"MATCHSTICKS" page 1 of 8

It was through their friendship with Chief Engineer Philip Trottier that 21 year old Marcel Messenau, 23 year old Henry Seguin and 26 year old Theodore LeRoy found themselves aboard the steamer ROBERVAL. All were from the Canadian town of Hull, just north of Quebec City and in 1916 a personal reference from a vessel's chief was as good as being signed aboard the boat. A job aboard the Canadian steamer meant a bit of certainty in some very uncertain times for the three young men from Hull. The Canadian economy was still suffering the effects of a two year recession and the "war to end all wars" had drawn in the Dominion and her citizens. Indeed a berth aboard a laker meant much more than a place to sleep and a steady paycheck; it meant security 'amid insecure times. Both Messenau and Seguin would work in the ROBERVAL's engine room under the supervision of Chief Trottier while LeRoy was given the position of deckhand. Coincidentally, young Henry Seguin would find himself standing watches with Second Engineer Ovila Seguin, who was from the town of Hull as well, but oddly was no relation at all to Henry.

Also serving aboard the boat at the courtesy of one of her officers was 30 year old Delia Parent of Ottawa. Miss Parent was a good friend of the family of Captain Peter Eligh, the ROBERVAL's master. Yet unmarried at the age of 30, Delia was no doubt considered a spinster by 1916 standards and probably suffered from the inevitable pressures of her lady kin folk. Shipping out aboard the steamer could

Working a brief career on the St. Lawrence Rive; the steamer ROBERVAL was rarely captured by lakes photographers. This drawing is taken from one such photo. -Author's concept.

have been the result of her relatives attempting to shove her from the nest in hopes that she might at long last find a good fella, or her own attempt to simply escape the cackles of the surrounding hens. The job aboard the laker would certainly unshackle Miss Parent from the forces that were likely pulling her in many directions, as well as providing the spinster with a fair wage. Only Captain Eligh and Delia knew for sure why she took charge of the ROBERVAL's galley in mid July of 1916, but like the others of the crew, the lakeboat soon became her home. All of the crew were French Canadian, so English was the foreign language aboard the steamer, which is quite common on the lakers that work the St. Lawrence. ROBERVAL was indeed a French speaking vessel on a fresh water sea.