Will Anyone Search for Danny?

by Earl B. Pilgrim

"This is the gripping, inspirational story of a legendary game warden written by another legendary game warden, Earl Pilgrim, one of Canada's most successful boxers, an indefatigable crusader for the restoration of moose and caribou, and a Master Raconteur. It is a proper tribute to both men and the wild, harsh, lovely land they have guarded so well." -- Ted Williams, Contributing Editor of Audubon Magazine and Gray's Sporting Journal

Genres: Nonfiction

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Earl B. Pilgrim was a Canadian writer and professional boxer.

Reviews

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This retelling of horrific true events left me cold, crying, and sick. Too many mistakes were made and a life was lost because of it. This book is used in high schools here in Newfoundland. A friend recommended that I read it. The country here is wild and harsh. I couldn't even fathom going somewhere in the wild without a trail. This brave, courageous, ranger willingly went out to save the massacre of caribou poaching even though the conditions were not good. He bravely pressed forward, endured pain, and suffered heroically. I had to keep reading because I had hope of the rescuers finding him alive. I reasoned how could they tell the story in such great detail if he hadn't made it. ***stop reading now if you don't like spoilers *****. Yes, he gets found. Hooray. Then more mistakes are made. He is put on a boat and taken to ST. Anthony. That risks all of those men's lives. The boat nearly capsized on the way there through the ice. It also had a huge hole in it. Many people had to lift and carry the boat over the ice to even get it to the open water. It's an amazing tale. So sad that they ended up cutting off both his hands and legs- to save him from gangrene poisoning- and then he died anyway. Tragic. The story is very graphic- with blood and bones poking through the skin. Him looking at his hands and wondering what happened. Then he realizes that his hands froze and because he fell on them- the fingers broke. Then he gets huge blisters and they have to be popped. He can't hold on to anything so with his mouth he takes a bullet and rubs it until the skin breaks and relieves some of the pressure. Deep in my heart I knew he would die, but the author wrote it well enough to give the reader hope. This book shows what it is like here- bogs, and rivers, and brooks and mud and snow. It's very hard country- and people can not just go across it. The rescuers with dog sleds almost didn't make it either. I would say that this book is a "Good Read."

[Will Tron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in 2005.

This novel is an avalanche of a read. A rollercoaster for the reader's emotions.

Set in the early days of the Newfoundland Ranger Force (now defunct and incorporated into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police), the story centers around the dreams of a young Newfoundland man who becomes his dream:

A Newfoundland Ranger.

Imbibed with the confidence that only a young man starting out on an adventure in the early 20th century could know, Danny, the central character (as the title might suggest) embarks on his first patrol.

Full of spirit, bravado and courage, Danny plows forward only to find he is short of the most valuable resource in a frozen wasteland:

Experience.

Lest I ruin the reader's experience with greater detail, I'll leave any greater detail to the curious mind.

Suffice it to say, a fan of Mowat's "Lost In The Barrens" would find this firmly entrenched on their bookshelf.

A fantastic read that's not only Canadian, but uniquely regional in its Newfoundland origins.

A very underrated classic in my own humble opinion.

[Sydney White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly moving, impeccably written. Vivid imagery and sensory. The story of Danny Corcoran is one that any type outdoor person should read. The lessons learned by Danny and others throughout the book have deep meaning. Especially for those moments when we say to ourselves “it isn’t that bad I can push through this” or those moments where we think something won’t happen to us because we are avid outdoor peoples… there isn’t anything that could have prepared Danny for this event, even as a Newfoundland Ranger. His sheer will power and determination is what got him through it. My heart hurts finishing this story. But an incredible reminder of the forces of nature

[Matthew Beverley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about the downfall of losing your axe in the woods in the winter.

[Jerry Cranford · Rating 5 out of 5]

"[Will Anyone Search for Danny?] is well-paced, the tension building steadily to a point where you have to keep reading to find out if Corcoran is rescued in time." -- The Chronicle Herald

"Much can be learned about search and rescue operations and management by reviewing case studies. The descriptions of the search activities in Will Anyone Search for Danny? are strikingly familiar even though they occurred more than 60 years ago. I recommend this book be in the library of every search and rescue professional, career or volunteer." -- SAR Scene

[Noelle Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was astoundingly good! By the end, I was crying for Danny. I felt so sad that Danny had to suffer like that, especially after he was found because of that jerk ranger that came when Danny was found. This book was still worth reading.