Notes and sketch from interview by
Ric Gillespie with Hubert McGrath
17 September 1992
Transcription:

Patrick’s Cove

  • Mid-1800s Settled by McGraths
  • 1928 — no planes
  • Men would go into the country after caribou
  • Short cut across pond, island in pond
  • 1928 A lot [of] pieces of metal sticking up through ice.
  • Patrick Judge, of Gooseberry Cover, brought [a] hacksaw. Cut off piece. Gave to Derrick McGillvary to take to England for analysis.
  • As a boy, Hubert always heard about the plane in the pond. Hunted with Charlie McCarthy.
  • Hubert bought [a] Bombardier in 1971. First piece of machinery back in the country.

1971

  • McC[arthy], cousin Patrick McGraw, and Hubert went to pond in summer. Pond very shallow, sounded with six [foot] oars and never covered his wrist.
  • McC[arthy] snorkeling, found band-strap 2″ wide. Put it in cardboard box from new snorkel and mask. Brought it to parish. Then left town and priesthood. Lady moving his things [threw] it out.

Fall of 1973

  • “Up Canada” Rob Parker and Rex Murphy, national show on CBC. Hubert knew Rex from hunting. Came to see Hubert, pitched story. Hired Helicopter and took Doug Frazier pioneer aviator). Looked at pond. Talked to Patrick Judge. Rob Parker went [to] England and found the plant where McGillvary had taken the piece of metal.
  • Abortive attempt to do further work shortly after.
  • Aff[i]davit in Placentia court house from lighthouse keeper Conway, Cape St. Mary’s.

Anthony McGrath, 79, was one of the men to go into the back country.

Patsy Judge lived with James Doyle. Hubert doesn’t believe ... [no end on sentence]

Stories Hubert heard as a boy did not connect “The Plane in the Pond” to Nungesser & Coli, but did attach to 1928.

Big rocky bottom, rocks the size of tv set covered with 2 or 3″ of slime, easily disturbed. McCarthy spent 4 or 5 days looking at the bottom. Concentric circles around island.

Tracking down Rob Parker. Best to go through CBC.

Heard that metal was blue.

Best time, school closing in June. 20°C daytime, 15°C night.

Image:


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