Close calls and more
There are many stories in Newfoundland lore where people seem to have a sixth sense, or the powers of premonition in respect to some catastrophe befalling a relative or friend. One such incident is contained in a small “family tree book” published in the 1980s by Frederick G. Adams, St. John’s.
One particular member of the extended Adams Newfoundland family, Charles Adams was born in February 1834; he lived to be 83 and died in the same room in which he was born in the old family homestead located on what is now Pennywell Road (formerly Pennywell Path), St. John’s. The home was known in its day by the poetic name of “Lilac Lodge,” ultimately changed to “Lilac Dell.” In his booklet, Fred Adams added somewhat sadly, “today it is just another number on a busy city street.”
Charles’s experience with premonition concerned his brother, Fred. Charles had come into the house one day in 1873 (he would have been 39) and declared “that he had a terrible feeling Fred was in peril” (Frederick G. wrote). “Next day, news arrived at Duder’s office that the ‘Memento’ was lost with all hands.”
I checked for just such a vessel and found that she had been “lost with all her crew on Renews Rock, June 19th., 1873.” Of course, these “forebodings” are inexplicable but there are plenty of instances of them. The cynic might well ask how many have been expressed and proven false.
Renews Rocks are “flagged” for navigation and by the brief note I found on where “Memento” came to grief, I would say they were notoriously known. Duder’s was a well-known general merchant/fishing and shipping company here at the time.
A near miss
The next event had nothing to do with premonition but it is a little “classic” of small-town news from over a century ago. Not to make light of a near-tragedy, but it also has all the earmarks of a Keystone Cops movie with policemen, firemen and would-be rescuers flying madly off in all directions.
The Evening Telegram, March 10, 1899. Nearly Drowned!
“Michael Brien of Forest Road went trouting down at Quidi Vidi Lake this morning and had a narrow escape from drowning. He walked off on the ice near the penitentiary about 20 yards and fell through, up to his throat in the water. John Croke and James Breen, who were also fishing up towards the end of the lake started to the rescue. Breen had gone about 30 yards when he, too, fell in to his throat and had to be rescued by Croke who then started to help Brien. He fell in three times on the way and made for the shore near the pen to get a longer; he could not land there and had to retreat to the north side and get ashore near Ross’s; meantime, Brien was fast becoming exhausted and his footing on the lower ice was fast giving away.
“About a minute or two afterwards a number of men had collected at the foot of the boat house lane. A rope was procured from the boat house and after one or two unsuccessful attempts, Solomon Reid got within ten feet of Brien and threw him the rope. He just had strength left to hold it tight enough to be hauled to the standing ice and was very much exhausted when helped on shore.
“By this time a large crowd had assembled, as the police, who were telephoned for, had arrived on the scene with ropes, etc. Venerable Archdeacon Botwood, who happened to see the accident on his way to town, drove to the east end fire hall and reported to Const. Lynch, who first telephoned to Inspector General Mccowen and then started for the lake. Meantime Brien had been safely rescued by Solomon Reid and J. Ryan who used a rope and ladder and crawled out on the ice at the risk of their lives.”
I expected to read that the penitentiary had been opened in order to release men who were accustomed to working with ropes and ladders.
As March 10 ,1899, was a Friday, readers may wish to tell in their own words which of all the men above-mentioned were at work and which were not.
Another premonition
To some extent, visualizing the future was in the Adams family. There is at least one other such occurrence, this time, in 1854 when the above-mentioned Charles was 20. It was his practice as a youth to go into the woods on occasion to help cut fire wood. On March 21, 1854, Charles was planning to go in with his friends, the Downs brothers, who lived on Freshwater Road. But Charles’ father discouraged his son as he sensed bad weather. The appointed morning was bright and clear however (Fred Adams wrote in the 1980s) and young Charles was so determined that his father had to “put his foot down” (as we say).
“About 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon a storm broke and a raging blizzard began. Several days later one of the (missing) Downs boys was found about 100 yards from his barn and the other, about a quarter-mile away. Both had perished in the storm.” Apparently, Adams Senior could not only accurately predict the weather but could sniff danger on the wind, too.