Newspaper
| Object Name: | Newspaper |
| Object Type: | Clipping |
| Category: | Communication Artifacts |
| Sub-category: | Documentary Artifacts |
| Material: | Paper |
| Technique: | Printed |
| Accession Number: | No Acquisition # 2 |
| Origin-Province: | Newfoundland |
| Origin-Country: | Canada |
| Use-Province: | Newfoundland |
| Use-Country: | Canada |
| Period: | 1929 |
| Description: | The article is called "The night the sea came in : Burin tidal wave disaster recalled." It reads," It was a beautiful Autumn evening, sun shining air, crisp and cool Nov. 18, 1929 just 47 years ago in all areas of the Burin Peninsula. People went about their everyday work many of them on the fish flakes making fish, a fall catch, which would help buy their supplies for winter. In the homes the appetizing smells of supper drifted through many a cosy home and the people had no inkling of what lay in store for them. At about 4:30, school was just out, when it happened. The ground shook, buildings rattled and everything seemed to have a strange reality. Everyone knew something had happened but what? Some thought an explosion had occured, others a fire, while just a few knew it to be what it was an earthquake. At that time we did not have full force but the landlocked harbours in the Burin Area which are reached by narrow channels, the wave was pent up and gained tremendous power. The onslaught of the water carried away homes stores, wharves boats and everything on the waterside, with loss of 7 lives in one small community. People fled to the hills but for that the loss oflife would have been greater. The first wave was only the beginning - 2 more followed, each equal in intensity. The noise was deafening as large buildings crumbled like matchwood. When it was over and people came down from the hills what a scene met the eye. The moon was shining brightly, the water calm but the waterside was a shambles, the harbour tight out to the gut was filled with debris. Houses were floating with kerosene lamps still burning and supper dishes on the table. Stores where people usually kept their winter provisions and fuel had all been swept away and most tragic of all the loss of 7 lives, 4 of them members of 1 family. Newfoundlanders as they always did when danger came from the sea rallied and that night, many lives were saved and many heroes were born. When dawn broke next morning the scene was again changed. To add to the misery the weather had changed. Strong east wind blew and changed to sleet and snow. The wind had cleared the harbour of all debris and had swept the waterside clean. With it had gone winter supplies of food and fuel and more people were left destitite. A south Coast Disaster Committee was formed in St. John's under the direction of the Governor as Chariman and soon donations were sent from all parts of the island. Altogether about one quarter of a million dollars was donated. Food, clothing and other goods were dispatched to the area to help the needy. The earthquake and tidal wave besides the destruction caused ashore also affected the sea. It was the expert opinion that the earthquake lay about 250 miles south of Newfoundland on the Grand Banks, the first report of such an incident this far east. However the fishing grounds were swept clean of marine life and it was more than a decade before the fishing in the area returned to its normal status. It was the beginning of some lean years, added to that the shock and grief which remained with people, a night never to be forgotten terror, "The Night that the Sea Came In. |
| Length: | 25 |
| Width: | 9 |
| Unit-Linear: | cm |
| Quantity: | 1 |
| Number of Components: | 1 |
| Institution: | Livyer's Lot |
| Institution City: | Boat Harbour West |
| Institution Province: | Newfoundland & Labrador |
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