The Flemings of Torbay

The Flemings Of Torbay is a popular Newfoundland folk song. It was written by Johnny Burke (1851-1930), a popular St. John's balladeer.

Lyrics

The thrilling news we heard last week

is in our memories yet,

Two fishermen from Newfoundland

saved from the jaws of death;

Two fine young men born in Torbay

who went adrift at sea,

On the eighteenth day of April

from the schooner Jubilee.

They left to prosecute their voyage

near the Grand Banks' stormy shore,

Where many's the hardy fisherman

was never heard of more;

For six long days in storms at sea

those hardy fellows stood,

Fatigued, footsore, and hungry,

no water or no food.

Tossed on the seas ail those long days

while bitter was each night,

No friend to speak a kindly word,

no sail to heave in sight;

At last a vessel hove in sight

and saw the floating speck,

The Jessie Maurice was her name,

coal laden from Quebec.

Our wheelsman well-trained he espied

clear through the misty haze,

Those poor exhausted fishermen

adrift so many days;

Our captain, a kindhearted man,

had just come on the deck,

Then orders gave to hard aport

and shaped her for the wreck.

Two hours or more while the winds did roar

the Jessie sailed around,

To see if any tidings of

the dory could be found;

The crew was stationed on the bow

all anxious her to hail,

When the captain spied her in

the fog just aft the water rail.

Our brave commander right away

the order gave to launch,

The jolly boats that hung astern

of good old oak so staunch;

Two brave old seamen manned the oars

and at the word to go,

The captain standing in the bow

to take the boat in tow.

The captain gripped the painter for

to bring her to the barque,

While those on board were still as death,

their features cold and dark;

A sling was then made fast below

in which those men to place,

While tender-hearted mariners

they worked with noble faith.

No sign of life was in those men

as they were placed in bed,

But still our captain held out hope

the vital spark not fled;

He watched for days and sleepless nights

to bring those men around,

And on the second day discerned

but just a feeble sound.

The first to speak was Peter,

the eldest of the two,

He told the captain who they were,

a part of the Jubilee's crew;

And how in April on the Banks

they chanced to drift astray,

And lay exposed in an open boat

for six long stormy days.

Our captain then our stuns'l set

and shaped her for Quebec,

He took on board the dory

and all left of the wreck;

He watched those men with a mother's care

while in their berth they lay,

And saved the lives of two poor boys

once more to see Torbay.

God bless the Jessie's gallant crew,

likewise their captain bold,

Their names should be recorded

into letters of bright gold;

And send them peace and happiness

in every port they lay,

The plucky boys that saved the life

of the Flemings of Torbay.

See also

• List of Newfoundland songs