Fireship of Baie des Chaleurs
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The Baie Chaleur Fireship is a form of ghost light, an unusual visual phenomenon, occasionally seen in Quebec's Chaleur Bay. It takes the form of an arc of light, usually seen before a storm. Its cause is unknown, but speculation includes rotting vegetation, undersea releases of natural gas, and St. Elmo's Fire.
The phenomenon has been the source of many a tall tale.
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[edit] Norwegian recounts a Portuguese captain selling "indians"
In this version of fireship tale, a Portuguese captain arrived on the shores Heron Island in Baie des Chaleurs in 1501, upon his second trip to the region to capture more natives for the slave trade, he was tortured and killed by the locals who had bitter memories of his first visit. A year later his brother came looking for him and was also attacked by the locals, their ship caught fire and they jumped into the waters and swore to haunt the bay for 1000 years.[1]
[edit] 85 y/o woman recounts a pirate killing near Port Daniel
This Restigouche lady's version tells of a group of pirates who killed a woman whose dying words to cast a curse upon them that For as long as the world is, may you burn on the bay[1].
[edit] 101 y/o man recounts a sailor murdered aboard
Sailors aboard a ship heading to sea in bad weather feared they would die and blamed their bad luck on of their own whom they murdered. When the ship caught fire, it was told that it was catholic blood reaping it vengeance.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c http://lerecueil.tripod.com/le_vaisseau_de_feu_de_la_baie_de.htm (French)Fireship of Baie des Chaleurs, source: Université de Moncton, Centre d'études acadiennes, Fonds Catherine-Jolicoeur, 63.011
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