CALL NUMBER: T0388:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Archie Phelps RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Archie Phelps describes how he was born in Barkerville, his grandparents (grandfather Edward R. Phelps -- died 1885) arrived in Victoria in 1849 after the California gold rush, other grandfather Robert Coultson was friend with Governor Seymour, his father William Henry Phelps was the first teacher at Mayne Island and eventually to Barkerville, a description of the school in 1884, the differences between the schools at Mayne Island and Barkerville, details on Barkerville, the family's move to Pender Island including what life was like there, the wharf at Port Washington, people at Pender Island including the school and teachers there, how he became a steward on the ferry at age 15, and then a ship builder in San Francisco, anecdotes about the ferries including one where Indians attacked a ferry and another where an Islander was lost coming back from Skagway, his work on a tugboat, and details on what tugs were like in those days. TRACK 2: Captain Phelps continues by describing working on a tow boat called the "Pilot" in 1911 when there were not many sailing ships, how he became a cook on a CPR ship called the "Princess Ina", Port Simpson, taking Indians to work at canneries, the influence of the Scots on place names, more on Port Simpson and the Indian village there, navigation and fog, an anecdote about a problem in a lighthouse, details about Porlier Pass and foghorns.
CALL NUMBER: T0388:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Archie Phelps RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Phelps discusses several wrecks and ships, how pioneers were the only ones who traveled and Indians had to travel second class, Indian potlatches, how sheep were transported by boat, a massacre which resulted in two Indians being hanged, rough seas at Jervis Inlet, how the "Princess Irene" ferry was built for the Nanaimo run, how he became a CPR Captain in 1925 including several boats he worked on, and deep sea sailing versus coastal. TRACK 2: Blank.