Back in 1856, on a cold, October day, a small vessel left the Port of
Goderich carrying a family from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It was the final
leg of a journey for the immigrant family that intended to farm at
Penetangore (now Kincardine).
The weather was cloudy with a light breeze out of the southwest
when the vessel left Goderich. But as the boat approached Point Clark, the
sky turned black and a cold wind started to blow out of the west making for
heavier and heavier seas.
As the vessel slowly beat its way north, late afternoon turned
to dusk and the captain feared he would not find Penetangore in the dark.
Donald Sinclair, fearing for his family, went down into the hold
and fetched his pipes. He prayed for safe passage and then played a lament.
The sound of the pipes carried across the water to Penetangore where another
piper heard the rich sound. The settler on shore retrieved his pipes and
played another lament in return, just as the sky suddenly cleared in the west
and the sun set beneath the cold waters.
The captain, knowing he had to be near Penetangore, headed for
the drone of the bagpipes and eventually made his way into the harbour.
For many years after the narrow escape, Donald Sinclair often
went down to the harbour to play the pipes at dusk. They say it was a way to
remember his good fortune and to remind others of the power of the pipes. And
it's in the memory of Donald Sinclair that the Kincardine Scottish has
decided to play at dusk atop the lighthouse on sunny summer evenings. The
piper will only appear when the sun sets and will pipe the sun down.
Copyright ©1996 Eric Howald Would You Like To Be the Phantom Piper' CONTACT US AT
kspb@tnt21.com
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