious as well as of its tragic history.
Having sketched the memorable periods, in language vivid and touching, he spoke of the events of the nineteenth century Catholic emancipation, the work of the great liberator O’Connell, the labors of Father Matthew and other events, calculated to inspire hope for Ireland’s future, when the famine of 1847, “black ’47,” as it has been appropriately called, with all its attendant horrors, stalked through the land.
Many wept as the speaker dwelt upon the harrowing scenes of which the wreck of the “Carrick” was but a minor detail.
Then addressing himself to the proceedings of the day and to the noble inspiration of the Rev. Father Quinlivan, he closed with a peroration, that will long be remembered.
The learned Judge was followed by Mr. Pierre Guevremont, a worthy French-Canadian, who first brought the circumstances under the notice of Father Quinlivan.
The next speaker was Captain George D. O’Farrell, whose remarks were well received. He said other monuments, more pretentious, had been spoken of, but this one was an accomplished fact. He hoped it would act as a spur.
To Father Quinlivan too much thanks could not be given, as well as to Mr. Guevremont, whilst the people would not forget the honor done them by the delegation of so distinguished a representation, to speak on behalf of St. Patrick’s parish of Montreal.
After Captain O’Farrell’s speech, Miss Costin came to the platform, bearing an exquisite bouquet of flowers, which she presented to Mr. Justice Curran, after having read an address of welcome.
In his reply, the Judge took occasion to express the warm thanks to all concerned to the Hon. Mr. Bernier, Minister of Inland Revenue and then read a beautiful letter from Mr. Rodolphe Lemieux, M.P., for Gaspe County, containing words of sympathy, and a handsome subscription towards defraying expenses.
Mr. Lemieux’s letter was loudly applauded. This ended the ceremonies of the erection of the monument, to the Cape des Rosiers victims, fifty-three years after the sad disaster.
It is another evidence of the enduring patriotism of the Irish people. Father Quinlivan’s name is cut in the granite of the monument, but it is not less permanently imprinted upon the hearts of a grateful people.”
