island because drums of gas and oil, lumber, and equipment of all kinds had to be transported from the beach, up thirty-two feet to the plateau, and across to the Money Pit area. With back seats removed, the car served as a truck and towing vehicle.
The compressor made the same journey across the bay on a raft. My husband, an excavating contractor in Hamilton, had sent down his air compressor and power tools so that Dad and Bobby could work in the frozen earth on the beach and deal with other heavy-duty digging.
Falling in Love
CHAPTER 5
According to Dad’s contract with Chappell, once the treasure was recovered, and after the government received its 5 percent, Chappell and Dad would split the rest fifty-fifty. Dad was confident that he could wrap up the work on the island in short order. To finance the recovery operation, he had $8,000 in equipment and cash, and an investor waiting in the wings.
Fred Sparham and Dad had known each other for years. Not only were they both in the plumbing and heating trade, they were also good friends. They talked shop together and helped each other out.
In December 1959, Chappell had extended Dad’s contract for all of 1960. On January 19, 1960, Dad and Fred signed a contract in which Fred agreed to provide Dad with $6,000 in exchange for 25 percent of Dad’s share of the treasure. This seemed completely reasonable to both men. Dad thought he could intercept the sea water tunnel, bring up the treasure, and be on his way in a matter of months. He believed he could manage it easily with his own investment and Fred’s $6,000. That was a lot of money in 1960, and Fred was not a wealthy man. He was a successful, conservative businessman of modest means. It’s a testament to his belief in the existence of a treasure on Oak Island and to his faith in Dad that he would risk so much.
Aside from this initial investment, over time Fred helped the recovery operation in many ways. Dad was accustomed to working in Hamilton, which, with its steel mills and related secondary industries, was a cornucopia of mechanical and electrical parts and equipment. My father did not have time to learn where to find specific equipment or parts down east, nor did he have time to drive the sixty miles to Halifax to pick them up. Consequently, there were many distress calls to Fred. He would locate whatever was needed, and his son, Eddie, would pack and ship it.
As the search stretched into years, it became necessary to bring in other investors to finance the operation. But there were many times when absolutely no fresh capital came in, and it was Fred who sent along $50 or $100 to keep food on the Restall table. Whenever operating funds were low, Fred would gather together a group of people who had a bit of money and Dad would make a quick trip to Ontario, give a little talk, and show slides of his work on the island in hopes of generating investment capital.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. In January 1960, Fred came in. And he and Dad both thought that Fred would be the only investor ever needed.
In the spring of 1960 Dad had the opportunity to purchase the big pump that previous searchers had used to pump out the Money Pit. In a letter dated April 9, he tells Fred that he has bought the pump for $1,000. It was capable of pumping the sea water out as fast as it came into the Money Pit area. In the following letter he related the difficulties of getting the pump to the island.
June 5th, 1960
Dear Fred:
Received your letter with cheque on Thursday, June 2nd, and it just arrived right. Had arranged to get the big pump, a load of planks and four barrels of gas over on Saturday (4th), which we did. Had to load the boat and unload in the pouring rain.
The fellow who brought the load to the Island had to go to the mainland near the Island to pick up the casing for the pump. We had trucked it down the week before. It took us so long getting the first load loaded, over and unloaded that the tide was falling fast when we went to get the casing. It is a shallow spot and with the load on we had a devil of a job getting the boat off the bottom. Anyway, when he pulled into his own dock he had no reverse and almost tore the dock away.
We now have all of the big pump on the Island and have the bridge over the shaft almost complete. This week we have to cart the equal of three boat loads up the hill and across the Island. We will then be able to set up the pump and try it out. It sure is a big piece of equipment. The whole thing is coated with grease which was thick fish oil when put on. It will take some time to clean up properly.
Am pleased to hear that you are coming down with your wife, and if you can bring Mildred and Ricky as well, that would be fine. It appears that you will be coming down just at the time Mildred can get Ricky out of school. Things generally don’t work out like that.
Very pleased that you have got a fridge and stove as the weather turned so that nothing will keep except canned goods without a fridge.
We want to start putting the pump together about Thursday if we can. The copper gaskets haven’t shown up. Will you phone them and if they haven’t been sent, get them to send them right away. We can’t afford to take the pump apart again to put these gaskets in, and using cotton or string isn’t satisfactory as this casing is the drive shaft casing and mounts all the shaft bearings, and seals the oiling system from the sea water being pumped out.
Drop me a line re the gaskets and when the fridge and stove are shipped. Send them by Smiths to R.E. Restall c/o Gerald Stevens, Back Harbour, Chester Nova Scotia, VIA HALIFAX.
We had the mosquitoes very bad a week ago but by oiling about 18 shafts and ponds we got rid of them overnight.
We have lots of black ants here and right now they are flying. Another week, I am told, and their flying season is over. The natives say they bite off all their wings. I sure hope they are right as the darned things are an inch and a quarter long. They claim these big black ants killed all the Oak trees. How can that be? Give my regards to all. Will be seeing you soon.
Bob
During the third week in June, Mom arrived back on the island with Rick to find Dad and Bobby busy assembling the pump. Business commitments kept Fred in Hamilton.
Here is the rest of that first piece Mom wrote about her introduction to Oak Island:
The Reluctant Treasure Hunter: Part Two by Mildred Restall
When school closed for the summer holidays, I took Ricky, then nine years old, down to Nova Scotia. He thoroughly enjoyed the train trip to Halifax and was quite excited at the prospect of living on an island for the summer. As for myself, I wasn’t as enthusiastic. “Anyway, it’s only for a couple of months,” I told myself.
My husband met us in Halifax, and the three of us drove down to the island.
What a difference. The island was a riot of colour. The magnificent firs a rich green. The grass a thick carpet. And up in a clear blue sky, the sun shone bright and golden. Sailboats were gliding over a sparkling sea and small craft skimmed around the bay. The air was fragrant with the perfume of wild roses that grew in abundance all over the island. Standing on the beach and looking out over Mahone Bay, with emerald islands dotted here and there, I thought that never, anywhere, had I seen a place more beautiful.
Ricky and I quickly settled down to island living. For Ricky, it was a long summer of swimming, boating, exploring, and all the fascinating things a 9-year-old boy can find to do on an island of his own. As for myself, I soon settled into routine. Forgotten were the miseries of the fall before.
During the winter months the men had built another shack
