Mister Costler

DESCRIPTION: Lorn Costler has the mail contract for outports. When he and his engineer, Billy Warren, work, "the day must be fine, the sea must be calm." He "gives out the mail at a terrible rate" in order to leave quickly even with no danger from ice or wind.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1977 (Lehr/Best-ComeAndIWillSingYou)
KEYWORDS: cowardice commerce storm
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Lehr/Best-ComeAndIWillSingYou 80, "Mr Costler" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #28972
NOTES [98 words]: The mail route for Costler's ship, The Packet, is along the south coast about 70 miles east of Port-aux-Basques. - BS
Lehr/Best thinks the ship's name is the Packet, but I rather doubt it; I think she was simply a packet ship running a regular schedule. Since the ship in the song carried the mail, and had an engine, it was very likely a member of the "Alphabet Fleet," for which see the notes to "The Wreck of the Steamship Ethie." On that basis, it might be possible to work out which ship it was, since the ships each were responsible for part of the circuit around Newfoundland. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.4
File: LeBe080

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography