SS KYLE TIME LINE
K is for KYLE
SS Kyle of Reid Newfoundland Company’s Alphabet Fleet
1912
Signed agreement between Reid & Builder Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson LTD England April 17, 1912
Keel was laid – October 12, 1912
Framed completed on November 16th 1912
April 1913
Final Birth Construction Completed and Launched April 7, 1913
by Mrs. R.R. Reid Newcastle
04/16/13
Newfoundland Legislative Act 1913. CAP. XXIII.An Act Respecting the by Mail Service of the Colony (Passed April
16, 1913.) PREAMBLE: “Whereas on the 3rd day of march 1898 an agreement was entered into between the
Government and Robert Gillespie Reid, whereby amongst other things the said Robert Gillespie Reid agreed to provide
suitable steamboats to perform the mail service by the colony between Port aux Basques and North Sydney” hence the
SS Kyle was born.
05/20/13
Arrived at St. John’s May 20th 1913
Nautical Miles – 1929, Kilimeters – 3574, Miles – 2221 (On-Tyne England-St.John’s NL
Sailed through Narrows of St. John’s with Captain Lorenzo Stephenson . Known as fastest and strongest of alphabet
fleet. Hull built with extra steel to conquer the ice of the North Atlantic,
1913
Operated as coastal boat between Newfoundland and Labrador under Commission Government.
08/26/1913
Kyle, acting as hospital ship, rescued shipwrecked crew of SS Duchess of Marlborough. Duchess was stranded on
Hussey’s Rock, near Battle Harbour. Who will rescue the Kyle?
SHIPWRECK
The worst storm for many years commences. S.S. Newfoundland’s crew meet terrible disaster.
March 31, 1914.
SHIPWRECK
S. S. Southern Cross lost near Trepassey Bay with all hands.
April 3. 1914
SHIPWRECK
S. S. Kyle, with Minister PICCOTT, sails in search for Southern Cross.
April 12. 1914
SEALING
Sealer Bloodhound, Capt. J. WINSOR, arrives with 8,323. Sealer Seal, Capt. MURLEY, arrives with 5,987. S.S. Kyle
returns after prolonged but fruitless search for Southern Cross.
Daily news
10/23/1914
Kyle picked up 12 destitute men at Grady and took them home.
WW 1
Ferried Newfoundland troops on first step of trip to war.
1915
Ferry between Nova Scotia and Port aux Basques.
1923
Walter Simms wrote of blockade of ice around his island near Hermitage and Fortune Bays. No supplies for 52 families
rationed out, his baby brother died of starvation waiting for supplies. Finally, the Kyle broke through the ice on April 9,
the Good Ship Kyle. There’s national shame in letting the Bluenose die on the reefs of Haiti, don’t let the Lady Kyle die
a watery death. The Kyle could be tied up to a boardwalk along the shore, waiting to cast off her lines, a museum and
memorial to the men and women of Newfoundland and Labrador who eked their subsistence from the cold North
Atlantic.
NOTE: We need a new Act respective of the history and culture of Newfoundland and a memorial to our seafaring men
and their families. I’d like to see the new legislative bill signed by Danny Williams on this Fifteenth day of September,
In the Year of our Lord 2010.
03/05/1923
“Hearty congratulations were due Captain Stevenson for the excellent seamanship displayed while crew share these with
him for the manner in which they conducted themselves in a situation which only the bravest could surmount.” Footnote
Them days Vol. 9 No 4 p 13 This was an article in by the Evening Telegram Every member of crew returned frostbitten.
The Kyle was caught in a blizzard for several days. One crew member was lost overboard when chopping the ice. He
was buoyed up by his rubber suit. The following morning when the captain tried to continue the voyage, he discovered
the steering gear was broken. With great difficulty, the Kyle started out again later that evening. The ship arrived at Port
aux Basque with her flag half mast. Let’s not fly her flag half mast again.
1926
Returned to Labrador. Ferried fishermen and their families back and forth from St. John’s Bay Roberts, Harbour Grace,
Carbonear to Indian Harbour, Rigolet, Battle Harbour and many other necessary and at times, life-saving stops along the
way. The Kyle worked night and day.
1927
The SS Kyle & Captain Ben Tavernor was the final and only ship to find Old Glory’s Remains of William Randolph
Hearst’s monoplane of the New York Daily Mirror Newspaper after the attempts of over 50 other American ships, but
failed. Thirty -six feet of Old Glory’s wing with the American flag on her, was rescued and brought to a hanger in Bay
Roberts. The substantial crew of the SS Kyle includes Fed Whalen of the Placentia, First mate, Kenneth Harding of
Greenspond, Second mate, George Scrrikes Bay Roberts Purser, Sol Courage Chief steward & Alfred Javelin Clark & P.
Redmond First Engineers.
1929
There was no radar in those days, but the captain on the boats seemed to have a sixth sense of direction. I would rather
trust any one of those old captains than any modern one with their college degrees up to ‘here’ and radar! Footnote:
Them Days, Vol.9, No. 4 P. 26 author Robert Davis.
1930
Kyle comes to Indian Harbour. In those days 20,000 men fished for cod along Labrador and the Kyle transported them
all. The Kyle dropped into Indian Harbour to pick up an ailing Captain Willet and bring him home. Captain Clark was in
charge. “But this fellow Clark! By George, the way he drives that ship is a miracle. Anyone else would pile her up
twenty times a trip.” Clark was undaunted by the perils and brought the ship through, “Mark my words he’ll be along
tonight about three o’clock, when it’s blackest.” Them days, Vol. 9 No.4 P. 32. Words of Dr. Harry Paddon, Sr.
1st Dr of the SS Kyle – Dr. Nigel Rusted (died 2012)
1935
Doctor Ted Drover was the new medical officer on the Kyle mastered by Captain Tom Connors. Dr Drover wrote
“Times have changed and people are better off beyond relief, but they don’t appear to be as happy in their work. The
industry seems to have lost its glamour, excitement and atmosphere of romance, so evident when the families moved
from home to their stations on the Labrador ON THE GREAT SHIP KYLE” Footnote Them Days Vol. 9 No. 4 P. 46
Have we as Newfoundlanders also lost our excitement and anticipation/? Our heritage and memories lie in the Kyle. We
cannot let her die.
1939 Captain Earl Winsor wrote the Kyle was the only link, after the Caribou was torpedoed during 2nd WW. (Captain
Ben Tavernor lost his life). It was the only ice-breaker we had between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia….The Kyle
brought excitement and joy and a feeling of isolation removed when she arrived on her first trip in the spring of the
year… There were some-heart breaking days as the children of Labrador were sent off to boarding school visa the Kyle.
“there was always one sentimental feeling about her. On the last voyage into Hopedale and Makkovik, where the
Moravian Band existed, as the anchor was weighed and the ship steamed slowly out the harbour, the Band would
circulate the boat and play “God be with you till we meet again.” “ The sailors always had a mouth organ or accordions.
The conditions weren’t always conducive to dances or anything, but the people who traveled on the Kyle enjoyed
themselves.
She was a very charming ship, exciting boat.” Footnote: Them Days Vol. 9 No. 4 P. 51 Spoken by Captain Earle
Windsor And, she will be again! “Luckily we never had any great disaster on the Labrador coast with the Kyle or any of
the passenger boats that I know of. The most powerful one of all went down in the Strait of Belle Isle, you know, hitting
just a growler, the William Carson. When you think of that one and what work the Kyle used to do down through the
years, it’s amazing we’re all alive! Footnote: As above P 55
1942
SS Caribou torpedoed during 2WW with Captain Ben Tavernor and his First Mate Stanley Tavernor going down with
the ship. One hundred and thirty-nine met their fate that night. A great master gone. Years earlier, true to his word, he
found the wing of Old Glory. 1949 Kyle purchased by CNR and routed back to ferrying between Nova Scotia and Port
aux Basques plus service to Botwood/Bay of Islands and Labrador.
Arrival of the SS Kyle Rescue on the Burin Peninsula Feb. 8 1942. The 3 major US Navy ships, Pollux, Truxion &
Wilkes were the three major players in the most dramatic and worst disasters in US Naval history. With the Pollux &
Truxion crashed on the rocks due to the violent storm and the Wilkes managing to stay off and there was no way to
rescue the men in the water from this area. With the SS Kyle battling the raging storm and discovered it would be
impossible to attempt rescue from this area set a course for St, Laurence Harbour. Despite the rolling of the ship and the
danger the SS Kyle would be battered to death by the rocks they tied her up the best they could and marched their way
over land through the storm with as many blankets, ropes, axes and supplies, including 2 nurses O’Flaherty & Reddy to
the Iron Springs Mine. They all did what they could to lend assistance in the Rescue.
1952
“In seven years I saw all the coast; St. John’s to St. Anthony, Red Bay to Cape White Handkerchief beyond Saglek and
what a world of beauty, terror, peace, storm, sunrises and sunsets, and happy landfalls the old Kyle introduced me to
thirty years ago. Footnote As Above P. 61 , Written by RN Joan Stedman
1953
The Kyle was just fabulous, a boat you’d remember. Captain O’Keefe was a fine man but quiet, but you felt you were
safe, you know, that he could handle the ship. It was never boring, not on theKyle, because the music room was always a
hive of activity. There was usually somebody on her that could play…There was always something going on and you
almost felt like a big family. Footnote: As Above P. 63 Written by Ruby Baikie
1958
Kyle sold to USA owned Shaw Steamships of Halifax bought the Kyle and renamed it the Arctic Eagle
1959
For many years the kyle has been the friend of all the coast; “We shall not fail you, storm or shine” her gallant captain’s
boast. From Carbonera to george’s Cove. From Fishing Ships to Smokey Though hern music room is crowded and her
cabins awful pokey- We have welcomed her. The Kyle is here is echoed down the shore, And now they tell us we have
lost her from the Labrador” As Above, p 87 by Joan Stedman Be careful my fellow men before the Kyle is no more And
lose her soon we really will, if no one takes up the cry We have to build her up and make her fine before she lies On the
ocean floor, gone for good for evermore…history lost by Libby Earle
1961
Captain Guy Earle bought the Arctic Eagle renaming her the SS Kyle. Guy knew of the Kyle’s reinforced hull and ice-
breaking capabilities. He wanted the SS Kyle for his first foray into the seal hunt. He wanted to be able to outmaneuver
the Norwegian, Scandinavian, Russian and other seal-hunters around the globe. The SS Kyle was the ship to do this.
1961-1967
SS Kyle under Captain Eric Guy Earle successfully attended the annual seal hunt. Despite the Greenpeace cries and all
the bad press, (Bridget Bardot) the Kyle persevered. How can Bridget Bardot ask Obama to end seal hunt. Obama
doesn’t run Canada. Just like McCartney mixing up provinces, Bardot is mixing up countries. They should take
Geography 101!
1965
“The Kyle drifted fast in heavy ice March 28 th until the 50-year-old vessel came to rest against a towering ice berg about
150 feet high on March 28th. Said the 47-years old captain, Guy Earle, “You could hardly see the top of it for snow
drifts.” He thought winds at the time to be gale force T 85 MILES AN HOUR. He said he feared the giant berg would
turn over and crush t he ship.” … Captain Earle said most of the deck was filled with heavy ice. Outside the boat was
bulged in right from the midship to its bow on one side. As above, p 91 from the Evening Telegram. The top of vessel
was torn asunder. Guy was able to get the Kyle, his men and the seals safely back to Carbonear, where he tied the Kyle
to his wharf at Earle’s Fisheries.
After unloading all the seal pelts the following day Guy Earle, Charlie Dowden his Dad Steven Dowden, and the
Engineers took the SS Kyle to St. John’s to be inspected on dry dock by Jim Anderson (CSI) Canadian Steamship
Inspector only to find out there was closer to $150,000 worth of damage and was only insured for $100,000.00. The
launched her back into the water and brought her back late that night to Carbonear Harbour. For the Next 2 days they
unloaded all the food and salvageable goods ashore. Charlie Dowden & His Dad both Captains with the ships engineers
Gerald Bernard Murphy brought the SS Kyle to Harbour grace where Charlie dropped the steam anchors with a good
spead. Her boilers would cool for her final and last time.
02/04/1967
A violent storm hit the wharf and the Kyle broke loose from her mooring, and she was adrift again but this time without
captain and crew. She drifted into Harbour Grace and has been resting upon a muscle bed ever since. No watery grave
for her, our Lady Kyle. I have taken the liberty of renaming her Lady Kyle, for she no longer is using her steam ship
ways to ply the North Atlantic. The Lady Kyle sits instead, quietly waiting.
1972
The SS Kyle is sold the the provincial Government for $4000.00
1984
Memories of May Sulley: “I spent many happy hours on the SS Kyle as a passenger. At nights when she was anchored
everyone, I including the captain and stewards, would gather in the Music Room for a sing-along, to tell stories, and play
cards. It was a beautiful moonlit night and calm waters, everyone on deck square danced to an accordion or mouth organ.
As far as I’m concerned, there will never be another ship more comfortable to sleep on and she has lots of room to move
about. I have fond memories of the Kyle and if given a choice of which boat to sail on it would definitely be the SS Kyle.
Long live her name, at least.” But, we need to save much more than her name. I know the people of Newfoundland are
worried about the roads, the jobs, but don’t they realize if we rebuild the Kyle and make viable businesses out of her, the
roads will be repaired and jobs will appear. Build it and they will come!!! The Kyle meant so much to so many people.
The town folk would run to meet the Kyle, whenever she pulled in day or night. Fishermen and their families would
dance on the wharf waiting for the Kyle to come. If the Kyle was late, they would dance all night. Now, it is the Kyle
who waits.
The Kyle delivered the mail, necessary food, had a doctor, saved lives and made people happy. Couples met, became
engaged and almost married on the Kyle. I will be retaking my vows on the Lady Kyle in the future, as soon as she is
restored. The Kyle went through rough ice, dangerous seas, and survived and her people survived. As the Kyle saved and
helped so many, who will help her now? The Lady Kyle is alone, waiting. We, as the people of Newfoundland have to
save her now before she destructs totally, toppling over into the icy water. God has given us a chance. We owe it to
ourselves to have this nautical museum, restored as she once was, for all to visit. She will be making people happy again,
memorialized for the Newfoundland people and the world.
Different notable people have tried to restore the Kyle. Friends of the Kyle was a committee created in about 1996. Then
several letters and requests were sent in to the Harbour Grace Mayor’s office. Don Coombs office received a letter from
the honorable R. John Efford, P.C.M.P. Avalon, on July 28, 2004. In this letter the Honorable John Efford gave his
support to the Town of Harbour Grace for her application for the Kyle to be designated as a National Historic Site. He
continued: “ Given the rich and colorful history of the S.S, Kyle, with regard to its service to the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador since 1913, the S.S. Kyle certainly deserves to receive designation as a National Site.
1995
Hon John Efford had earlier written in 1995, On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the
Department of Works, Services and Transportation hereby authorizes the “Friends of the Kyle” Committee to apply for
Federal Government ‘Green Project’ funding for the purpose of cosmetic upgrading of the vessel.
1996
John Murphy, Mayor of St. John’s wrote his support on February 12, 1996.
Funding raised for paint the SS Kyle in 1996 for Matthew Celebration
2004
George Sweeney MHA of Carbonear-Harbour Grace District wrote on July 23, 2004: …” my full support for your
application to have the ss Kyle designated as a National Historic Site.
2007
After his first trip in June to Newfoundland, Elizabeth Earle ( Libby’s) Husband Brian DePiero starts the
www.sskyle.com on October 19th
2010
Libby has meeting with Provincial Government for permission to restore the SS Kyle.
Deputy Mayor Shannie Duff, verbally gave her support during her meeting with me in June.
Libby receives permission from the provincial Government in November
1st Annual Swim the Kyle by Libby Earle 9/12/2010
2011
SS Kyle Photo make June issue of World Ship Trust Review by Brian DePiero
2nd Annual Swim the Kyle by Libby Earle 9/11/2011
2012
SS Kyle Photo makes March issue with written article in June issue World Ship Review by Brian DePiero
3rd Annual Swim the Kyle by Libby Earle 9/15/2012
2013
SS Kyle Turns 100 Years old
4th Swim the Kyle by Libby Earle 9/14/2013
Kelly Russell Recites his Dads famous Poem 9/14/2013 following swim the kyle
100 Celebration SS Kyle Band Bash on George St – CLUB ONE Sunday 9/15-2013
Kelly Russell to Kick it off at 2:00 PM with 12 more Bands to follow
K is for KYLE
SS Kyle of Reid Newfoundland Company’s Alphabet Fleet