Occasionally, especially in the pre-TV days when radio ruled, there were incidents that gripped the nation, and kept people gathered around waiting for the next report. The hunt for the Mad Trapper of Rat River was but one example of this. But a story from Arctic Bay also held southern Canada in its thrall. The story of the attempt to medivac a man from nearby Moffet Inlet, a man who played a significant roll in the lives of many in the high Arctic, the Reverend John Turner.
Turner was born in England but, along with his brother Arthur, became an Anglican Missionary in the late 1920's, settling in Pond Inlet, his brother in Pangnirtung. Besides ministering, he was mostly responsible for translating the Bible into Inuktitut syllabics, a task he was working on when his accident happened. He also traveled extensively by dog team, an estimated 25,000 kilometres to places as far ranging as Pangnirtung, Clyde River, Repulse Bay and King William Island. He was fluently bilingual.
In 1937 he established a Mission at Siuralik, Moffet Inlet, however it was only used sporadically at first. The Mission was located about 115 kilometres south of Arctic Bay, which at the time was Hudson Bay Post. A government weather station would be established here four years later in 1941.
In 1943 his fiancee, Joan, joined him in Pond Inlet where they were married. A daughter, June, was born the following year and the Turners moved permanently to Siuralik. The following year a second daughter was born, Barbara. The Turners also culturally adopted another daughter, Rebecca who was inuk. At Siuralik Turner ministered to Inuit who lived in the environs of Arctic Bay and worked on his translating work.
On September 24th, 1947 Turner was doing exactly that, working on his translating, when Rebecca and another young girl, Elizabeth, called to him to let him know there was a seal nearby. Turner grabbed his .22 calibre rifle and headed outside. Coming back inside later, he tucked the gun under his arm. Caught on his clothing the trigger pulled back, firing the gun. The bullet struck him in the face and then lodged in his brain.
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5 responses
to be continued? to be continued?
damn cliffhangers!
The plight of Canon Turner is one of my favourite Arctic tales. I had planned to do up a post on this some time ago but wasn’t sure of all my facts so I will definitely stay tuned!
I had hoped to visit some of the old buildings involved down in Moffat Sound but was told they no longer exist. Do you know more about this?
Don’t worry Amy, the story will be wrapped up soon. Today perhaps.
I’ve never been to the site Darcy, just had it pointed out to me on my way past it. I understand that there really isn’t much left there, the Mission burned down a number of years ago.
I imagine that some people will be heading out that way this spring, for reasons that will become clear in the conclusion. You may get an opportunity to head out with someone.
Ooooh! The suspense!!!!
Sounds great Clare! I’d love to see the place. I think I’ll beg, borrow or steal to get out there later this Spring when it warms up. Love to say that I was there, even if there isn’t much left in terms of man-made structures.