Sea Tragedy

 

After a few hours at sea, the weather changed dramatically, leaving the boats involved in a huge storm. Very strong waves, rose as much as to 10 meters, while the wind ran to the northwest and the air cooled dramatically. Some of the boats return to Leixoes, but the vast majority, decides to continue. At dusk the night was dark and moonless while the clouds completely cover the sky and the win turned into cyclonic winds. By now, everyone is trying to escape the storm, pushing up the engines and machinery of ships, desperately seeking a safe haven, while the sea carrying sailors overboard and filled the holds of ships water.

Night, on land, ran murmurs that something went wrong and desperate people ran towards the new sandy beach in Matosinhos. At the head of the south pier of the port of Leixoes, women and children of sailors crowded to the glimpse of the navigation lights of fishing boats approaching the harbor desperately. Once the first trawlers landed, reported the bad news had been spotted between the Aguda and the Sr. da Pedra, four boats sailed in affliction very close to shore, and that although some masters have tried to warn them and guide them to the right track, with sirens, screams and even signs, nothing could do because the violence of the storm was such that prevented them from managed their objectives.

Finally came the news of the tragic reality and got to know that this dark and sinister night of December 2, 1947, wrecked between Aguda and Leixoes four boats, the "D. Manuel "," Faustino Rosa "," Maria Miguel "and" S. Salvador ", perished a total of 152 sailors who were among the shipwrecks and those who fell overboard, leaving 71 widows and more than 100 orphans.
Of the four shipwrecks, saved only six sailors, making this the largest shipwreck maritime tragedy occurred off the Portuguese coast

In 2005 was inaugurated at Matosinhos beach of the monument "Tragedy of the Sea", a sculpture tribute to the 1947 sinking of about three feet high, composed of five figures of orphans and widows whose faces are apparent tragedy in 1947. It was sculpted by Joseph John Brito who was based in the painting of the same name created by the Master Augusto Gomes.