Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 30 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
o o o
His Hair Rope
The following story came from George H. Wilson's column OLD TIME STUFF in the Evening Citizen, Ottawa 10 Aug. 1929
Ever head the shriek or scream of a wolverine? No? Well, Mr. R. N. Sully of Wakefield says it is the most blood-freezing experience a human being can have, especially when it is heard when not expected.
Mr. Sully says that in the year 1869, when he was only fifteen years of age, he was carting provisions for the Gilmours (the lumbering family) to the Thomusine. With his sleigh was another driven by a man.
Their road took them over a small lake, the opposite bank of which had a steep pitch. The front sleigh, driven by the man, made the grade and went ahead through a long swamp. His (Sully's) sleigh, however, got stuck on the grade and he had to make four tries before he got up the hill. By that time the advance team was far ahead.
When the entrance to the swamp was reached, night had fallen and it was quite dark.
After he had gone a piece into the swamp young Sully noticed that the whip had fallen off the load. He stopped the team and ran back to find it. About a quarter mile back he saw it by the side of the road.
He stooped to pick the whip up, when suddenly out of the darkness and quite close to him he heard the most blood-curdling screech that he ever heard. It was piercing, demoniacal, hair-raising. Every hair on his head stood up with fear. He had never heard a wolverine before and didn't know then that it was a wolverine that had made the noise.
He stepped hurriedly to the other side of the road. Then from the opposite side came another wild screech. Dropping the whip, he ran like mad for the team and threw himself on to the load.
Mr. Sully says he does not know why the wolverines did not attack him. If they had, he would not be owning a sawmill in * Wakefield today.
* This is likely the sawmill later owned by J.A.B. Sully.