“Sad Disaster in Labrador”
Editor
“Presbyterian Witness”.
Dear Sir;
In a letter from Dr.
Hare who is
working in Harrington Harbour, Labrador,
in connection with the “International Grenfell Association”, dated November 24th 1914,
but
which only arrived last Friday, I received the following sad
information.
On the eighteenth
November a
number of the men of Harrington rowed to the “Cape”
which extended a short distance out from the shelter of the harbour.
Their intention was to shoot birds, and if possible a seal or two. The
day was
fine when they set out, but without warning a wind swept down upon them
from
the northwest. It was blowing off the shore and before the men had time
to
regain shelter it had developed into a hurricane that blew at the rate
of 84 miles
an hour. It was a desperate row for all. Some of the boats were over an
hour in
covering the few hundred yards to safety. Three of the men never got
back. One
of them; Albert Ransom, was a leader in the work of our church. At
different
times head of the Endeavor Society, a member of the choir and one of
the ablest
fellows in the village, his loss well be bitterly felt. He leaves a
wife and
son. The other two were Enos Cox, who
leaves a wife
and four children, and an orphan boy James Herritt,
and their loss as well will cast its deepest gloom over all. For in
such a
small village, where not only the ties of kinship, but of years of
daily
companionship, bind everyone together, the sadness though greatest for
those
immediately connected will make its deep impression upon all. Sad
things are
happening in other places today, but Labrador
is bearing
its load as well.
Will you kindly
insert this
notice in your paper that those interested in our northern mission and
the
people here may see it?
I am,
Yours Very Sincerely,
Harold A. Smith
Presbyterian College, Halifax, N.S.
Date
entered on the Web: 13 March 2005