Many pioneers arriving at British Columbia in the late 1800's were drawn to our coast by a booming logging industry. Virgin stands of Cedar, Fir and Spruce trees were abundant and easy access to waterways allowed small independent companies a share of the market. "Gyp loggers" as these smaller operations were sometimes known as, could harvest trees along the shorelines of our coastal islands with little more than axes, cross-cut saws and block & tackle. Working in small camps with 6 - 12 men, harvesting giant trees by hand was a hard and very dangerous business.
Remote logging camps like the one on Read Island had no access to doctors or surgeons. Days passed between visits by Union Steamships and an injured logger might wait up to a week before receiving medical assistance. Many died before reaching help.
Header image: The Columbia 2
*Courtesy of the Archives of the Diocese of New Westminster
In 1903, the Union Steamship Cassiar arrived in Vancouver carrying the bodies of four loggers. Each had been seriously injured in remote camps up the rugged coast. The coastal steamer capable of only 9 knots, had taken days to reach Vancouver. For a parish Priest from the Fairview District of Vancouver named John Antle it was a call to service.
Reverend John Antle would dedicate 35 years of his life administering to the spiritual as well as medical needs of our coastal pioneers.
*Image Courtesy of the Archives of the Diocese of New Westminster
Taking a fourteen foot racing dingy he had built in his back yard and with his 9 year old son as crew, Antle sailed north from Vancouver up the Georgia Straight, through the Discovery passage to Alert Bay, stopping in at every camp and homestead in what would become a twenty thousand square mile territory of the Columbia Coast Mission.
In it's first year of operation, The Columbia Coast Mission had built a hospital, a hospital ship (The Columbia 1) and had a total staff of five. When John Antle retired in 1936 the Columbia Coast Mission consisted of three hospitals, five churches, two native missions, a hospital ship and two ambulance ships.
*Image Courtesy of the Archives of the Diocese of New Westminster
July 7, 1910 - Blessing and launching of Missionary Hospital boat, Columbia II. New Westminster, July 7th, 1910 at New Westminster Marine Ways (Dawe’s Shipyard). Mrs. John Antle did the christening (wife of the Rev. J. Antle, who was to take command of the vessel, an Anglican Mission Ship.)
*Image courtesy of the Archives of the Diocese of New Westminster
John Antle
The north Pacific coastline in the days of sail & steam
Was as inhospitable a place as ever in your dreams
Through hope or desperation came the dauntless pioneers
Seeking "the good life" in freedom's last frontier
Up the lonely channels to mills and mines they poured
To logging camps and shanties, all the hardships to endure
In loneliness and injury they suffered in much pain
Came a man of mercy, John Antle was his name
There's providence that watches over children and fools
Faith to seize the fallen, and grace to heal their wounds
If ever was a champion so selflessly disposed
Remember John Antle for he was one of those
Born in far off Newfoundland in the eighteen-sixties
Son of a captain, John joined the ministry
But his soul burned with a passion no parish could contain
"Reverend John" would stand his ground, for the sea was in his veins
With fierce determination and abiding faith, he chose
To spread his social gospel through the many scattered coves
He forged a coastal mission, built of hospitals and ships
Exemplified the virtues of a Christian fellowship
There's providence that watches over children and fools
Faith to seize the fallen, and grace to heal their wounds
If ever was a champion so selflessly disposed
Remember John Antle for he was one of those
And providence still watches over children and fools
Faith can seize the fallen, and grace can heal their wounds
If ever was a hero on which you could depend
Remember John Antle, he was such a man
Words & Music by Bruce Coughlan (SOCAN)
