On a December evening in 1919, the Steam Ship Ethie was caught in a storm just off Martin Point, Newfoundland. Forced onto the rocks, the ship was doomed, putting the lives of over 90 passengers and crew at risk.
In reading up on the SS Ethie, I came across two great aspects of the story. The first is the the captain intentionally put the ship on the rocks to avoid the worse fate of sinking. I can’t imaging having to make that decision.
The second is the story of the residents (and animals) of Martins point who came the the rescue of the passengers and crew stranded on the rocks. Story goes that the water was too rough to use lifeboats and the SS Ethie was too far out for the crew to throw rescue lines ashore. The dog of a local fisherman was sent out in the water to retrieve the lines and is credited with saving the passengers and crew. In a very different way it reminds me of the contributions of the residents of Peggys Cove and area during the Swiss Air disaster.
This story is the subject of many a bedtime story, and in true Newfoundland tradition has been spun into a much grander tale.
The wreckage above is all thats left. An interesting and spooky place.