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Photo Hamilton Kahn
An engraving on the obelisk reads, 'Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go to the streets.' |
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Society seeks new life for Truro obelisk
Michael Iacuessa
BANNER CORRESPONDENT
It may have been the storm of the previous century, at least in the toll it took on Truro.
On Oct. 3, 1841, 57 Truro men were lost as seven fishing vessels failed to return to port after what is described in historical accounts as a monster gale. The men, only eight of which were over age 30 and 27 of which were married, lived within a two-mile radius of each other.
Truro's only memory of the tragic storm now is an obelisk resting near the cemetery of the Congregational Church, the names upon it barely readable. The church and the Truro Historical Society plan to refurbish the stone by extending its base and adding to it four bronze plaques with the men's names and ages.
'Lost in that storm were young kids, young men, fathers, grandfathers and uncles,' relates Bruce Tarvers, member of the Historical Society. 'It left Truro so that for a long time it was known as the town of widows.'
At request of the Historical Society, the Selectmen have given initial support for the town to contribute a third of the cost to refurbish the obelisk. The overall cost is estimated to be $4,260. The article could come before voters at a Special Town Meeting this fall.
The storm was Truro's worst tragedy, at least from one incident. Hundreds of vessels were lost from Newfoundland to Delaware that day. Six manned with Truro crews - the Cincinnatus, the Dalmatia, the Altair, the Prince Albert, the General Harrison and the Arrival were never heard from again. Another, the Pomona, was found but only three bodies were recovered.
Six of the vessels had been fishing off Georges Bank, the Cincinnatus off the Isle of Sable.
The day started well enough. The captain of a Boston schooner which survived the storm recounted in a diary that he passed the Dalmatia and the General Harrison about 90 miles southeast by east of the Highlands and that they had 20 to 30 barrels of salted mackerel on deck.
A short time later, fish were the least of the boat's concerns. Another diary, written by Joshua Knowles, master of the Garnet, the only Truro ship to survive the storm, described the damage sustained by that ship - '... the foremast was broken about 15 feet above deck, swept away the galley, bulwarks and everything clean, and shifted the ballast into the wing.'
The Garnet did come close to having one fatality before being rescued on Oct. 6, lying so low in the water that another passing ship missed them the day before.
'Brother Zack was washed overboard, but caught the mainsheet and hawled himself on board,' described Knowles.
Elisha Paine, a 39-year-old fisherman on another boat, the Reform, was not as lucky being the only Truro death not attributed to the seven lost ships.
Shebnah Rich, in his 1883 book 'Truro - Cape Cod or Land Marks and Sea Marks,' described the incident.
'The vessel was thrown completely bottom up, as the men huddled together, with everything moveable, on the carlines, the water bursting into the cabin. The crew had no doubt it was her final plunge. A few seconds only, she was again on her keel. Two or three men crawled on deck; they found the masts gone and the hawser of the drag wound around the bowsprit. She had turned completely over, and came up on the opposite side. Mr. Paine was never heard from again.'
Other Cape towns also suffered losses. Reportedly, 20 men from Dennis were lost and 10 from Yarmouth.
The obelisk, believes Tarvers, was erected after a public solicitation of funds shortly after the tragedy, with money donated by the citizens of Truro. That is one reason the church and Historical Society are requesting an article at Town Meeting.
'It was incredible that the people who had lost their bread winners were able to participate in the erection of the stone,' he explains. 'We thought today's citizens should at least have the opportunity to participate.'
The plaques are expected to be in place by September. A re-dedication is planned during Truro Treasure Weekend on Sept. 23, coinciding with annual historical readings in the church.
Vern Hunt of Nickerson Memorials has been contracted by the church to provide the plaques.
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History Highlights
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Aug 17th, 2000