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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-01-05, Page 12leisure, featur Serving over 25,000 homes in Listowel Wingham. Mount Forest, Milverton, Elmira, Palmerston, Harriston, Brussels, Atwood. Monkton, Millbank, Newton, Clifford, Wallenstein, Drayton, Moorefield and Artilur. Wednesday, January 5, 1983 sisisommumainiiiimmaa Adrift on the Waves: An old folk story by John H. Martens One dark November evening during the early Middle Ages, many long centuries ago, a terrible gale arose over the northern Atlantic Ocean. It blew with tremendous force from the northwest, increasing iin strength by the hour, and its fury lashed the waters of the sea into towering waves. Before its mighty breath the mountainous .billows rolled to the south in an endless, tumultuous succession of crashing waves, cascading down into the deep, watery val- leys between the onrushing crests. It was a full moon and high tide and now and then the shadows of cloud fragments obscured the wan moon. High the water was piling up against the east coast of England and the opposite coast of Holland protected by sandy dunes. For here, in the funnel -shaped basin of the North Sea, the waters accumulated and rose to an unprecedented height. Powerful waves hammered for hours against the unbroken dune ,ridge, stretching from north to south along the coast of Holland and Zeeland. Ever higher the waters rose till they almost reached the summits of the sand dunes. And from the northwest the shrieking gale hurled the breakers against the shore. A few bold souls had ventured to the top of the dunes, but the howling wind and the roar of the pounding waves at their feet made conversation almost impossible. Flying spume and a driving rain lashed their faces as the few -spectators stared with alarm to- wards the west, whence from a dark void without starlight the wind and tremendous waves assaulted the land. FISHERMAN'S FAMILY Among the hardy souls who had climbed the highest dune were Fulco and his wife Bertha. They lived in a little cottage in the lee of the dunes. Where, exactly, their house stood is im- possible to say now. And we don't know how long they had lived in their modest home close to the sea before we meet them on this stormy evening. All we know is that they had, a family of two little girls and an infant boy. Fulco was a fisherman. Half a mile to the south of his home. the lower course of a branch of the Rhine flowed to the west on its way toward the North Sea.._ The river yielded an abundance of fish and Fulco sold much of his catch to the burghers of the nearby town of 's Gravenhage (Den Haag — The Hague) only a few miles to the north, where the counts of Holland had re- cently built a handsome hunting lodge. The town of 's Gravenhage was becoming a focus not only for people of high birth who, in one way or another, were connected with the court of ate counts of Holland. It had also recently seen a great influx of traders and vendors of all- kinds of necessities of daily life. Tomorrow' Fulco planned to sell his catch of the last few days in town. He had been lucky enough on occasion to catch and sell some large salmon, still rather plentiful • in Holland's as yet unpolluted rivers, to the head of provisions of the count's residence. SALMON TO SELL Maybe tomorrow he would be lucky again, • he had mused during the day before the storm and he had carefully inspected the fish in their traps in the little creek beside his cottage. But now, standing on the highest dune, Fulco's heart was sinking and his wife's grip on his arm told of a great alarm rising in her soul. A few moments ago they had left their little dwelling to have a look at the choppy sea. Their two little daughters were sleep- ing, despite the tumult of nature and in his cradle their youngest was contentedly play ing with his little toes. After his mother had tucked him in once more, his parents had climbed the path to the top of the dune not many steps from their home. They would soon be back. The great black cat with his white -tipped tail had not followed them out- side. This was somewhat unusual, for, in- variably, every evening the animal slipped trout of the door. It preferred to spend the night in the dune hollows where excitement waited and young rabbits abounded. But now it had hung back as if sensing an invisi- ble menace. FURY OF THE SEA When Fulco's eyes and those of his wife had adjusted to the darkness neither one of them could utter a word at the sight of the boiling and foaming cauldron before them and only a foot or two below the spot on which they were standing. Were they living in a real world? Were their eyes fooling them or was it just imagination that on both sides of them 'the rising sea was now creeping over the top of the dunes, first in a trickle, then ever faster, rising in a steady crescendo of fury and tumult of wind and waves? For only a moment or two the young par- ents had time to reflect on the awful propor- tions of the natural calamity they were wit- -nessing around them. Realizing the deadly danger surrounding them on all sides they dashed down the landward side; only to be overtaken by the torrents of water pouring through the ever -widening breaches in . the coastal barrier. Desperately they struggled to teach their little cottage where their children huddled together, but their effort was in vain. • - Abruptlythe dune ridge collapsed under the onslaught of the merciless waves. Tons of sand were swept inland, scattering and burying everything in their path. Within sight of their little dwelling Fulco and his wife were swept off their feet, their despair- ing cries borne away on the wings of the storm. In the darkness the roar of the invad- _ ing sea was like the triumphant and mock- ing voice of a cruel and inhuman tyrant, HOME SWEPT AWAY A huge wabe rushing in through the breach lifted the dwelling with its unfort- unate little occupants like a feather from its hallow,_foundations and rolled it over many times: The tidal wave carried the little dwelling - some distance inland like a miniature ark, before it disintegrated; only a few boards, a tiny bed half submerged, a few miserable pieces of clothing, a wooden spoon arid some pathetic children's toys littered the watery scene where a once -happy home had metits doom in the dark. . • No father's or mother's voice called for their youngsters inthe darkness. Their cries were choked beneath the sand and of their children there remained no vestige. Floating in the water were the bodies of those who perished in the flood. There were many of them. The gloom kept its secret till the morning. Only a few lucky ones escaped as by some miracle. The morning after the flood dawned in an eerie quiet and stillness. Only a gentle wind stirred the surface of anenormous inland sea behind the breached line of the dunes covering large tracts of Holland's country- side. A clear, - deep blue sky allowed an extensive view over the flooded land toward the east. Only here and there a' high tree reached above the water. In the branches stuck clumps of hay or straw, chunks of sod or more often, dead cattle. SURVIVOR FOUND During the first day after the big flood it was reported to the count of Holland, resid- ing on higher ground in the Hague, that in "Realizing the deadly danger surrounding them on all sides,.-- they •dashed toward the landward side, only to be overtaken by the torrents of water pouring through the ever widening breaches in the coastal barrier. the course of rescue operations a shivering fisherman had been plucked from a high tree. The man apparently had maddened by his ordeal and kept • mumbling an incoherent • story. He spoke of a cradle and of the crying voice of a baby and, strangest of all, of what had seemed to him like two fiery ' coals, which had glowed at him from nearby while he was perched in the tree. He kept babbling disjointly about some- thing that had floated by and he swore it'was a crying child's voice that had reached his ear. As for the two fiery coals, luminous in the dark, he had no doubt that the Evil One was staring at him and he crossed himself time and again_..when recounting his strange This picture takers of Les Wright in 1945 shows Mr. Wright with his "favorite0e show team, Vollette and Lady Lee. experience. Indeed everyone listening could only agree that the forces of evil and destruction seemed to have the upper hand in this catas- trophe. But they pitied the poor fellow who apparently was totally mixed up- by his terrible ordeal. Yet no one was wholly sure that some evil or fiendish ghost had not frightened the man in the tree. Those were superstitious times, when people still believed in weird appear- ances and terrifying encounters with ghosts and their helpers. A week passed, and over the inundated land reigned a strange quiet. Through the mists rising at nightfall from the stagnant water invisible birds winged their way to find rest and it seemed as if human life and the voice of man had forever deserted 'the' desolate landscape. Far away to the east, some 60 miles in- land, a strong manmade dike had resisted the onslaught of the flood waters. Behind this dike life went on as usual. Here pastoral scenes spoke of life atits sweetest and the people living here deemed themselves very lucky to have escaped the fury of the ele- ments. After one long and dark night the sun rose slowly, again, revealing stark scenes of destruction toward the west. 1t was still early when, through the ground mists, a considerable company of horse -mounted men could be seen approaching along the 4 summit of the dike. ° a COUNT ARRIVES In front rode mighty Count Williarn, ruler of Holland, followed by a retinue of nobles and court dignitaries. All were mounted on well-groomed horses. Beside and half a length behind the count rode his most trusted aide. It was becoming lighter now and a brightening sun revealed masses of debris and a pathetic toll of human life floating towards the dike. No sign of life could be detected. Suddenly the count halted his steed and his mailed hand pointed over the water to- ward the west. He jumped from his horse, handing the reins to his astonished attend- ant. Hurrying to the foot of the dike, the Count of Holland saw to his amazement how, amid other debris, a floating object was gently coursing toward the foot of the dike as if steered by an invisible hand. It came closer and it seemed to have a rounded sur-. .., face or top like a cradle and, wonder of wonders, a great black cat was balancing it- self on top of the strange water -borne vehi- cle. One moment the whole thing was listing to one side then again to the other side.and it seemed in imminent danger of being sub- merged. The black cat, however, by deft move- ments and repeatedly shifting its body weight, managed without fail to restore the equilibrium of the frail vessel. Dumbstruck, the count watched its ap- proach toward the foot of the dike where his retainers had now joined him. LIFE ON THE WATERS Suddenly from inside what unmistakably looked like a crib or cradle used by mothers to shelter their infant children, there came a stifled cry. It was a plaintive cry, but also one speak- ing of impatience and boredom. Two or three courtiers waded toward the listing little boat and even the Count of Holland stepped out into the water but was held back by his followers. The floating cradle was dragged ashore and inside a little baby boy was found miraculously still full of life after his ordeal - and hungrily ciutchhig.at•the.saving=mot— his mot ahis rescuers. - ADOPTED BY COUNT Times Were rough in the Middle Ages, but the foundling whohad floated ashore be- came the adopted son of Holland's count and i stole the hearts and affections of everyone. He still sets the imagination afire. At the spot where he and his companion, the cat, made landfall rose in later days a town name Kinderdyk (in English: child- ren's dike) . The little foundling' grew up to be a man and soldier of renown and knew all the honors of an exalted position. However he would have given his sword arm to know his father and mother and of little sisters he had no inkling. He only knew of strong bonds between himself and the black cat which had saved him during the uncertain voyage over a treacherous inland sea. Often his hand stroked the soft fur of his erstwhile tra- vel.companion. He wished that his eyes, like those of the black cat, had seen his parents' home; but of course the cat could not tell him of the•days of yore when life had passed so peacefully under the roof of Fulco and his little family's dwelling. - Yet in the narrowed eyes of the cat lurked a deep mystery and also a lasting expres- sion of affection for William of Holland's adopted son. Only in moments of danger or fear, or when vehement windstorms were raging over Holland or when the thunder crashed' were the cat's eyes again like coals of fire and Full of alarm. Les Wright just loves horses Was Dorking blacksmith for 50 years Horses have always played an important part in Les Wright's life — he was the village blacksmith in Dorking for 50 years, he showed horses and he raced them. In fact, he owned horses until three years ago when he was already past 80 years of age. Mr. Wright probably feels about horses the way some feel about their cars. "I like a car for transportation but I'm not interested in the car It's a different story when it comes to horses. elle saw horses as a form of entertainment "It's a good hobby." And he was able to see potential in a horse. no matter where it came from. "I brought one of the best horses owned off a farmer's milk wagon." Ile showed and raced standard bred horses. His 15 year racing career ended early. however. when a horse reared up and came hack on him crushing the vertebrae in his hack. romhiIle learned the blacksmithing trade from- his s father on the family homestead in Tra lee. His brother also learned the trade and 11r. Wright moved to Dorking in 1918 when. he was 19 years old to open a shop there. He built his hotpe in Dorking in 1926. At his busiest, Mr. Wright had between 8i1 and 90 regular customers. "1 used to work all day and dance all night." he jokes. "1 could turn make his own) shoes and I used to put on -60 shoes a day. ' To turn a shoe he would take three -eights square iron and turn it into the shape of a shoe. "They don't do that now — they buy them." He charged 15 cents a shoe when he started and $1 for four new ones. Now it is about p5 for four shoes. There was no authorized training then but the wholesale houses. where the blacksmith got his iron, would give a prize for anyone who apprent- iced for three years Mr. Wright received a hammer. apron and shoeing outfit from one of the wholesalers. "At one time farmers wouldn't allow you to put a shoe on unless you had your apprenticeship " When Mr. Wright left the Dorking area and hlacksmithing in 1969 no one took over the business. Demand tor a blacksmith had decreased hut, at one bene almost every small village. such as liesson, ('arthage, Millbank and Glen Allen had a blacksmith. During the later years of hlacksmithing. Mr. Wright worked from his farm Mr W right had showed horses for years bun \tient into racing on a dare Someone said he had proven he could show horses but could he race them? He says he might have gone into racing years earlier than he did but there weren't many tracks. and when the trucks for trans- porting horses ca me out they travelled more often and further. When he wasn't showing, racing or shoe- ing horses he used to sell farm implements for Massey Harris, repair farn'l equipment and to make money when things were slow he would work for a farmer threshing for $1 a day. He was also secretary of the Dorking School for over 30 years until it closed. It was an accident at the Goderich race- track that ended Mr. Wright's racing career hut he says he quit too early. A mare that he sold. Misty Grand. made $92,000 in a Sire Stakes. Today Mr. Wright lives alone and man- ages his own life. He has two daughters, one of whom he boasts, "Lorraine was one of the hest drivers that picked up reins!" lie has trophies from shows and,races that fill his home and memories that fill his heart but Mr. Wright doesn't live in the past. Al- though nfw convalescing from a broken hip he remains cheerful. alert and he has an excellent memory for names and people.