Dungarvon Whooper

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The Dungarvon Whooper (pronounced "hooper") is a ghost story, immortalized in a song by Michael Whelan, about a murder in the late 19th century along the Dungarvon River in central New Brunswick, Canada.

The story revolves around a cook named Ryan, who moved to a camp along the river with all his possessions, including a money belt. He was murdered by his boss for his money, and buried by the rest of the party that night. However, a loud yelling and whooping sound kept the group from falling asleep that night. Scared, they left the camp the next morning. A priest then tried to quiet the whooper down, but it is debated whether he was successful.

The story, which was handed down to lumberers working in New Brunswick throughout the 20th century, is well-known in local culture.

[edit] Passenger Train

The name "Dungarvon Whooper" was later given to a passenger train operated by the Canada Eastern Railway running from Newcastle to Fredericton, along the Southwest Miramichi River.

It has been said that the sound of the steam locomotive whistle reminded local residents of the legend. This train operated on a line originally built by New Brunswick businessmen, Alexander Gibson and Jabez Bunting Snowball. The railway and its passenger service were absorbed into the Canadian National Railway system and the passenger train ceased operation in the early 1960s.