“The Sally's Cove Tragedy”

Description

A few days after leaving home, "The rain and fog lay thick all around, the winds did howl and mourn." "Without fire, food, or water in that bitter piercing cold," two boys, Russ and Dennis, die leaving Eli Roberts to mourn.

Notes

I can't find a record of this loss. However, Peacock says Decker claimed to have written this ballad around 1909-1919. An Eli and Susan Roberts were married at Sally's Cove in 1893 [source: Newfoundland & Labrador Gen Web site] so a date of 1909 or 1910 seems reasonable for the incident.

Salley's Cove is on the west coast of Newfoundland in what is now Gros Morne National Park - BS

References

  1. Peacock, pp. 971-972, "The Sally's Cove Tragedy" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Roud #9933
  3. BI, Pea971

About

Author: George Decker
Earliest date: 1959 (Peacock)
Found in: Canada(Newf)