Item AAAB1971 - John Park interview

CALL NUMBER: T1796:0001 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1920 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1975 SUMMARY: John Park was master of the Union Steamship Company vessel "Venture". The Union S.S. Co. was in competition with the Canadian Pacific and the Grand Trunk Pacific. He describes fish canneries, church hospitals and summer clinics at Rivers Inlet and the Skeena River. Story about going into Salmon River with a new skipper who struck the dock while carrying a load of dynamite. Navigation by echo. Sinking of the "Cheslakee". CALL NUMBER: T1796:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1920 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1975 SUMMARY: John Park was born in Scotland. Apprenticed on sailing ships of the Inver Line. Joined the Blue Funnel Line. First came to Vancouver in 1907 on the "Titan". Immigrated to Vancouver in 1910. Became master of the Union Steamship vessel "Venture". Took passengers off the "Princess Beatrice" when she ground near Port Hardy, 1911. Joined Griffiths and Co. of Seattle, which operated the Coastwise Steamship and Barge Company. Went deep sea. Worked as a pilot in Vancouver 1925-1952. CALL NUMBER: T1796:0003 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1975 SUMMARY: [No content summary is available for tape T1796:0003.]; CALL NUMBER: T1796:0004 PERIOD COVERED: 1895-1940 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976 SUMMARY: Captain John Park apprenticed on square rigged sailing ships and came to Vancouver in 1911. Mentions trans-oceanic shipping coming into Vancouver at the time. Joined Union Steamship Company. Became master of the S.S. "Venture". Joined B.C. Coast Pilots. Joined S.S. "Turret Crown", owned by Griffiths Steamship Company of Seattle. Master S.S. "War Cavalry" owned by Couglan's shipyard. Piloted German cruiser into Vancouver harbour in the 1930s. CALL NUMBER: T1796:0005 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1940 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976 SUMMARY: John Park towed the ex-sailing ship "St. David" up and down the west coast of Canada and the United States. Dollar Line. Talks about sailing ship days on the Inver line, including trips around Cape Horn. Joins the Union Steamship Company, S.S. "Venture". Steamboating on the north coast. Federal inquiry into pilotage on the B.C. coast held in the 1920s. Master of "City of Victoria" chartered by H.R. MacMillan.