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Message to Prime Minister S.S. Portia via Cape Race1929
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The Evening Telegram, St. John's, Newfoundland, November 21, 1929 page 6News that the earthquake shock on Monday evening carried destruction of life and property in its wake on the South Cost, shocked the city this morning when delayed messages came in with meagre details. The first, a wireless from the S.S. Portia, to the Prime Minister reported sixteen dwellings with nine lives, mostly women and children, lost at Burin as a result of a fifteen foot tidal wave and that it was feared eighteen lives had been lost at Lamaline and Lord's Cove.
The message received by the Prime Minister is as follows:
Prime Minister, St. John's.
Burin experienced very severe earth tremors 5:05 pm eighteenth followed at 7:35 pm by an immense 15 foot tidal wave which swept away everything along the waterfront. Sixteen dwelling houses with nine lives mostly women and children. Four bodies recovered. All communications by wire cut off. Report is that 18 lives have been lost at lord's Cove and Lamline. S.S. Daisy rendereing every assistance. St. Lawrence swept; no lives lost. Destruction property terrible and many people left destitute and homeless. Doing all possible to relieve suffering. Daisy now at Lamline. Writing particulars.
Magistrate Hollett
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Captain Keen: S.S. Portia20 November 1929
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Captain Kean of the S.S. PORTIA wrote a letter to The Evening Telegram in St. John's, 1929:For the benefit of those who have not visited Burin, I may say the Harbor is approached through a channel lying between two perpendicular cliffs on the west side. Those cliffs are so steep and meet the waterline at such an angle that it is impossible for buildings purposes. The channel is therefore usually quiet and empty, apart from the usual boat or vessel that is met in passing.
MET BY FLEET OF FLOATING BUILDINGS
Imagine our wonder and surprise on turning the point of the channel to be met by a large [fishing] store drifting slowly along the shore seaward; then a short distance another store or a dwelling house until 9 buildings were counted, strewn along the shores before the harbor was reached. On reaching the harbor even a worse spectacle greeted the eyes.
AN AMAZINE SPECTACLE
The sight of the whole thing as it appeared from the deck of the "Portia" on that eventful morning, to say the least, was weird in the extreme, and all eyes were fastened on the waiting group of men on shore to learn the truth of what had happened.
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Captain F.S. Whelan S.S. Argyle1930
Burin, Dominion of Newfoundland
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The Evening Telegram, St. John's, Newfoundland November 25, 1929 Page 6To the Railway Manager From Capt. S.S. Argyle ( pictured left in cradle at Ship Cove dry dock)
Burin Nov. 22, 1929
Called at Lamaline, Point au Gaul, Lord's Cove, Lawn and St. Lawrence today. Terrible destruction of property at these places also at Lance au Barque and Taylor's Bay. One life lost at Lamline, eight Point au Gaul, five Taylor's Bay, and four Lord's Cove. Most all bodies recovered. All fishing premises here and floating property completely destroyed. People at Point au Gaul, Lord's Cove, destitute. Also at Taylor's Bay. People inform me that there are but five houses left in Taylor's Bay. at Corbin, O'Reilly and Coady lost all, including homes. James Hearn, at Lord's Cove, lost 1000 quintals of fish and all property, and Mcl. Harnett 600 Qtls. of fish and all property including his home. Giovannini's stores containing 1,600 quintals of fish sunk in harbour at St. Lawrence. All waterfront property gone here. Lawn also suffered terribly. Most of the people lost all their supplies. The southeast places all need relief quickly as possible as all supplies held by merchants are gone. Burin, Port au Bras and Rock Harbour also suffered. Eight lives were lost at Burin and Port au Bras, and all waterfront porperty and several homes swept away.
F.S. Whelan, S.S. Argyle
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Father Miller: Tidal WaveNovember, 1929
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The Evening Telegram, St. John's, Newfoundland: November 23, 1929, Page 6Father Miller's Graphic Account
The deputation from Burin consisting of Hon. G. A. Bartlett, Rev. Fr. Miller, and Capt. W.H. Hollett met the Executive Government last night to lay before them the distress and needs of the people in the stricken area. Shortly before the conference, a "Telegram" reporter in a few minutes conversation with Father Miller learned that the appalling accounts of the disaster already published are alas too true.
Source of Supply Cut Off
Father Miller points out that whilst the loss to the business people is enormous, indirectly the fishermen are hit hardest, not by the loss of his own fishing gear, boats and stages, but by the fact that in many cases the whole community depended on one or two firms, now so badly shattered that it was impossible for them to renew supplies.
Left Destitute:
Several cases in point were mentioned by Father Miller. Hundreds of people are thus left destitute, and for these temporary relief will not meet the situation.
Heroic Attempts.
Several times during the conversation Father Miller referred to heroic rescues, effected by these fishermen. In the darkness, with chaos everywhere, they as calmly as they set about their work - climbed floating houses, searched amongst debris, and rescued the women and children. "They were most heroic, but they least suspect it" Father Miller says.
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Rev. Father Miller1929
Burin, Dominion of Newfoundland
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Father Miller, Roman Catholic Priest, BurinThe Evening Telegram, St. John's, Newfoundland: November 23, 1929 Page 6
Activities Both Here and Abroad to Aid Tidal Wave Sufferers
Girl Operator's Brave Attempt to Warn Burin
"There was not time to give warning that the tidal wave was coming," says Fr. Miller. A few moments before the waters invaded the place Miss Fewer, the operator at St. Lawrence, had Burin on the wire, saying, "Oh my, everything is going here." Her office it was later learned was swept into St. Lawrence Harbor, but she was saved.
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A Bridge Destroyed in the Wake of the WaveNovember, 1929
Penny's Pond, Dominion of Newfoundland
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Penny's Pond Bridge, BurinThe Evening Telegram, St. John's, Newfoundland: November 23, 1929
Weird Ominous Roar
At first the water in Burin Harbor receded. It was just at dark, then the waters rushed in with a weird, tremendous roar where it struck obstacles such as encountered at Penny Pond Bridge. In this narrow channel the water rose to a great height and the terrific noise struck terror into many hearts. The sea gouged a channel three or four feet deep out of the solid rock, tearing loose huge blocks of stone from the cliff.
Destruction All Within 15 minutes.
In less than a quarter of an hour the sea had done its worst.
"The deeds performed to that terrifying fifteen minutes would never be fully told." Father Miller says. Men rushing in the waters and the houses on the lower levels, smashing doors and windows, and leaping to safety with the women and children were common occurrences.
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News of DestructionNovember, 1929
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The Evening Telegram, St. John's, Newfoundland: November 23, 1929Full Details of the Tidal wave Disaster on South West Coast
Twenty-Seven Lives Lost and awful Destruction to Homes and Fishing Property
Loss Estimated at $1,000,000.00 ---Government Acts Promptly and Private Subscriptions to relief Fund Are Pouring In
The full story of the ruin and desolation which the tidal wave, following the earthquake shock of Monday afternoon of last week, brought to the South West coast, particularly to the flourishing settlements around the District of Burin is now better known. As intimated in our columns last week, news of the disaster was contained in a message to the Prime Minister from Magistrate Hollett of Burin as follows;
S.S. Portia via Cape Race, Nov. 21, 1929
Hon, Sir Richard Squires, St. John's.
Burin experienced very severe earth tremors 5:05pm eighteenth, following at 5:35 and 7:35 pm by an immense 15 feet tidal wave which swept everything along waterfront. Sixteen dwelling houses, with nine lives, mostly women and children gone. Four bodies recovered. All communications by wire cut off. Report is that 18 lives have been lost at Lords' Cove and Lamaline. S.S. Daisy rendered every assistance. St. Lawrence also swept; no lives lost. Destruction to property terrible and many people left destitute and homeless. Doing all possible to relieve suffering. Daisy now at Lamaline. Writing particulars.
Magistrate Hollett
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