1

Perry Pearson Singing the Tidal Wave Song Written by Alex Strang, Lawn 1932 Part I
December, 2004
Burin, Newfoundland, Canada

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Perry Pearson (picture) singing the Tidal Wave Song, November 14, 2004 (Part I)

Tidal Wave Song
On the eightenth of November you all might remember
Everybody thought the world was coming to an end
When the earth began to tremble like a leaf was growing nimble
Our lives we had to scramble and you know what happened then.

That day began with sunshine from early in the morning
The wind was light and pleasant and the sky was bright and clear
You could hear the people talking while along the roads were walking
Not thinking that disaster was drawing very near.

Everything went grand until late that fatal evening
The time I do remember between four and five o'clock
And the people made a wonder: what's that rumbling noise like thunder?
It seems on top and under and gives us such a shock.

3

'An Anxious Heart' by F.G. Cotman. Part II Tidal Wave Song
1875

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Words edited by Gerald Aylward, solo by Perry Pearson

Tidal Wave Song (Part II)

The water it proceeded far out and unexceeded,
More than any tide or wave they ever had before;
Some people in their fancy, some they almost went a frantic,
Trying to get saved from that awful noise and roar.

The water came in with power going 40 miles an hour,
Taking everything before it as it rushed along the shore;
There were skiffs, punts and dories, likewise stages and shores,
And dwellings swept to glorious that will not be seen no more.

It crept the highest fountain, it drove people to the mountain,
Women with their chldren, also elderly men and boys;
Their lot was in the water, the waters great confusion,
Saying let us go still farther, we don't know how far it will rise.

Not a breeze did stir the ocean, the clouds had little motion,
The moon looked pale and sudden as she rose above the hill;
Now tidal beams reflected, seemed sad and unexpected,
Women and little children they were bathing in the waves.
There were mothers, sons and daughters that got smothered in the water,
And sixteen precious loved ones had met their watery grave.

5

Dwellings Swept to Glory Part III Tidal Wave Song
November, 1929
Port au Bras, Dominion of Newfoundland

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Sung by Perry Pearson

The Tidal Wave Song - Part III

A word of desperation to the people of each nation
Who sympathized with charity, God bless them one and all
And their names should be recorded: it's no doubt they'll be rewarded
When they go before their Maker in that judgement hall of God.

With most all the work completed and done so very neatly
We got back every longer, every log and every shore;
And their clothes without a number, also nails, felt and lumber,
They all got back their losses and some a damn sight more.

And now a verse of closure from myself, the great composer
I did not get my issue, I'm a half a thousand due;
And my land, about an acre, was torn up by the quaker;
I'll leave that to my Maker, and I think now that will do.

7

A Prosperous Community
1906
Bull's Cove, Dominion of Newfoundland

8

A poem written on the Tidal Wave Disaster, author unknown

Tidal Wave on the South Coast Part I

Let's not forget the tidal wave of forty years ago
That struck the Burin Peninsula with a great Titantic blow
A little after half-past four earth rumblings did appear
The men of Burin stood dismayed and wondered what was near.
The tremor lasted minutes four, but damage it was done;
Cries of "Save Me" in the distance could be heard by everyone.
the harbour waters did recede as it went out with the tide
And boats and schooners could be seen all resting on their side.

One house had foundered and submerged and carried out to bay
As harbour waters' tidal wave swept in and pulled away;
One woman and her family who lived quite near the shore
Had house and life all swept to sea, their friends to see no more;
The fishermen's boats, and stages, stores, were in this quake destroyed.
And Burin harbour from shore to shore was strewn with wreckage wide,
The roaring of the sea was heard as it swept all things before;
At 10 o'clock that November eve all destruction then was o'er.

Great feats of bravery were displayed as men concerned did try to rescue women and children who were trapped in housesby;
With total disregard for self they plunged into the tide
Against the face of angry sea when hopeless people cried.
Some thirty people on South Coast save one had lost their lives
And stores and stages swept to sea with food and other supplies,
Two million dollars damage for poor fishermen was lost.
With stages, flakes, and fishing gear all adding up its cost.

9

Destruction Met the People on Tuesday Morn
November, 1929
Port au Bras, Dominion of Newfoundland

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The Tidal Wave Disaster - Part II, author unknown

When daylight came on Tuesday morn, what sight did meet the eye;
With houses floating out to sea, and debris all piled high.
However in one house at sea one lamp its light still shed
In upstairs room while baby was still sleeping in its bed
In that same house first floor below the family drowned and dead.

When all was o'er and peace restored a public meeting held
To find a way to bring relief so sufferings could be queeled;
In less than five days came to aid ten thousand dollars or more

And as the days and months went by help came in by the score.
While all this tragedy occurred and people they were drowned
The news of same for three days lost as wires were all down
'Twas not until the coastal boat, the Portia, Burin made
That news of the Wave Disaster to St. John's by wireless 'laved.

11

Stephen Parsons Adams (1862 1934) A Fisherman from Great Burin and a well known poet
1910
Great Burin, Dominion of Newfoundland

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Stephen Adams pictured on the fish flakes, Great Burin wrote the following poem:

South Coast Disaster

The Eighteen of November
In Nineteen and Twenty-Nine
We had a terrible tremor
That shook our Island home

At five o'clock that evening
There was a terrible sound
Which startled all the people
And made them look around

Wondering what had happened
They could not understand
The houses all were shaken
Like wise the solid land

At Seven o'clock that fatal night
Was heard another sound
It was a mighty Tidal Wave
Flowed o'er the solid ground

The mighty deep was broken up
The waves ran strong and high
And left Destruction in it's wake
And people had to die

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Family Homes Lay Floating in the Water After That Fatal Night
November, 1929
Burin, Dominion of Newfoundland

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South Coast Disaster - Part II Stephen Adams

Families sitting in their homes
So happy, bright and gay
And in a moment they were washed
Into the foaming sea

There was no respect of persons
And this you all may know
It took fathers and mothers
And children were laid low

Some of the bodies were never found
They are lying in the sea
Waiting the last loud trumpet
Which says "Come, Come Away."

Loved ones had to give them up
Their work with was done
With broken hearts and flowing tears
Sat in a lonely home

They have a hope, a glorious hope
A hope which Christ has given
A hope when days and years have passed
That they may meet in heaven