“The Cedar Grove”

Description

The "Cedar Grove" sails from London to America. She runs aground off Canso because the helmsman cannot violate discipline. The captain, two crew members, and a passenger are lost, and the ship sinks

Notes

Naval discipline dictated that the helmsman could not speak or be spoken to. Normally this was a good idea -- it prevented distractions -- but here it proved disastrous. (For a similar mix-up, see, of all things, Lewis Carroll's _The Hunting of the Snark_.)

Doerflinger considers this to be derived from "The Loss of the Albion." - RBW

Manny/Wilson: "The song is said to have been written by James A Dillon, author of the Rescue of the E A Horton." - BS

I have a note (which was included in prior editions of the Index) stating that the song is by Captain Cale Maitland. I can't find my source for this statement, so I have removed the name from the Author field, but presumably I had some reason for putting it there, so I am leaving the author unknown. - RBW

Historical references

  • Nov 20, 1882 - Wreck of the Cedar Grove off Saint Andrew's Island near Canso, Nova Scotia. She was on her way from London to Halifax

Cross references

References

  1. Laws D18, "The Cedar Grove"
  2. Doerflinger, pp. 186-187, "The Loss of the Cedar Grove" (1 text, 1 tune)
  3. Mackenzie 89, "The Cedar Grove" (1 text)
  4. Ives-NewBrunswick, pp. 136-139, "The Cedar Grove" (1 text, 1 tune)
  5. Manny/Wilson 9, "The Cedar Grove" (1 text, 1 tune)
  6. DT 687, CEDARGRV
  7. Roud #1959
  8. BI, LD18

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1928 (Mackenzie)
Keywords: sea wreck death
Found in: Canada(Mar)