Disaster - The August Gale, 1927

The August gale in the year of 1927 was the worst storm that the people of the area can remember. August 24th was a very sultry day, before the storm broke in the early morning. The wind changed to North-West later in the day and "you never heard the like of the howling and noise." The seas were described as being "mountains high."

The storm broke suddenly without warning, and as a result many ships were lost. The entire crew of seven was lost on the "Big Annie", a ship owned by Healey's from Fox Harbour. People who watched from the shore actually saw some of these ships go down and were terrified as they could not get help to "the poor people." Some of the ships would disappear "in a matter of seconds."

The only bodies that were found were those that had been lashed to the riggings.

Snowstorm Disaster - Two boys died

Another disaster caused primarily by bad weather took place on Red Island. The incident occurred in the month of January when two Kerrivan boys, aged six and nine, left home at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. They had gone in the woods to look for the "makings of a sleigh", and when they did not return that night a search party was formed.

There was a great snowstorm that night and thus the search had to be discontinued. A couple of days later the boys' white oil clothes were found on Gull's Pond. Tracks were also visible on this pond.

All winter people searched for the bodies of the two boys. However they were not found until two years later. A certain Mr. Green was walking through Merry Harbour on Merrasheen Island looking for rabbit snears when he came upon the bones of the two boys.

The bones were brought home to be buried.

Source: Placentia Area Historical Society. (1973). Opportunities for Youth Summer Project '73.

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