Bras D'Or

Dennis Jessome
The Boy From Bras D'Or

"Cowboys and Indians"

Time at Bras D'Or Shacks was never boring. You never had time to get bored. There was always something to do. You named your own games and you made your own weapons from what you had.

Someone would holler out a game and the first thing the word got round and in minutes, there was a crowd waiting to participate.

Cowboys and Indians was one of our favourite games. You played till everyone was shot and no one left to play the game.

It was Saturday and everyone was out of school and a good time to play. We all gathered at Harvey Clarke's hill early in the morning, because we had to make some extra weapons to add to the ones we already had.

Slingshots, bows and arrows, guns and rifles made from slabs of wood we got from the pit.

We would pick who was going to be the Cowboys and who was going be the Indians. Well since Lawrence and Jude Carey, and myself, being a little darker skinned, we were told and not picked to be the Indians, along with Ligey Slade, Giggy Carey, Leonard Chisholm, Alfred Carey, Echo Carey and Danny Laffin.

The Cowboys were two for sure, Sonny Carey son of Louis Carey and Petie Laffin. They had Roy Rogers and Gene Autry Guns (metal) and holsters.

The game was going to start at 12:00 noon, and we had to be on time. This left us a few hours make the extra weapons.

Larncie and I went up to Remy Boudreau's, "Remy the Barber" and luckily there was no one there, we wanted a beaver cut.

Little beaver was around at that time; so we got the beaver cut, talk about laugh. The fellow roared their heads off when they seen us with the strip of hair going down the middle of our heads.

We went over to Old Jim Cashin's (No disrespect meant) alders, behind his house and got enough alder branches to make about twenty new arrows and five new bows.

We got alders that were about 1 1/2 inches thick and four feet long. Boy they had a good spring to them, they were nice and green and springy. You could shoot an arrow quite a distance with these new bows. The arrows were nice and straight. We didn't sharpen the ends cause it could hurt someone.

Ligey Slade and Leonard Chisholm went up to Bob Slade's Garage and made extra guns and rifles from slabs taken from the pit.

Then we went over to the Little Creek and got a few branches for the Indian whistles. Maple was the best for slingshot, crutches and whistles. We would look for some strong crutches and medium size pieces for the whistles.

After gathering up all the stuff we needed, it was time to make them. We still had a couple of hours before the game began.

Down we go to Daddy's barn (Darby Jessome). We skinned the bark off the bows and bent the bow in half a hoop and tied some of Daddy's lobster net twine on to each end. These bows had a lot of spring to them.

Then we cut the Vees in the arrows. Next we trimmed our slingshot crutches, notched the ends at the top so the rubber wouldn't come off when tightened with cap wire; we got from the pit (Mine). And got an old rubber tire tube.

We cut strips of rubber 14 inches long and an inch wide. All we needed was three slingshots. Now, was the job of getting the loading pockets for the ammunition (Little green apples from Mrs. Days apple tree (Vince Day (m.) Mary Calvey) who lived down the road from the Shacks. Everyone was kind of scared of her because they used to steal her apples and she'd holler at them.

Little did they know we were friends, as I mentioned in another story.

But getting back to the pockets for three sling shots. The tongues out of an old pit boot were the best. They were made of soft leather and very strong.

I said to Larncie Carey come on over to the back of the washhouse at the pit and see if we can find any old pit boots.

Over we go to look around, found a couple of boots but had no tongues in them. I said lets sneak in the washhouse and cut a couple of pieces out of the pit boots.

We wouldn't take the whole tongue just enough for a pocket from the top and leave enough so the miner can pull up the tongue and he wouldn't get coal in his boots, down in the mine.

We got three pieces about 1 1/2 inches long. I could hear the miners say the next day, "Darn kids, bet you they're making slingshots at the shacks again. If I get them I'll kick they're arses". Another said, "Awe, I hope they have fun they left me enough to keep the coal out, ha-ha. So they're pretty thoughtful".

It was getting close to game time and I had to go for the apples. I told Larncie take the tongues to Daddy's barn and I'm close to Mrs. Days, I'll go for the little green apples.

Larncie asked me, "You mean you're not scared of Mrs. Day Dennis".

I replied, "Ya, but if she comes, I'll run like old geeses".

I went in behind Anthony Jessomes by Wally Days (m.) Regis Jessome and low and behold: there was a green apple tree.

Saved me from going over to Mrs. Days, I got a gallon paint can full. That was lots. When I got to the barn we were all ready to go.

Lidgey and Leonard made the rifles and guns, and bows and arrows were made.

We forgot the Indian whistles. The best whistle maker was Ya-Ya Slade. He could make a whistle in a minute.

Ya-Ya came down the hill and we told him we needed some whistles. He took out his pocketknife and you should have seen him go at it.

He cut the branch 8 inches long and at one end, go an inch from the end and make a notch half way through the branch, then he would cut the bark all around the branch, half inch from the notch.

Beat the bark with the back of the knife all around where he cut the bark so it would slide off easy.

Then he'd cut 1/4 inch lengthwise to the notch put on the piece of bark he slid off the other end. And there was the whistle.

He made five in about twenty minutes and they all worked so we were ready. We still had to get dressed as Indians I got some of Mama's lipstick, some of my sister Eunice's white shoe polish, two cents worth of black candy balls (three for a cent) and we painted one another up. Had some white and red paper left over from Christmas for armbands. Our Indian whistles, bows and arrows.

They were all waiting at the top of Harvey's Hill and we headed towards the back way on John Baptist's land.

Lots of trees and good hiding places. The game got under way and all you could hear was bang you're dead. We had the arrows going and the green apples flying. It was a real war I tell you. Gotcha you Giggy, Giggy fell and got right back up.

Sonny said, "You're supposed to be dead". You only snigged me boy and then we let him have it with a green apple.

Those green apples left a welt whereever they hit you.

Sonny and Petie would sneak up on the Indians and cork us one, with the gun on the head.

Boy did it ever hurt. Larncie and I had had a few bruises I tell you.

Boy what a game. Ended up as usual, all the Indians were shot and Sonny and Petie were the only two Cowboys left.

Still had their hats on too. We were all walking home for supper and talking who shot whom and who got whacked with the green apples.

Everyone had a few welts on them. But it was just another Fun Day at the Bras D'Or Shacks.

Thanks to the Miners for their shoe tongues, without them, our slingshots wouldn't be as strong. And to all my good friends, who participated in the game. Will be in my memory forever.

Live Life To The Fullest.

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