In March 1951, HMCS MICMAC was in company with HMCS MAGNIFICENT and proceeding south from Halifax  on a Caribbean Training Cruise. The two ships spent Easter in Bermuda; Magnificent anchored in Grassy Bay (Hamilton) and Micmac was nearby in St. Georges.

Upon departing Bermuda, the two ships continued south and entered the Caribbean Sea via the Windward Passage. Both ships were operating in the area of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Coasts as the "Maggie" exercised flying stations, refueling at sea and  jackstay transfers between ships. Micmac did a little fishing for both ships. They would locate a school of fish with sonar, then roll a depth charge over the stern. "BANG"  - then lower a boat and scoop up the results. Very efficient; all Hands to dinner.

One morning,  early in the 0400 - 0800 watch, I was on duty on the bridge of the Magnificent as Bridge Messenger. One of the duties was to stand at the aft end of the bridge with your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. It was at first light we came across a small vessel that was obviously adrift. As we stopped to investigate, Captain/Commodore Kenneth Adams also summoned  Lt. Commander Frewer of the Micmac by R/T (radiotelephone).  Micmac closed on the drifting vessel and lowered a boat. The boat crew boarded the vessel and reported back to Micmac and Magnificent via R/T that the vessel was the Gilbert Jr., a Dominican Coastal ferry. The ferry had been adrift for a few days, out of fuel. Reported aboard was  a crew of two - Captain and and an Engineer plus 12 female passengers and a quantity of farm animals including chickens and a horse.

The cause of the problem was communication between the Captain and engineer aboard the ferry. Each though that the other had fueled the vessel. There was some discussion as to transferring some fuel to the Gilbert Jr., but it was decided to take her in tow and proceed to Curacao. Some Micmac hands were put aboard along with some provisions for the tow.

I was not aboard the Micmac at this time or the Gilbert Jr. but to the best of my recollection these are the facts of this incident. I welcome any comments on this yarn. Also when Commodore Adams heard that there was a horse aboard the Gilbert Jr. he remarked "I feel sorry for the horse"