Dawn Fraser: Echoes From Labor's War

Cape Breton's Curse, Adieu, Adieu

During the strike in the Nova Scotia coalfields, a high official of the company stated that the strike would not last long because, as he expressed it, "The miners couldn't stand the gaff!" This was a slur that caused much comment. This man and his associates owned the company stores, or "Pluck-Me's"; and the remark was obviously a threat to starve the miners into submission. Some time later it was announced in the press that the big coal corporation was in the receiver's hands, but this was probably a manoeuvre to freeze out some shareholders or attract new capital. The process was called "re-organization", and the same outfit bloomed again under another name. However, anything that suggested embarrassment for the big-shots was welcome news to this old radical, who rushed to his typewriter and, without ever lifting his nose, tore off the following lines, which he offers as real classical.

The Bosses couldn't stand the gaff—
Oh, let me write their epitaph!
Let's see, now—how should I begin?
Here lies a monster, born of sin,
Of sin, corruption, fraud, and worse—
Adieu, adieu, Cape Breton's curse.

Since that black day when first your hand
Grasped in its evil clutch our land,
Like some fat leech you played your part
To suck the life-blood from our heart,
Bred famine, not, murder too
Cape Breton's curse, adieu, adieu.

Twas no avenger laid you low,
Your end was painful, sure and slow;
Ah, filthy monster, now confess,
You died of your own rottenness.
May Satan's imps attend your hearse—
Adieu, adieu, Cape Breton's curse.

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