Thomas RYAN, who recently received his discharge from the Canadian Army after having served three years, is now employed at No. 3 Slope

William LINDSAY, Sr., a former superintendent of the Company, and Mrs. LINDSAY who have been residing at Corner Brook since his retirement, visited the Island during October

Richard MERCER, Sr., who retired July 1^st of this, left for Glace Bay, N.S., in October to take up residence there

John NEARY of the Account Department is back at work after spending an enjoyable visit to localities on the Canadian mainland and in the United States.

Jack COLE, formerly of the General Surface Department, left for Philadelphia in October. Jack plans to take up permanent residence there.

Congratulations are extended to the following on the occasion of their wedding anniversaries:
- Bernard HAWCO, pensioner, and Mrs. HAWCO who were 47 years married on Oct 20^th
- Ted Kent of the Electrical Department and Mrs. KENT, their 25^th on Oct 23^rd
- Anthony SIMON of the General Surface Department and Mrs. SIMON, their 19^th on Sept 12^th
- Patrick DOHERTY, Scotia Pier employee, and Mrs. DOHERTY, their 24^th on Oct 7^th.

R.R. COSTIGAN, the Company's Chief Chemist, visited Montreal in October

Dr. Walter TEMPLEMAN, Chief Medical Officer, has returned to Wabana after a visit to Halifax, N.S., where he attended Dalhousie University for a refresher course

Salva GAUCI of No. 4 Slope is back to work again after having visited his parents at Malta

In one section of No. 4 Slope, there are 8 miners bearing the name of MERCER. They are James, Llewellyn, William, Graham, Thomas, John, Freeman and Bill

Dick TAILLON, Purchasing Agent, attended a purchasing agent's convention in Montreal in October.

The stork was kept busy during September and October visiting the homes of the following employees:
- To the John O'BRIEN's with a girl on Sept 18^th - The James O'BRIEN's, a boy on Oct 9^th
- The Robert KENNEDY's, a boy on Oct ^st
- The Llewellyn MEADUS', a girl on Oct 18^th
- The Dan BRAZIL's with twin boys on Oct 19^th

Thomas Hammond who was sick for several weeks, returned to work on Nov 1^st at No. 3 slope. Previous to his illness, Tom as employed at No. 6 slope.

Birthday greetings are extended to the following pensioners who celebrated the occasion during October:
George LAHEY, 68 on Oct 3^rd
John HUGHES, 72 on Oct 4^th
William KAVANAGH, 76 on Oct 4^th
Thomas FORD, 71 on Oct 6^th
William JOHNSON, 71 on Oct 7^th
Daniel BRAZIL, 70 on Oct 7^th
William KENT, 82 on Oct 11^th
C.M.F. FOOTE 77 on Oct 12^th
Leonard BUTT, 67 on Oct 12^th
Elijah BLACKMORE, 85 on Oct 14^th
Reuben BUTLER 72 on Oct 15^th
Michael EZEKIEL, 79 on Oct 17^th
J.T. LAWTON, 94 on Oct 12^th
Patrick J. MYERS, 72 on Oct 21^st
Ananias REES, 75 on Oct 25^th
John A. BUTLER, 69 on Oct 25^th
William LINDSAY, Sr., 71 on Oct 26^th
Martin DWYER, 75 on Oct 26^th
Michael HIBBS 70 on Oct 27^th
Joseph KELLOWAY, 65 on Oct 27^th
Samuel GEORGE, 72 on Oct 29^th
William THISTLE, 68 on Oct 30^th

Among the thousands of hunters who visited the barrens during the shooting season, were the following:
Steve LAHEY, Assistant Captain, No. 3 Slope
Ray GOSSE, Overman, No. 4 Slope
Herbert PYNN
Azariah PEDDLE

Congratulations to William FUREY who was the lucky winner of a motor car which was offered as first prize in a lottery sponsored by the local branch of the Lions Club

Gerald REES, Shops Superintendent, was a visitor to the Main Office on Nov 9^th. Gerald recently returned from Montreal, where some weeks ago, he had undergone a serious operation. He is improving rapidly and hopes to be back on the job before long.

Congratulations to the following employees who were married during October:
Robert REES
William ROSE

Congratulations to the following Pensioners
Peter F. KENT, Michael HIBBS, John HUGHES and their wives who celebrated their wedding anniversaries in Oct.
Mr. KENT was married 49 years on Oct 26^th
Mr. HIBBS, 35 years on Oct 29^th
Mr. HUGHES, 43 years on Oct 28^th.

Selby WARREN of the Survey Department, who sustained a serious accident in N. 3 Slope over a year ago, re-entered hospital for further treatment in Oct

Dennis HANNAFORD, No. 4 Slope employee, was operated on at Montreal hospital recently.

The Norwegian ore carrier "Fridtjof Nansen" which has been plying between Wabana and the U.K this season, was damaged by hard seas while crossing the Atlantic in October. She proceeded to St. John's where repairs were made to a split deckplate. After repairs were effected, she came to Wabana for a cargo of ore destined for the U.K. The "Nansen" has been engaged in local ore trade since Oct 6^th, 1947. Since then she has made 13 round trips and transported approximately 116,000 tons or ore

The S.S. "Arthur Cross" was caught in one of the gales experienced during the month of October and took an extra seventeen hours over the usual 36 to make the voyage from Sydney to Wabana. Her Captain, J.H. WILLIS, reports that it was one of the roughest trips he had experienced in years.

The dominion Volunteer Fire Brigade was organized on Jul 17^th, 1913, by the late Mr. Angus MacMILLAN, who came to Bell Island solely for that purpose. Membership in the Brigade was, and still is, confined to employees of the Company as it was originally formed to afford protection for Company property and homes of employees. However, down through the years, the Brigade answered countless calls for assistance to combat fires outside of their normal sphere of operations and did so without any guarantee of compensation in case of accident. On Nov 5^th, 1948, a number of private property owners banded together and took out an accident insurance policy on their behalf. In November, 1950, the newly formed Municipal Council of Wabana voluntarily assumed the responsibility of maintaining this coverage.

One of the worst conflagrations in the history of Bell Island occurred on Jan 14^th, 1937. In a high wind and freezing rain, the Brigade was called upon to perform an almost impossible task in combating a fire, which broke out on Town Square, the main business section of the Island. For hours they battled the raging inferno, which, before it could be brought under control, had destroyed seven dwellings and fourteen business premises. But for their herculean efforts on that night, scores of other homes and business places in that district would have been razed. This outstanding effort illustrates the valuable and essential service the Brigade has rendered and is rendering to the community of Bell Island.

Mr. MacMILLAN, who organized the Brigade, became its first Present, followed in turn by the following:
Cal WARD
J.A. HUGHES
J.M. McNEIL
J.A. HUGHES
T.A. CONWAY
Abe FILLIER
And the current President, William SULLIVAN
The present Honorary President, Mr. H.P. DICKEY, Vice President and General Manager of Dominion Wabana Ore Limited, was preceded by W.L. STUEWE and the late C.B. ARCHIBALD, Angus McDONALD, J.J. McDOUGALL and T.A. BROWN, all of who were former Managers of the Company.

In 1916, the Brigade established a lending library which is still functioning. At present it contains over 3,500 books; and Riv. KENNEDY, the librarian, is on hand two nights per week to look after those who wish to borrow books.

Whenever football is mentioned locally, the teams of the Fire Brigade are still spoken of as for years they were always strong contenders for the honours in the football leagues of yesteryear. Some of their outstanding players who are still around are: John "Rocky" WHALEN, R.R. COSTIGAN and Dennis ROSE.

For over 40 years, the Brigade has played a vital role in the community. For their untiring and unselfish endeavours on behalf of the people of the community the "Submarine Miner" salute them

Present members of the Dominin Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Len HUGHES
Patrick EZEKIEL
John KENNEDY
Riv. KENNEDY
Harold FILLIER
William SULLIVAN
Ben BLACKMORE
Donald GOSSE
William CANTWELL
Charlie MORGAN
Roy MEADUS
Patrick MYERS
William FILLIER
Luke ROBERTS
William VOKEY
Peter COSTELLO
John VOKEY
Norman REES
Walter VOKEY
Robert NORMAN
James MURPHY
George RIDEOUT
John KITCHEN
Matt FARRELL
Ben FARRELL
Don FILLIER
William POWER
Martin MURPHY
Riv FLYNN
William CAHILL
Gordon BENNETT
Malcolm BLACKMORE
Ed KENNEDY
Sam NOLAN
Stan KEOUGH
Arthur BLACKMORE
Wallace HARVEY
Jim JAMES
Wallace VOKEY
James GUSHUE

Congratulations are extended to Syd Bown who was recently appointed Claims Officer for the Employees' Welfare Plan. Syd has acquired a wealth of experience in this particular type of work, as for the past number of years he has handled all Company coming within the scope of the Workmen's Compensation Act.

The Employees' Welfare Plan, sponsored by the Company, Local Union 4121, U.S.A., C.I.O., and Local Union 264, O.E.I.U., A.F.L., went into effect on Monday, November 8^th, 1954. All employees actively at work on that date became eligible immediately for benefits outlined in the plan both for themselves and their eligible dependents.

Under the main points of the plan, insured employees who are members of Local 4121 are eligible for the following benefits: Life Assurance: $2,500.00. Accidental death or Dismemberment: $2,500.00. (Note - The amount of life assurance and of death or dismemberment insurance shall be decreased to $1,250.00 for male employees on the anniversary date of the policy immediately following the attainment of age 65 and to $500.00 for female employees on the anniversary date of the policy immediately following the attainment of age 60. Male employees age 65 and over and female employees age 60 and over, actively at work, will be covered immediately for this reduced amount of insurance, the entire cost of which will be borne by the Company. Sickness or accident (non-occupational): $25.00 per week for thirteen weeks payable from the eighth day of sickness and from the first day for a non-occupational accident. Hospitalization, Surgical and Medical benefits: $6.00 per day hospital reimbursement with extras of $60.00. Maximum surgical reimbursement: $250.00. Maximum medical reimbursement: $200.00. In addition, if the room charge made by the hospital is less than $6.00 per day, the surplus accrued for each day of hospital confinement may be used to pay necessary hospital services not included in the room charge. The life assurance will be paid in the case of the death of an employee, from any cause, to the beneficiary named by the employee. This does not interfere with any benefits available under the Provincial Workmen's Compensation Act.

This coverage also provides for the payment of treatment rendered by the employee's doctor for both home and office calls up to a maximum of $3.00 for each treatment at the residence of the insured and $2.00 for each treatment not at the residence of the insured.

Dependents benefits are the same as outlined above with the following exceptions. There is no coverage for life assurance and the insurance for accidental death is $250.00. No benefits are payable for dismemberment.

The plan is basically the same for insured employees who are members of Local 264 as well for those who are not members of either Union.

Mr. C. B. Archibald was honored posthumously when, at a meeting of the Newfoundland Branch of the Engineering Institute of Canada, held at St. John's on October 11^th, his son, Mr. J. G. Archibald, Plant Engineer for the Dominion Wabana Ore Limited, award for outstanding papers on mining subjects.

The title of the paper which was delivered to the Mining Institute of Canada at the annual meeting of that body in May of 1953 was "Treasure Under The Atlantic" and described in detail the means employed to mine the submarine deposits of ore at Wabana, C.B., Newfoundland.

The paper was prepared jointly by the late Mr. Archibald and Mr. C. M. Anson, Vice President and General Manager of Dominion Iron and Steel Limited, Sydney, N.S. Two medals were struck for this paper and Mr. Anson had received his at an earlier meeting of the Institute.

Mr. Archibald was born at Pictou, N.S., in 1889 and came to Wabana in 1910 as engineer in charge of construction. In 1918 he was appointed General Mining Superintendent, in 1922, Manager of Wabana Operations, a position he held until 1948 when he moved to Sydney, N.S., to become Chief Mining Engineer of the Dominion Iron and Steel Limited.

On Sunday evening November 10^th, 1940, the worst tragedy in the history of Bell Island, Portugal Cove ferry service occurred, when two motor boats, operating a passenger service between those terminals, collided less than a quarter mile from the Beach at Bell Island, during a blinding snow squall.

The "Garland" with twenty-six people on board (mainland employees returning to the Island, to go on shift Monday morning and Bell Island people returning from a week-end holiday) sank almost immediately following a collision with the "Golden Dawn," bound for Portugal Cove.

Frantic cries for help filled the cool evening air, when all on board the "Garland" were suddenly cast into the icy waters of Conception Bay - only four people survived, twenty-two lost their lives.

The "Golden Dawn," had no passengers on board at the time and the crew was successful in maneuvering the craft back to the ferry terminal at the Beach.

Darkness, falling snow, and the fact that few people were about at the time, prevented rescue work being carried out in time. Before small boats could reach the scene, the tragedy was complete.

On Monday morning, small boats from all around, with crews especially equipped for the occasion, began dragging for bodies and all but a few were recovered.

One of the heaviest gales in history struck Bell Island in November 1919, causing tides to rise two feet above the Beach, forcing people living there to evacuate their homes and move to higher ground. Two years later, during November 1921, another terrific storm was experienced, forcing people living on the Beach to leave their homes again. This storm also demolished the public wharf there.

Miss Maud Ferguson, well known radio commentator of Ottawa, visited Wabana in October and was conducted on a tour of the plant which included a trip underground. Miss Ferguson is on a six months' visit to Newfoundland and while here is conducting a weekday Women's Programme over the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Regional Network.

Sincere sympathy is expressed to the bereaved relatives of the following employees who died recently:
Philip Penney in his 44^th year, at the General Hospital, St. John's, on October 16^th after a prolonged illness.
Pensioner Edward Ryan in his 68^th year, at his home in Marysvale, Brigus, C.B., on October 21^st.
Maurice Hynes in his 48^th year, at his home at Bell Island on October 26^th after an illness of several months.

Mr. Charles Peddle, highly esteemed and popular Office employee with the Company, was honored by his co-workers on the occasion of his retirement on Monday, November 1^st. A presentation was made to mark the event. Mr. Peddle was born at St. John's in 1889 and commenced work here as Cost clerk in May 1912. He was appointed Shipping clerk in 1924; Cashier and Accountant in 1926; Accountant in 1950; Cashier in 1951. The "Submarine Miner" joins his numerous friends in wishing him continued good health and happiness in the years that lie ahead.

THE DOMINION VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE was organized on July 17^th, 1913, by the late Mr. Angus MacMillan, who came to Bell Island solely for that purpose. Membership in the Brigade was, and still is, confined to employees of the Company as it was originally formed to afford protection for Company property and homes of employees. However, down through the years, the Brigade answered countless calls for assistance to combat fires outside of the normal sphere of operations and did so without any guarantee of compensation in case of accident. On November 5^th, 1948, a number of private property owners banded together and took out an accident insurance policy on their behalf. In November, 1950, the newly former Municipal Council of Wabana voluntarily assumed the responsibility of maintaining this coverage.

One of the worst conflagrations in the history of Bell Island occurred on January 14^th, 1937. In a high wind and freezing rain, the Brigade was called upon to perform an almost impossible task in combating a fire which broke out on Town Square, the main business section of the Island. For hours they battled the raging inferno which, before it could be brought under control, had destroyed seven dwellings and fourteen business premises. But for their Herculean efforts on that night, scores of other homes and business places in the district would have been razed. This outstanding effort illustrates the valuable and essential service the Brigade has rendered and is rendering to the community of Bell Island.

Mr. MacMillan, who organized the Brigade, became its first President, followed in turn by the following: Messrs. Cal Ward, J. A. Hughes, J. M. McNeil, J. A. Hughes, T. A. Conway, Abe Fillier and the current President, William Sullivan. The present Honorary President Mr. H. P. Dickey, Vice President and General Manager of Dominion Wabana Ore Limited, was preceded by Messrs. W. L. Stuewe, and the late C. B. Archibald, Angus McDonald, J. J. McDougall and T. A. Bown, all of whom were former Managers of the Company.

In 1916, the Brigade established a lending library which is still functioning. At present it contains over 3,500 books; and Riv. Kennedy, the librarian, is on hand two nights per week to look after those who wish to borrow books.

Whenever football is mentioned locally, the teams of the Fire Brigade are still spoken of as for years they were always strong contenders for the honours in the football leagues of yesteryear. Some of their outstanding players who are still around are: John "Rocky" Whalen, R. R. Costigan and Dennis Rose.

For over forty years, the Brigade has played a vital role in the community. For their untiring and unselfish endeavours on behalf of the people of the community the "Submarine Miner" salutes them.

Pictured above are members of the Dominion Volunteer Fire Brigade. Left to right, front row: Len Hughes, Patrick Ezekiel, John Kennedy. 2^nd row: Riv. Kennedy, Treasurer and Librarian; Harold Fillier, Recording Secretary; William Sullivan, President; Ben Blackmore, Senior Deputy Chief; Donald Gosse, Financial Secretary; William Cantwell, Driver. 3^rd row: Charlie Morgan, Roy Meadus, Patrick Myers, William Fillier, Deputy Chief - West, Luke Roberts. Back row; William Vokey, Peter Costello, John Vokey, Norman Rees and Walter Vokey. Missing from the picture are: Robert Norman, Fire Chief and Inspector, James Murphy, Deputy Chief - East; George Rideout, Deputy Chief - Central; John Kitchen, Driver; Matt Farrell, Ben Farrell, Don Fillier, William Power, Martin Murphy, Riv Flynn, William Cahill, Gordon Bennett, Malcolm Blackmore, Ed Kennedy, Sam Nolan, Stan Keough, Arthur Blackmore, Wallace Harvey, Jim James, Wallace Vokey, and James Gushue.