It is going to be 81 degrees in Central Texas today and this coming Saturday night down to 38 degrees. The animules dont even have the beginnings of a winter coat yet. Around here the saying is: "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute."
Another year has gone by.
The identical ship to the Fitzgerald at the time was the SS Arthur B. Homer owned by Bethlehem Steel Corp. The Homer was taken out of service & docked in the late 1970's & sold for scrap value in the 1980's leading some to speculate on its structural integrity. Both the Fitzgerald & the Homer were welded steel hulls which are more ridged than riveted hulls. When U.S. Steel Corp commissioned construction of the SS Edgar B. Speers in the late 1970's it was identical to the Fitzgerald but with a riveted hull. The Speers was christened in 1980 & still in use today.
Sorry for the late reply. I was always facinated by Great Lakes shipping when I was in High School, so in my Junior Year, when the ship went down, it became clear to me how dangerous shipping of this type could be. Really for me it is just something that I have over the year not forgotten. The 10th of November is not far away again.
If the clamps had been boomered down. If the Fitz had been a riveted hull it wouldnt have broken up & could have stayed afloat for up to 3 hrs before sinking, making a helicopter rescue at least possible in a 100 yr storm.
That’s some great pickin’. Would make a fine instrumental version.
