Article XIV written by Alexander Gunn was published in the
Northern Ensign 30 June, 1881 - Part D
Ferrymen
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The Highland Ferryman by William Dyce (1806 – 1864 )
https://commons.wikimedia.org
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“I wonder whether the ferrymen I once crossed over with
were lineal descendants of these murderers; for when about halfway across, one
of them took up a heavy piece of wood which lay in the boat, and without the least
provocation, or any previous warning, threatened to break the heads of all the
passengers, four in number. It was not a very safe place to begin a fight, and
while the four of us could have easily overcome the two of them, we rather
preferred peaceable means, which was not at all appreciated by the wild
ferryman, who brought down his formidable bludgeon into rather uncomfortable
proximity to our heads."
"What mania seized the fellow that caused him to act in
this way, and his companion acquiesced in all he did, we could not divine. They
did not appear to be drunk, or, as far as we could see, under the influence of
liquor; and whether they expected to exhort money from us as a ransom for our
lives, or not, I cannot tell; but one thing is certain, if that idea entered
their calculations, they were sadly disappointed. We might, and would have
defended ourselves to the very last, had any of our number been actually
assaulted; but, while the aspect of affairs looked truly serious, there were no
blows given."
"Ferry-men, as a rule, were (I do not say are, for it is now about
forty years since I crossed these ferries) a very rude, illiterate and wicked
class of men; but I have no doubt, and would fain hope at least, that the
present men are much improved.”
A Native of Badea - To be continued.
My Comments:
To close this article Alexander Gunn indignantly relates
a bad experience he once had with a couple of ferrymen. Ferrymen were the
backbone of travel in the Highlands for hundreds of years and it doesn’t take
much imagination to conclude that the life of a ferryman was often miserably
cold and wet, as well as being constantly at the mercy of wind and tides. It’s
no wonder that some took to warming themselves with whisky. While there are
probably hundreds of stories of bad-tempered and drunk ferry-men I rather like
Dyce’s portrait of a Highland Ferryman, who has his bottle sure enough, but
looks trustworthy and calm.
Back to the Miekle Ferry disaster - these two pictures
made me reflect.
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A postcard showing
travellers at Kyle of Lochalsh waiting to cross over to Skye. The photograph
was taken by George Washington Wilson c1880s. The caravan on the ferry is a
good reminder that ferry-men often took heavy and awkward loads – including animals.
No doubt with great risk to all on board.
Source: Am Baile Facebook
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A crowd of people wait on
the jetty at Kyle of Lochalsh to catch the ferry over to Kyleakin while the
paddle steamer ‘Fusilier’ heads to Broadford. 1930s. I counted approximately thirty people in the
line-up. It is amazing to think that more than 3 times as many people crammed
on what was just a large rowing boat making it so low in the water it took on water and capsized. Source: Am Baile Facebook
I have done some cut and paste with the above
picture to show about 120 people all waiting to clamber on the one boat!
Sheriff McCulloch entreated the people not to overcrowd the boat but they would
not listen. Pity he didn't disembark himself.
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