A Rescuer’s Account

Catherine Brophy: My full name, Catherine Brophy now. I was Catherine Quinlan before, before I married. My name is Catherine Brophy and I guess I said my father was one of the men that was, that was there to save the people off of the Florizel.

I know it was a bad night, it was a stormy night. And I remember my mother telling me that her father was awake and he was saying, “God help the people on the water.” It was such a bad night he was upset about it, about everyone that was on the water. It was such a stormy night.

And the next morning my uncle went down to the, to the beach we’ll say. And he picked up something with the S.S. Florizel, some little paper or something that said Florizel and he brought it back and he, the first thing he said was, “I wonder did they have trouble?” You know, for to see it. But then they found out. It wasn’t too far from my home that she went ashore.  

Terra Barrett: And what was the name of your uncle who found the piece of paper or something on the beach?

Catherine Brophy: Jim Sheen. But then shortly after I think it was, you know everybody knew. That was at Cappahayden. Yeah. That’s where I was born, in Cappahayden. And my mother was belonged to Cappahayden. My father was belonged to Renews. And they, three men from Renews put a dory on a horse and slide, at that time, because it was February and brought it to Cappahayden and launched it. And they went to try to save some people.

Now they were there with no life jackets, or no nothing. But so they risked their lives really to help others. They never got the recognition for it, but they should have.

Now the boats came from I guess St. John’s, or wherever they were sent from and those crew all had life jackets and were ready, you know.

So I know they saved someone off of the, I thought it was the captain they saved of the Florizel, but now I’m not 100% sure of that. But I do know they saved someone. 

Terra Barrett: So who was in that boat, do you know?

Catherine Brophy: Who was in with my father? My father and another, my father was Edward Quinlan and another Edward Quinlan, because there were two of them. Two Edward Quinlan’s and a David Ryan. I do know that.