14
Correspondence from the Main family, describing one woman's experience with the tornado.July, 1913
Regina, Saskatchewan
15
As recovery from the tornado progressed, and for many months and years after, letters describing personal accounts of the tornado circulated through the mail system. This letter, written a full year after the tornado, describes one woman's visit to Regina the day after the storm:"...I was going to Regina to get my teeth fixed and when I got to Moose Jaw tried to phone the girls (this was the Monday after the Sunday) but could not I inquired why and was told Regina was no more and the phone exchange flat you can imagine my fright for the girls had written home on Saturday to say they were moving rooms and so I phoned to try to find them at Miss Sharpe's home because I had visions of spending the night on the prairie and then I felt very anxious then and did not know if I should even find them alive but I could not phone so just went on to Regina. When I got there it was half-past eight at night flowing with rain and not a person I knew and no where to go I found out that the hotels that were not damaged were over full so I picked up my bags and set out through the ruined streets to find Miss Sharpe a friend of the girls who lives on the outskirts of Regina. I could have howled you never saw such a fearful sight the ruined homes and homeless make your heart ache this truly is a fierce country we had two weeks of excessive heat before the cyclone hit it registered 110 in the shade on the north side of our house and the barometer registered cyclone for a week before it came but such things are not known in this country all such we expect to go to the states so the people took no notice of it. You will have received the paper I sent you from Regina giving full details we are sending you a book of views of some of the ruins the home the girls were living at was not damaged they were out in an auto at the time just on the outskirts of the cyclone the gentleman jammed on his brakes and the wind just wound the car round the girls lost their hats and got drenched to the skin they have lots to be thankful for. Every second person you meet in Regina is plastered and bandaged up hundreds were hit with flying debris..."
16
Letter from a carpenter inquiring about the availability of work in Regina following the tornado.July, 1912
Regina, Saskatchewan
17
Even those with no personal connection to the tornado victims took up pen and typewriter. Letters of condolence and generosity poured into Regina from across the country. Tradesmen of all kinds inquired as to the availability of work following the tornado. This letter was received from Quebec:"Marieville, P. Que.
July 9/12
The Mayor
of Regina.
Saskatchewan
Dear Sir
Would you please send me full particulars of the city of Regina as to the work of a Electrician and the standard wage. There is me and my friend are willing to go there if there is good prospects in that work, and let us know if there is a Electrician union there as we are not in the union down hear [sic].
hoping to hear from you
Yours Turly
Harry Brown"
18
Reply from city Clerk A.W. Pool about available work for carpenters in Regina following the tornado.July, 1912
Regina, Saskatchewan
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Tradesmen were welcomed, as the city of Regina was eager to undertake the rebuilding process as quickly as possible. City Clerk A.W. Pool sent out replies that confirmed the great need for workers in many trades, from carpenters to electricians to plumbers. This letter was sent out to one tradesman:"Dear Sir:
With reference to yours of the 6th inst., there is a large demand for carpenters in this City as the present time. The union rate of wages if Forty-five cents per hour, but in a number of cases, the men are receiving more than this. Price of board and room per week is about, I believe, Five dollars.
Yours truly,
A.W. Pool
City Clerk."
20
Front page of the Morning Leader newspaper on July 1, 1912 the day after the tornado.1 July 1912
Regina, Saskatchewan
21
As for communication within the city, most folks depended on word of mouth, and turned the the Regina Leader newspaper for information. The Morning Leader published the day after the tornado provided accounts of the storm, along with much useful information including the locations of relief centres, a list of casualties, and calls to help. There was much work to be done and local Boy Scouts were asked to help deliver messages and run errands around the city.22
Text written by Jaymie KorolukRegina Plains Museum
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