APPENDIX ONE
Recovered from the somewhat unique and rather alarming earth shock of Monday the matter had become with most people, one to joke about, since the occurrence seemed to have passed off without any untoward incident; when suddenly the country was plunged from light levity into a realization that gaunt tragedy of unusual proportions had been enacted close at home. The very genuine expression of sympathy on every lip yesterday, when shortly after noon the first reports of the disastrous effects of the tidal wave on the Burin Peninsula came in, gave a very practical evidence of the way in which that tragedy and distress had touched every heart.
Recovered from the first alarm of the five o’clock earth shock we can picture the inhabitants of these houses gathered around the fire. Supper things had been cleared away. Mother is busy with her knitting or household mending. Children are studying their household lessons. Suddenly, without warning, there is a roar of waters. Louder than that of the ordinary waves on the shore, it breaks on their ears, and then, with a shuddering crash, a fifteen foot wall of water beats on their frail dwelling , pouring in through door and window and carrying back in its undertow, home and mother and children!
The catastrophes of seafaring life we can understand. As a seafaring people we have matched our lives and wits against an old ocean. In the pursuit of their calling as sailors and fishermen, our men dare the ocean’s moods; but that in well-found craft where the odds are evenly matched. But in this case women and children and aged people housed in dwellings that had sheltered generations, and proof against winter’s blasts and ocean’s sprays, were suddenly engulfed and defenceless life obliterated. Never, perhaps, has such a tragedy been enacted in Newfoundland. Certainly never before has an earthquake laid its seafaring finger across our peaceful community.
The loss of property has been very heavy. Stocks of provisions, and fuel accumulated for the winter have been washed away and homes rendered uninhabitable for the present at least. That can be replaced in time; but the lives lost cannot be recalled. We can only mourn and give our deep sympathy to friends and relatives who have been bereaved.
The Government has been ready in action and the rapid dispatch of the relief ship was well engineered and carried out. The Daily Newshas nothing but approval for the prompt response made to the urgent necessities of the unfortunate sufferers in the dispatch of the Meiglelast night.
APPENDIX TWO
Sympathy from the Bishop of London
Bishop’s Court, St. John’s
13 December, 1929
The Editor Evening Telegram
Dear Sir,—The note of sympathy from the Right Hon. And Right Rev. The Lord Bishop of London, a copy of which I enclose, will be read not only with great interest but with deep appreciation by residents in the stricken parts of the Burin District and by our citizens generally.
Fulham Palace,
St. Andrew’s Day, 1929
Dear Bishop,—I want to send you my deep sympathy and that of my Diocese with you all in the great misfortune which has occurred in Newfoundland in consequence of the great tidal wave.
I fear that it has worked great havoc among some of the finest of your people and I would like them to know how deeply we sympathize with them in London.
If any Fund is being raised to help them I am sure we shall support it to the best of our power.
APPENDIX THREE
On Board Relief Ship “Meigle”,
November 23, 1929.
Mr. C.C. Pittman, J.P.,
Chairman Relief Committee,
For Earthquake Sufferers.
Dear Sir:
Having been given full powers by His Majesty’s Government to deal with such relief measures as are required in connection with the recent disaster to various settlements through earthquake shock and tidal wave destruction, we hereby delegate to you the authority to deal with conditions in your district as circumstances may show to be necessary.
You are to act as chairman of the committee which will arrange and supervise the necessary relief measures in the section from Lord’s Cove to High Beach, inclusive. Your committee consists of: C.C. Pittman, J.P., Chairman, John Foote, J.P., Rev. Fr. Sullivan, Rev. Mr. Spurrell, Messrs Lewis Crews, John W. Hillier, Edward Cake and John Haley.
Relief supplies for your section are at your disposal to be distributed as you and your committee see fit. You are, further, to take care of clothing supplies, of housing conditions, of fuel and other conditions and to handle these matters as you see fit under all the circumstances, being hereby invested with whatever powers are necessary to enforce your decisions in connection with the various undertakings concerned.
It is not possible to give your duties or to state your powers in detail, but you are generally to undertake and do such things as may from time to time appear to be necessary from the standpoint of relief or to facilitate such relief measures, until you are further advised by the Government of Newfoundland.
The Government are particularly concerned to ascertain the full extent of the damage in your section. You will, therefore, arrange to have a thorough survey made as expeditiously as possible, employing whatever means or agencies are necessary for this purpose and using forms supplied you by us.