PAD HOULIHAN:

Pad was a skipper who in his younger years skippered boats for Mike Hann of Petite Forte and Bill Hynes of Tax Beach. He was in the “Christy M." out of Petite Forte at the time of the August Gale. Pad was a very successful skipper, well respected and sought after by boat owners in Placentia Bay. One time after the fish had been unloaded from his boat, Bill Hynes, the owner, brought down the bag of money and put it in front of Pad and said. "Now Pad, you pay off the men and pay me off.” This was a very unusual move for a merchant, but when Pad hesitated, Hynes said. "You did the work and you got the fish. Now you pay the men and me too." This was a tribute to the status the man held in the eyes of his employers.

Jimmy and the Officer (Ye Tender Hearted Christians)

(This song was sung by Bill Wilson, Joe Casey / Dick Ennis)

Ye tender hearted Christians l pray ye lend an ear
To this melancholy story it's quickly ye will hear
It's of an old age couple who reared one only son
He'll be shot for his desertion when the battle it is won.

He was proper, tall and handsome, complexions they were fair
His eyes were of the sparkling bright and dark brown was his hair
And as he gazed upon the crowd he hove a heavy sigh
In the honour of my country I am not afraid to die.

He was scarce six weeks enlisted upon the battle field
When a letter came addressed in his name and deep black was its seal
Quickly he tore it open and there before his eyes
Come back! Come back! dear Jimmy once more before I die.

Now it's hard to heed the dying words of a tender mother dear
Before the sun do set again to her bedside I'll steer
She will press me to her aching heart, kiss me with many a joy
Saying God restored you back again my own dear soldier boy.

They scarce had time to press again when a heavy knock was heard
The door he quickly opened and an officer stood there
Saying be gone you cowardly rascal from the battle field you've run
You'll be shot for your desertion when the battle it is won.

Now turning around from her bedside taking care of what to say
You see my dying mother on her dying deathbed lay
You may shoot me where I'm standing by her bedside I'll stay
Until she do recover or go down in the clay.

But the officer surrounded him and took him straight away
They took him to a jail house where many a hero lay
They took him to a jail house where many had been before
And it's for his lender mother I'm afraid he'll see no more.

Now the officer that took him there he swore away his life
For he thinks he'll gain Mary who has promised to be his wife
He thinks that he'll enjoy her when he is dead and gone
But to her Jimmy she'll prove true, more truer than the sun.

Now when Mary she heard of the news to the officer she did go
Saying you're the breaking of my heart you're the cause of all my woe
It was you who shot my Jimmy for me to be your bride
And she fired and shot the officer and he fell dead by her side.