During the spring of 2023, the Gibson posts of the Tasglann blog will mark the centenaries of the sailings of the SS Marloch from Lochboisdale on 15th April 1923 and the SS Metagama from Stornoway on 21st April 1923. Several hundred young islanders, seeking broader prospects, emigrated to Canada in these sailings, in the wake of the HMY Iolaire disaster of 1919, and subsequent economic hardships. We will skip ahead in our publication schedule to reproduce accounts from 1923 which touch upon these significant events. In this week’s letter, Mrs Gibson thinks that two girls who have sought emigration testimonials are young to be considering such a venture; she also hopes that a new teacher can turn his life around. The next in our series of letters from the W.J. Gibson collection held by Museum nan Eilean. Please get in touch if you have any comments: archives@cne-siar.gov.uk
Dear Sheann,
We got your nice long Sunday letter and enjoyed hearing about your delightful walk to Ednam. It is all very different from what we have here and so all the more interesting to us. This has been a week of continuous storm but in spite of it the mailboat has not failed us. It seems Capt. Cameron was away for a time. Mary had had a motor accident in Edinburgh and had been so badly hurt that he had to go to her. She is now recovering. We have not heard how it happened.
The house just now is ordorous [sic] with a hare jugging in the kitchen. My friend from the darkness came knocking at the door last night and I got a very nice white one for 2/-. When Katinka saw it she said “These are the beasts that sit up on their hind legs to look at you on the moor.”
Papa is busy at exam. papers with a view to marks for the L.C. exam.s. He says you surely are very well ahead.
Two girls aged about 16 have just been in asking for Testimonials. They are going to Canada in April. A ship is to come to Sy. for about 400 young men and women. It makes it attractive to them to be picked up here. These lassies struck me as young, young to be starting life on their own. An agent from the Canadian Govt. is here picking them up.
Many thanks for the “Manchester Guardians” but where is “The wash”? It makes me feel that you are wearing your clothes far too long, but I try to hope it is not so.
The former rector of Wick High School – Mr. Sutherland, who lost his place over a year ago for the usual reason – drink – is coming here as assistant to Mr. John Macrae in Maths. He has a wife who is teaching a little School which the Caithness Authority gave her out of pity and he also has a son a student in Edin either in Fettes or the university. Isn’t it a very sad case? Of course it is horrid to have him come here but it is tragic to think of him never getting another chance. If only he keeps all right he will get every chance here to do better. May it be so!
I enclose all the bills that have come to hand since I wrote last. I see you have paid one. Continuez!
I have now exchanged my skunk goat for a skunk. It is a bit scrimp but it will do. £5.19.6. The price you notice is quite ample.
Love to the Sheann from her parients, especially her Ma.
P.S. On looking at the bills I see they are all paid so no call for my nasty knocks. Honesty will out!
(Italicised text written in left margin)
Ref: 1992.50.64vii/L28
Transcribed by Dawn MacDonald, Archives Collections Assistant
