Tsunami

fencing. So far he has taken nothing and I should like to recommend a cash payment of $150.00 in full settlement of his claim which I know would perfectly satisfy the old man.

(2) Edwin King, of Lamaline East, was assessed $170.00 and I understand has so far taken material to amount of $22.50. This man has been sick for five years and has not earned anything, and I know he can never again earn or even get out around, much less build. We should make a satisfied claimant by a cash payment of $150.00 to him also, and I should like to recommend it as a fair and just settlement in this case.

(3) Claim #44. David Strang, Lawn, was assessed $742.00 and I find this claim not only includes David Strang’s loss but also that of his adopted son, Peter Quirk. Quirk has taken his share of the assessment, leaving some $300.00 worth still due the claimant David Strang, who has been bedridden these seven years, and who owned the dwelling house, stage and one of the stores. He assures me and I quite believe him, that he can do nothing with material and I would recommend a cash payment of $200.00 be made to settle his claim.

(4) I have already mentioned the case of Mrs. Thos. G. Hillier [author’s note: this is Lydia Hillier] of Point aux Gauls [sic] whose husband was drowned. In this connection I would say that her stepson, Harold William, who gave in the losses of fishing gear and premises etc has been fixed up O.K, but so far no arrangement has been made in a compensation to Mrs. Hillier.

Mrs. Hillier was left with a step-daughter aged 20, a daughter aged 11, and two sons, one 2 years of age and the other an infant born shortly after the husband’s death [author’s note: this baby was born partially blind]. I am not in a position to know the personal circumstances of Mrs. Hillier but suspect they are not very good as I know Mr. Hillier carried no insurance on account of some heart trouble. There is too I think some little friction between the son Harold William and his step-mother. I would suggest therefore that an arrangement be made whereby the property and fishing gear be left with Harold William and his sister Georgina, and Mrs. Thos. Hillier be made a separate allowance for herself and her children.

As Thomas Hillier was the only bread-winner who lost his life in the Tidal Wave, and as he has left rather a helpless family I beg to suggest that the sum of $3000.00 be set aside in Trust for Mrs. Hillier and her children and that she be paid $25.00 per month out of this sum until the whole be expended. I feel sure this arrangement will meet the needs of the case fairly well, having regard to it’s [sic] nature, and the aim of the Funds.

I should be glad to have settlements of these and the other cases which I wrote you about previously, fixed at your earliest convenience either along the lines I have suggested or otherwise as the Committee deem fit.

Yours faithfully, M. Hollett

APPENDIX SIX

Newfoundland Board of Health

St. John’s, Nfld.

South Coast Disaster Summary

1. Extent of coastline affected — 60 miles.

2. Population affected — 10,000.

3. Lives lost — 27, at the following places and to the following extent: Port au Bras, 7; Kelly’s Cove, 2; Lord’s Cove, 4; Taylor’s Bay, 5; Point au Gaul, 8; Allan’s Island, 1.

4. Property losses, approximately one million dollars.

5. Industrial effects — boats, fishing gear, supplies and other equipment of fifty per cent of the wage-earners destroyed.

6. Commercial effects — supplying merchants at half a dozen of the larger fishing communities stripped of property and goods rendering it impossible for them to continue in the trade.

In addition to the above, a thorough inspection was made of all settlements visited in the stricken area and many cases of a chronic nature were treated or prescribed for.

Staff—

Dr. L. Paterson,

Dr. C.F. Blackler

Dr. J.B. Murphy

District Nurse D. Cherry

Nurses Jackman, Hampton, Fitzgerald, Rendell

APPENDIX SEVEN

Value of Donations to South Coast Disaster Committee

In-kind gifts: $25,000 value

St. John’s: $102,306.23

Rest of Newfoundland: $87,201.38

United States: $8691.57

England: $7440.37

Canada: $36,768.31

Special (amount from Newfoundland, representing funds

from Britain, the U.S., and Canada): $7684.28

Interest earned: $4939.60

Sundry refunds: $1896.81, $6836.41

TOTAL: $256,928.55

Note that this sum does not include the goods that were sent with the Meigle and the Daisy on their early relief voyages or the lumber, clothing, etc. that was sent directly from private firms and communities around the country.

Note also that the Committee did not reimburse people for foodstuffs lost to the tsunami.

Sources consulted for Tsunami

CORRESPONDENCE AT THE TIME OF THE TIDAL WAVE

Bartlett, George A., Letter to R.A. Squires, Prime Minister, Nov. 20, 1929.

Earthquake Relief Committee of the Government of Newfoundland. Correspondence, 1930.

Ernest Cheeseman, Port au Bras, Letter to John Cheeseman, Nov. 20, 1929.

Hollett, Magistrate M., Correspondence to Prime Minister Squires—various letters and telegraphs, 1929.

Macpherson, Dr. Cluny, Letters to Dr. H.M. Mosdell, Nov. 27 and Dec. 9, 1929.

Mosdell, Dr. H.M., Letters and telegraphs to Hon. Dr. Barnes, Nov. 22, Nov. 27, and Nov. 29, 1929.

Mosdell, Dr. H.M., Letter to Nurse D. Cherry, Jan. 14, 1930.

Mosdell, Dr. H.M., Letter to Dr. Cluny Macpherson, Dec. 6, 1929.

REPORTS FROM THE ERA

Board of Health for the Colony, St. John’s, Newfoundland (n.d.) List of Lives Lost in Earthquake Disaster.

Dee, J.H. (1929) Report by Inspector J.H. Dee on Disaster of Night of 18th November on the Coast from Lamaline, Inclusive. Submitted to M. Hollett.

Author Unknown (1929) Voyage of relief Ship Meigle—To Scene of Tidal Wave Disaster, Lamaline to Rock Harbour, Districts Burin East and West.

Hollett, M. (1929) Report on Damages, Rock Harbour.