# The Flemings of Torbay

The Flemings Of Torbay is a popular Newfoundland folk song about two young men from Torbay. It was written by Johnny Burke, 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.