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One day in September the skies they were blue,
The wind from the south'ard on a course straight and true;
They took fuel in Old Perlican, having left Bay de Verde,
Two fishermen missing and we still haven't heard.
Two fishermen missing, oh where could they be,
As all ships and search planes are combing the sea;
To fishermen those Baccalieu cliffs,
Spell trouble for trawlers, longliners and skiffs.
Two days on the water it was their intent,
Their time was spent fishing then homeward they went;
But the trials of fishermen do never cease,
On the rocks the next morning was the Andrea Denise.
Bruce Button, the captain, he kept a firm hand,
Warren Cooper, Gar Bursey made second and third man;
They were plucked from the water and saved from the plight,
Of Roll Driscoll, Randy Bursey, who were nowhere in sight.
The night lights are burning out in their hometown,
As loved ones are praying those men will be found;
So come all you seafarers who wait on the shore,
Two fishermen missing....
Crew members Randy Bursey of Caplin Cove and Roland Driscoll of Old Perlican were lost in the shipwreck of the Andrea Denise in September, 1984. The three rescued crew men were also from Old Perlican. ~ Thanks to Randy Bursey's daughter Mandy for this information, 10/31/2010.
Caplin Cove is a small community on the north shore of Conception Bay. It is surrounded on the north by Low Point near the end of the Bay de Verde Peninsula, and on the south by Lower Island Cove. Caplin Cove was probably named for the large body of capelin in its waters. Known as Parlican at the end of the 16th century, the name of this once largest fishing port in Trinity Bay was changed to Old Perlican in 1689. It is one of the oldest fishing communities in Newfoundland.
