Unusual Occurrences
MINOR EARTHQUAKE?
In the summer of 1907, part of the north side of Bell Island disappeared into the sea as a result of two thunder storms, one on July 13th and one less than a week later on the 19th. The section that foundered was about two acres. It was presumed that there may have been a minor earthquake.
Source: Daily News, as reported by Addison Bown in "Newspaper History of Bell Island," V. 1, p. 22, 1907.
Source: Daily News, as reported by Addison Bown in "Newspaper History of Bell Island," V. 1, p. 22, 1907.
RAGING BULL
One day in 1932, a bull was being led through Town Square when it saw its reflection in the plate glass windows of Nathan Cohen's store and, thinking it was seeing another bull, charged through the window, shattering the glass and causing general chaos.
Source: Addison Bown, "Newspaper History of Bell Island," V. 2, p. 47, 1932.
Source: Addison Bown, "Newspaper History of Bell Island," V. 2, p. 47, 1932.
THE BELL ISLAND BOOM
On April 2, 1978, there was a loud explosion on Bell Island which caused damage to some houses and the electrical house wiring in the surrounding area. Two cup-shaped holes in the ground of about two feet deep and three feet wide marked the major impact. Some TV sets in Lance Cove, the surrounding community, exploded at the time of the blast. It was initially thought to be caused by ball lightning. Meteorologists stated that atmospheric conditions at the time were not conducive to lightning. The boom was heard 55 kilometers away in Cape Broyle. The impact occurred in the Bickfordville area, on the southwestern side of the island.
The incident was investigated by scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Some people speculated that they were investigating a secret weapons test and were military attachés. However, it is now believed they were investigating a "superbolt" – an unusually large bolt of lightning, lasting an unusually long time: about a thousandth of a second.
Source: Wikipedia article on "Bell Island (Newfoundland and Labrador).
The incident was investigated by scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Some people speculated that they were investigating a secret weapons test and were military attachés. However, it is now believed they were investigating a "superbolt" – an unusually large bolt of lightning, lasting an unusually long time: about a thousandth of a second.
Source: Wikipedia article on "Bell Island (Newfoundland and Labrador).
MOOSE SWIMS TICKLE
On October 9, 1981, a yearling moose swan the three miles across The Tickle, coming ashore on The Beach. In an attempt to escape the gathering crowd of onlookers, he made his way up a narrow path on the side of the cliff but had to turn back and take the paved Beach Hill instead. At the top of the hill, he turned east down Long Harry Road, where he entered the woods in the area
of the Lighthouse. He explored that part of the Island for about 10 days before finding his way to the more densely wooded area of Lance Cove/Freshwater, where he made his home for the next 13 years.
Read the full story of Belle the Moose in "Animal Stories" under "Extras" in the top menu.
of the Lighthouse. He explored that part of the Island for about 10 days before finding his way to the more densely wooded area of Lance Cove/Freshwater, where he made his home for the next 13 years.
Read the full story of Belle the Moose in "Animal Stories" under "Extras" in the top menu.