The following story was related to Marj Ennis-Pittman by her dad, Paddy Ennis, her aunt, Angela Ennis-Abbott and a lifetime family friend, Minnie Pi1tman-Murphy

MAKE HASTE' TO THE WEDDIN

It was the night that Francis Hepditch and Mary Barnett were married. The wedding party was held on Soldier's Point at Paddy and Theresa Barnett's house, but the dance was held at Gus Hepditch‘s house across the harbour. Around 10 o'clock everyone was anxious to get to Gus‘, and as it was a long walk around the harbour, and only a short dory ride, they decided to go across in the dory. It's hard to remember who was in the dory, but she was full.

They were almost across when Ida Pomroy dropped her handkerchief in the bottom of the dory. Being pitch black, and being guided only by the lanterns in the windows, it was pretty hard to see where they were going, let alone to see a scrap of cloth among all the feet. As luck would have it, however, she found a rag and picked it up. They didn't know a thing until a great gush of water sprang up into her face. She had picked up the cloth that was around the bung! And the water began rushing madly into the dory! With water pouring in from the hole and the dory full of party-goers, they thought they were all going to drown. Someone had the presence of mind to put his foot over the hole to slow down the flow of the water, and with two men rowing furiously, and everyone screaming, they managed to make it to shore - scared but safe and sound.

It was the next day before they realized how close they had all come to drowning, but that night, undaunted by their near-death experience, they went on to Gus‘ and had a great time.