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Attention all both great and small, to what I will pen down,
Concerning the Thomas J. Hodder and the day she went aground.
'Twas in the year of fifty-two, the date being March the eighth;
The Hodder she was commanded by Captain Abraham Lake.
The Hodder she is a splendid boat, about one hundred ton,
A. Wareham he is her owner and she's always on the run
From Spencer's Cove to Boston and manys another port,
For use in exportation and also for import.
She left the port of Sydney with a full cargo on board;
'Twas coal, provisions and groceries combined made up her load.
The next day leaving Burin her crew was gay and bright
Not thinking any accident would happen in broad daylight.
She steamed along and all went well 'til Paradise grew near.
Said Abe unto his boys: "I think we'll go the course in here
I've been here manys the time before, it is a real short cut."
The Hodder was deeply loaded and she grounded on Lake's Gut.
The news was soon flashed o'er the air by means of ship-to-shore,
A. Wareham was soon contacted, saying: "The Hodder is doomed I'm sure;
She's high and dry here in Lake's Gut, her bottom is gone, I know,
So come and bring assistance if you want to save her load."
From Paradise and vicinity the people then did come,
To help their well-known captain and see what could be done.
But when they drew 'longside of her on him they saw no frown:
"Load up your punts and dories, b'ys, the Hodder is going down."
Provisions were quickly taken from out of her afterhold;
There's punts and dories loaded, and some of them took coal.
There's men from Toslow and Bona, Paradise and Petit Forte -
Doctor Wilson he was also there to help in his little boat.
A. Wareham was soon expected for to come around the bill
The tide it was also rising, which favoured the Hodder well.
At six o'clock she floated, and under her own spark;
Steamed down to Little Paradise and tied up to the wharf.
He stayed there for a short while to see if she would leak,
But Abe was discontented [and] for the Burin dock did leave.
He said: "My b'ys let go her lines; before dark we will make."
But to his great misfortune he runned her on the Pancake.
A. Wareham was crossing the harbour in the Evette when she struck.
I'm sure he must be thinking by now that the Hodder is having tough luck;
But when he stepped in on her deck he showed no sign of grief,
For manys the boat of Wareham's was lost upon some reef.
The wind being from the nor'west as smooth as oil could be,
And all the men around there, their minds from work were free;
They all agreed to lend a hand to take her off the 'Cake,
To assist Alberto Wareham and also Captain Lake.
Well after a long while tugging 'twas off the rock did slide.
He then proceeded to Spencer's Cove with the Evette close 'longside.
A. Wareham contacted his firm for to have a crew at hand,
To finish discharging her cargo as soon as she did land.
The Hodder is now on Burin dock for repairs we understand,
And soon she will resume her voyage with Abe still in command.
We wish him luck with all our hearts for he is liked by all;
Misfortunes they can happen to the greatest and the small.
