Thread by @deadinHalifax

98 YEARS AGO TODAY John Edward Power. Lost in the woods, North West Arm July 24 1921. Aged 13 years. Here is what happened (a thread.) @HolyCrossHali @CaCemeteryHist

The Morning Chronicle noted that July 24 was hot and sunny. It was a busy day for bathers on the NW Arm. “The single and other picnicing spots on the arm were yesterday taxed to capacity.” Photos and clippings via @NS_Archives

“Probably the largest crowd of bathers this season were present yesterday on the arm. The boating clubs were crowded and all along the shore those that did not belong to any particular club took advantage of secluded spots to prepare for a swim.”

It was a Sunday. Johnny (as we learn he was called) lived with his family on Creighton St. His father was a well known mailman according to the Herald. If Johnny walked to the arm to swim with friends it would have taken more than an hour.

New of the missing boy broke in the Chronicle Tuesday July 26. “The little fellow left home shortly after dinner Sunday afternoon accompanied by two play fellows. They went to the NW Arm and (…)took off their shoes and stocking to bathe their feet.”

“The Power boy put his feet in the water but announced (...) that the water was too cold, after which he walked into the bushes (...) leaving his shoes and stockings on the beach. When his little friends went looking for him he had disappeared.” Photo: Dingle Beach 1930

“His parents are greatly alarmed over his absence, as he was rather a sickly child and has never been away from home for any extended period” Military, police and volunteers scoured the woods.

It’s not mentioned in the first articles but there was a “heavy electrical storm,” that night. This video from Halifax a few days ago illustrates what this sort of storm can look like.

“He was bareheaded and barefooted wearing a white blouse and heavy corduroy trousers.”

Wednesday July 27
MAYOR PARKER CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS.
“The A.O.H, (...) engaged the services of an expert diver who will today make a thorough search of the arm...”
“There were about 100 men searching yesterday, but they failed to find the smallest trace of the boy.”

“Chief of Police Hanrahan refuses the idea that the little fellow drowned and is firmly convinced that he is somewhere in the woods.” Photo: Chief Francis Hanrahan via Halifax Municipal Archives

NO TRACE OF MISSING BOY
BASELESS RUMOURS THAT THE LITTLE LAD HAD BEEN FOUND CAUSED MUCH EMBARASSMENT TO PARENTS
Morning Chronicle Thursday July 28 1921

“The boy’s mother had also been told of the supposed rescue and was eagerly waiting for him to be brought home. She as well as the large crowd gathered (...) eager to hear of the rescue received a great shock when a telephone message came saying the story had no foundation.”

“The numbers engaged in the hunt were much larger than any previous day, and the whole city is deeply concerned over the unfortunate affair.”

“The memorial tower is being used as headquarters for the search and any wishing to render assistance in the hunt can apply there.”

HALIFAX FAMILY SADLY AFFLICTED In a strange turn, Johnny’s infant brother drinks carbolic acid and is hospitalized, even as the search continues. “His mouth and tongue were badly burned and blistered and immediate attention was necessary to save his life.”

August 3: BOY’S DISAPPEARANCE STILL UNSOLVED “The majority of the searchers are utterly at a loss as to what has become of the boy and are inclined to think that if he was in the woods, some trace of him would have been discovered be fore this.”

August 6 1921
SEARCH FOR LITTLE BOY CONTINUES

“…all hopes of finding him alive have no been abandoned.:”

“nothing will be left undone, which might afford the slightest ray or hope to the boy’s parents.”

And then Johnny Power disappears from the pages of the Morning Chronicle for more than a year.

Thursday October 22 1922 JOHNNY POWER’S REMAINS FOUND a hunter found skeletal remains in a clump of bushes near the Herring Cove Road. “It is believed in police circles that the little chap succumbed to exhaustion and exposure on the first night of his disappearance.”

“The city and suburbs was visited by a heavy electrical storm on the night of July 24 (...) it is generally thought that the little fellow, always frail and delicate and knowing he was lost, frightened by the storm & at the mercy of the elements laid down in the woods and died.”

Rescuers had searched within six feet of where Johnny was found.

The death certificate of Johnny Power. An inquest determined he died of exposure and exhaustion. Listed under contributory causes: “lost in woods.” His remains were sent to Snows for burial at @HolyCrossHali RIP Johnny #deadinhalifax