Dungarvon Whooper
Encyclopedia
The Dungarvon Whooper is a ghost story
, immortalized in a song by Michael Whelan (poet)
, about a murder in the late 19th century along the Dungarvon River
in central New Brunswick
, Canada
.
The story revolves around a cook
named Ryan, who moved to a camp along the river with all his possessions, including a money belt. He was murdered by his boss for his money, and buried by the rest of the party that night. However, a loud yelling and whooping sound kept the group from falling asleep that night. Scared, they left the camp the next morning. A priest
then tried to quiet the whooper down, but it is debated whether he was successful.
The story, which was handed down to lumberer
s working in New Brunswick throughout the 20th century, is well-known in local culture.
There is a chainsaw carving of Ryan at the Municipal Park in Blackville
, New Brunswick
, Canada
running from Newcastle
to Fredericton
, along the Southwest Miramichi River
. This train did not have an official name but was commonly referred to by its nickname.
It has been said that the sound of the steam locomotive whistle reminded local residents of the legend. This train operated on a line originally built by New Brunswick businessmen, Alexander Gibson
and Jabez Bunting Snowball
. The railway and its passenger service were absorbed into the Canadian National Railway
system and the passenger train ceased operation in the early 1960s.
Bernard Colepaugh of Renous, New Brunswick produced a play about the "Dungarvon Whooper" as the first ever production of the Heritage Players, a Playgroup in the area, performing plays of New Brunswick
's rich heritage. Mr. Colepaugh is a descendant of Michael Whalen, who wrote the poem.
The play starts off in a 1920s school house where teacher Michael Whalen(Bernard Colepaugh) summon's his students to class and then excites them with the idea of studying outside under "God's Beautiful Blue Sky". After some smart remarks by Billy Phader (Thomas Saulnier), the older boy in the class, the four students convince their teacher to take a break from the British History work and tell them a ghost story. Susan (Katie McCabe) tells Mr. Whalen to tell about the Dungarvan Whooper. Michael Whalen begins by going back in time to Ireland. The scene then changes to many years before as Peter Ryan (played by student actor Tom Daley) in Ireland just as he is about to leave for the New Country to work, as his mother, family, and friends die of starvation from the Potato Famine. He is given his father's money belt and some Prayer Beads, just before he kisses his mother goodbye. Another scene change leaves us in the camp, where Peter Ryan was hired to work as the cook. Jack Hogan (also played by Bernard Colepaugh) walks in with the crew, and they sit down for dinner. Just as they sit down at the table, Mr. Henry Kelly knocks on the door. He is invited in, and they eat their meal. Because Henry Kelly is "the best Fiddler in the Country," the crew convinces the boss to let them "treat today like a Saturday" and let them have a party and drink from the liquor Ryan bought at the store in Blackville
drunk. Ryan has a bit too much to drink and takes his Irish dancing too far and steps on McPherson's foot. Twice. A fight breaks out, and it takes the whole camp to calm Ryan and McPherson down. After a lullaby by Mr. Kelly, the men go to bed, and one of the characters, possibly McPherson, walks in covered under a jacket and puts something in Ryan's personal teapot. In most productions, this is where the intermission would begin, and in many cases, a meal be served to the guests by the cast. Turkey was the most common meal. The play then resumes when the crew are just getting out of bed. McGregor complains of symptoms of a hangover, but the boss tells them to go to work anyway. Hogan requests pies for when they get back. Peter Ryan sits down at the table to enjoy his tea, then suddenly collapses on the floor. Boss picks him up, puts him on the bed, and then the crew comes in, as there is too much snow to work. they find Pete Ryan on the floor dead, and accuse each other for his death. After much bickering and arguing, they decide that it is not right to sleep with a dead body in the camp, so they take him out to the spring and bury him. Upon their return, Whoops and Howls leave and unsettling atmosphere. The Lord's Prayer is recited, and they get to sleep. The grave is later blessed by a Priest, and all remains calm deep in the Dungarvon Woods
Ghost story
A ghost story may be any piece of fiction, or drama, or an account of an experience, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them. Colloquially, the term can refer to any kind of scary story. In a narrower sense, the ghost story has...
, immortalized in a song by Michael Whelan (poet)
Michael Whelan (poet)
Michael Whelan, "the Poet of Renous", was born in 1858 in Renous, New Brunswick. He worked as a school teacher, and as a book-keeper for a local mill. He is, however, best known for his poetry celebrating the Miramichi, including the famous Dungarvon Whooper. He died at Chatham, New Brunswick in...
, about a murder in the late 19th century along the Dungarvon River
Dungarvon River
The Dungarvon River is a tributary of the Renous River in New Brunswick, Canada.The Dungarvon River has its origins at several lakes in the Miramichi Highlands, part of the Appalachian Mountains, in the northeast corner of York County....
in central New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The story revolves around a cook
Cook (profession)
A cook is a person who prepares food for consumption. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Canada this profession requires government approval ....
named Ryan, who moved to a camp along the river with all his possessions, including a money belt. He was murdered by his boss for his money, and buried by the rest of the party that night. However, a loud yelling and whooping sound kept the group from falling asleep that night. Scared, they left the camp the next morning. A priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
then tried to quiet the whooper down, but it is debated whether he was successful.
The story, which was handed down to lumberer
Lumberjack
A lumberjack is a worker in the logging industry who performs the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usually refers to a bygone era when hand tools were used in harvesting trees principally from virgin forest...
s working in New Brunswick throughout the 20th century, is well-known in local culture.
There is a chainsaw carving of Ryan at the Municipal Park in Blackville
Blackville, New Brunswick
Blackville is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.It is located on the Southwest Miramichi River approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Miramichi.-Economy:...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Passenger Train
The nickname "Dungarvon Whooper" was later given to a numbered passenger train operated by the Canada Eastern RailwayCanada Eastern Railway
The Canada Eastern Railway, originally known as the Northern and Western Railway, was a railway line operating in New Brunswick, Canada, running from Loggieville , to Devon . The line linked various communities along the Nashwaak and Southwest Miramichi River valleys.A joint venture of...
running from Newcastle
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
to Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
, along the Southwest Miramichi River
Southwest Miramichi River
The Southwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The river has its origin in Carleton County, at Miramichi Lake in the Miramichi Highlands . Its two branches join near the village of Juniper, NB...
. This train did not have an official name but was commonly referred to by its nickname.
It has been said that the sound of the steam locomotive whistle reminded local residents of the legend. This train operated on a line originally built by New Brunswick businessmen, Alexander Gibson
Alexander Gibson (industrialist)
Alexander "Boss" Gibson was an industrialist in New Brunswick, Canada.He was born near Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, the son of John Gibson and Jane Neilson. In 1862, Gibson bought a sawmill and forest land in the Fredericton area...
and Jabez Bunting Snowball
Jabez Bunting Snowball
Jabez Bunting Snowball was a businessman, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Canada, and politician from the Town of Chatham, New Brunswick...
. The railway and its passenger service were absorbed into the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
system and the passenger train ceased operation in the early 1960s.
Productions/Recreations/Story
There are many different versions of the story, the following being the most popularly accepted story in the Blackville/Renous area, where the story takes place.Bernard Colepaugh of Renous, New Brunswick produced a play about the "Dungarvon Whooper" as the first ever production of the Heritage Players, a Playgroup in the area, performing plays of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
's rich heritage. Mr. Colepaugh is a descendant of Michael Whalen, who wrote the poem.
The play starts off in a 1920s school house where teacher Michael Whalen(Bernard Colepaugh) summon's his students to class and then excites them with the idea of studying outside under "God's Beautiful Blue Sky". After some smart remarks by Billy Phader (Thomas Saulnier), the older boy in the class, the four students convince their teacher to take a break from the British History work and tell them a ghost story. Susan (Katie McCabe) tells Mr. Whalen to tell about the Dungarvan Whooper. Michael Whalen begins by going back in time to Ireland. The scene then changes to many years before as Peter Ryan (played by student actor Tom Daley) in Ireland just as he is about to leave for the New Country to work, as his mother, family, and friends die of starvation from the Potato Famine. He is given his father's money belt and some Prayer Beads, just before he kisses his mother goodbye. Another scene change leaves us in the camp, where Peter Ryan was hired to work as the cook. Jack Hogan (also played by Bernard Colepaugh) walks in with the crew, and they sit down for dinner. Just as they sit down at the table, Mr. Henry Kelly knocks on the door. He is invited in, and they eat their meal. Because Henry Kelly is "the best Fiddler in the Country," the crew convinces the boss to let them "treat today like a Saturday" and let them have a party and drink from the liquor Ryan bought at the store in Blackville
Blackville, New Brunswick
Blackville is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.It is located on the Southwest Miramichi River approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Miramichi.-Economy:...
drunk. Ryan has a bit too much to drink and takes his Irish dancing too far and steps on McPherson's foot. Twice. A fight breaks out, and it takes the whole camp to calm Ryan and McPherson down. After a lullaby by Mr. Kelly, the men go to bed, and one of the characters, possibly McPherson, walks in covered under a jacket and puts something in Ryan's personal teapot. In most productions, this is where the intermission would begin, and in many cases, a meal be served to the guests by the cast. Turkey was the most common meal. The play then resumes when the crew are just getting out of bed. McGregor complains of symptoms of a hangover, but the boss tells them to go to work anyway. Hogan requests pies for when they get back. Peter Ryan sits down at the table to enjoy his tea, then suddenly collapses on the floor. Boss picks him up, puts him on the bed, and then the crew comes in, as there is too much snow to work. they find Pete Ryan on the floor dead, and accuse each other for his death. After much bickering and arguing, they decide that it is not right to sleep with a dead body in the camp, so they take him out to the spring and bury him. Upon their return, Whoops and Howls leave and unsettling atmosphere. The Lord's Prayer is recited, and they get to sleep. The grave is later blessed by a Priest, and all remains calm deep in the Dungarvon Woods