On the morning of November 22, 1932, Gertie and Nora Burke got an early start on their chores. Gertie sat in the rocking chair, putting the final touches on a pair of vamps, while Nora carded a basket of wool from the spring before. Gertie was fourteen and Nora was twenty-four years of age.

A gentle tap on the kitchen window broke the silence of the morning. The sisters rushed to see who was outside. As they pushed the curtains open, they saw Mr. Frank Burke. He had come to inform their brothers, Tom, Lewis and Cyril, that Bill Hurley was missing. He wanted them to help with the search. Unfortunately, the three men had already gone out birdin'.

Bill Hurley was a bachelor who lived alone in Oliver's Cove. The day before, he had taken a ten-pound tub and left the community. His nephew, Jack Hurley lived next door and noticed that Bill did not come home. There was reason to worry because Bill was in his early eighties. The people were afraid that he had fallen down and was too weak to make it home.