Black Friday

On the morn of 14th October 1881
with a light wind that was blowing
46 boats left Eyemouth and Burnmouth
setting out to sea to catch fish as done before

At about eight or twelve miles from land
with their boats swaying gently on the water
they shot their lines into the Atlantic

When suddenly the light wind did die away
with that, dark storm clouds took over the sky
and started to dump its rain over the boats

The wind grew stronger in force
as the sea once calm now did start to swell
there was no time to haul in the lines
that were shot into the sea so they were let go

Now a choice had to be made, head to Eyemouth
or weather the storm at sea?

The choice was made to head to shore
a decision that was to cost the lives of many
as the boats arrived near the port
huge waves crashed the boats against the Hurkar rocks
breaking them into pieces like match boxes

Watching from the shore were the wifes, mothers and children
unable to render any assistance and who were helpless to help
as their husbands, sons, brothers and fathers,
aboard those boats all drowned as they looked on

98 widows and 267 fatherless children
189 lifes lost that day
129 dead from Eyemouth alone
A day now known as Black Friday

Amidst all the death and sorrow
there was a glimmer of light among the darkness
When two days later, the Ariel Gazelle turned up in Eyemouth,
having braved the storm out at sea
instead of heading back to port
but it would be many years
before Eyemouth would recover from this disaster

So least us never forget
all the men who died that day
and remember them each year
on the 14th of October

©words2myself