The Wreck
Destiny's Daughter- The Tragedy of the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, by Russell Galbraith (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh , Scotland, 1988, I 76pp, illus, £12.95) Launched fifty years ago, the Cunard Liner Queen Elizabeth was the largest passenger 1iner ever built. Designed as a running mate forthe earlier Queen Mary and built at C lydeside, this magnificent ship was launched in September 1938 , less than a year before the start of World War II. She was sti ll uncompleted when hostilities commenced and she became a likely target for Hitler's Luftwaffe. Completed in double-quick time, the great ship sailed from the Clyde early in 1940 under secret sealed orders and without proper sea trials. After zig-zagging across the Atlantic she reached safe haven in New York, early in March, to be docked in company with the Queen Mary and Normandie. Thereafter she was principally employed (as was the Queen Mary) as a troop sh ip, their great speed making both comparatively immune to attack from lurking U-Boats. In this role she carried hundreds of thousands of servicemen across the Atlantic. When the War ended, the Queen Elizabeth (and the Queen Mary ) were returned to Cunard to be refitted and refurbished , and returned to their intended role of carrying the luxury passenger trade across the Atlantic. However the writing was on the wall, with long distance air travel shortly to supplant these huge liners in the travel field. In 1968, Cunard so ld the Queen Elizabeth to an American consortium and she sailed for the last time to the USA, intended as part of a tourist display in Florida. Thi s project was beset with problems, and finally the ship was sold to Ch inese owners who renamed her Seawise University and took her to Hong Kong. Here, in Jan uary 1972, a number of fires started aboard (attributed by a later court of enquiry to probab ly deliberate acts on the part of persons unknown) and the fine old ship , burnt almost to the waterline, sank in shallow water with the remains to be sold eventuall y for scrap. Galbraith carried out an immense amount of research, and obtained splendid period photos in this enthralling story of one of the the last great Atlantic liners. JAMES FORSYTHE
and Rescue of the Schooner
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J.H. Hartzell
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Winner BEST ADVENTURE FEATURE American Film Festival Six years in the making . "COASTER" is the true story of the wooden cargo schooner the John F Leavitt . It is the story of the sea . a rich human drama set agai nst the backdrop of the harsh North Atlantic and the rugged coast of Maine. "A THRILLING STORY .. a beautifully crafted 11/m. So finely constructed that it comes as a revelation, .. - Alan Stern .Boeton Phoenix
·· rhe photography is excellent... The filmmaker has captured the beauty and fury of the sea " - Linda Gross . Los AngelH Tlmet
A must to own ...or the perfect gift!
VIDEOCASSETTE
Available for $39.95 Add $3.00 shipping & handling each item. Maine residents add sales tax. VISA or MC or send check or M.O. to : Atlantic Film . Dept. G 78 ~ 102 Harbor Road Kittery Point. ME 03905 207-439-3739
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It was dark as pitch at 3:00am Oct. 18th , 1880. The ni ght was calm and th e winds were light. Ca ptain William Jones guided his Schooner toward the harbor . With unbelievable quickness, the winds shifted and a raging storm descended on Lake Michigan. The ship ran aground. To escape th e violent surf, the crew took refuge in the rigging.
The resc ue that followed went down in history as one of the most heroic and challenging of the Unit ed States Life Saving Service. This film faithfully re-c reates a true ad ve nture on the Great Lakes. Endorsed by th e Association for Great Lakes Maritime History. 58 Minutes - Color · NTSC - VHS Available for only S39 .95 (plus tax and S2.50 shippin g). Licensed for pri vate home use only. Licensing is available for public an d edu cation al use.
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