ofBaltimore, and Lane Victory of San Pedro in full operating status, and the American Victory in Tampa and Red Oak Victory in Richmond, California, are being developed for operating status. The legacy ships can be an arm of active education for the "American Achievement by Sea" program and can help assure that our m aritime heritage will have a future worthy of its inspiring past. THOMAS J. PATTERSON Rear Admiral, USMS (Ret.) San Rafael, California
Kudos from the West Coast Many thanks for more West Coast coverage . I have enjoyed reading your Columbia River Maritime Museum and Virginia V restoration articles. M y family and I have had memorable cruises on Seattle's last Mosq ui to Fleet vessel. It is a thrill to us to see this grand old steamer cruise by proudly. Also, thanks for the fine article on "The Sp irit of Atlantic Challenge," by Cate Cronin. Years ago I attended Atlantic Challenge competitions in Roslci lde, when we had a local participant. Ir was a marvelous regatta, and we were so impressed that we started our Pacific Challenge in 26' boats li ke the ones Captain Vancouver used to explore Pacifi.cNorthwestwaters from 1792 to 1794. I am enclosing a copy of Spray, Ahoy!, published by the Joshua Slocum Society International. Like NMHS we need new m e mbers and an opportuni ty to tell our story. The Society was founded in 1955 to honor the memory of Capt. Joshua Slocum, who first circumnavigated the world in the late 1890s as a solo sailor in his 37' Spray. Over the years, JSSI has honored 134 'ro und-the-world sailors with our Golden C ircle Award. Several years ago I presented the award to solo sailor Karen T horndike on rhe aft deck of the Was hin gto n State Ambassadorship Lady Washington. THORNTON THOMAS Bellevue, W ashington
Joshua Slocum Society International, Inc., 15 Codfish HiLL Road Extension, Bethel CT 0680 I; web site:joshuaSlocumSocietyi ntl.org Historic Ferry Seeks Contemporaries I am the operations manager of th e Millersburg Ferry Boat Association in Millersburg, Pennsylvania. We are a non-profit organi-
zation dedicated to the upkeep and preservation of two all-wooden sternwheel double paddle ferry boats. T hese are the only two of the type in existence in the United States. It is believed th at a ferry was established in the late 175 0s, but was probably relocated as the town grew. Written evidence indicates that the ferry system has been an on-going operation since 1817. We are the oldest transportatio n system in continuous operation in the state of Pennsylvania. We would like to know if there are any operations still in existence that are older than ours elsewhere in the United States. Can any Sea History readers help us out? I can be reached by phone at 7 17 692-3220 or by e-mail at hammaker@epix.net. If yo u want check us out online, our web site is www.millersburg.com/attractions/. Our history can be found online at avs.epix. net/ m bgferry/history. htm . DIANE H AMMAKER Millersburg, Pennsylvania
The Miffersburg Ferry Boats
A Derelict Lady in the Falklands am an admirer of the Lady Elizabeth, derelict at Stan ley in the Falkland Islands. She seems to have a uniquely graceful beauty that is beyond the abi lity of photographs to capture. Last March, I was again visiting the Falklands, and I enclose a photograph
Lady Elizabeth of her. Unfortunately, I was unable to ride a Zodiac to take a photo of her port side. T hough she seems still rugged and sound and her mas ts are upright, held solidly by her structure in spite of high wi nds and heavy seas, her list appears to have increased in the last two years. C lose inspection reveals considerable rust, and there may be one or two small holes rusted through, though they do not appear in the photograph. The Lady Elizabeth was built in 1879 by R. Thompson Jr. of Sunderland, England. She made frequent visits to Stanley, and even brought materials for the construction of Christ C hurch Cathedral. Unfortunately, approaching Stanley in 1913, she hit a rock, whi ch ended her sailing career. T hereafter, she became a floating warehouse in the harbo r until 1936 when she
Join Us for a Voyage into History Our seafaring heritage comes alive in the pages of Sea History, from the ancient mariners of Greece to Portuguese navigators opening up the ocean world to the heroic efforts of seamen in this century's conflicts. Each issue brings new insights and new discoveries . If you love the sea, rivers, lakes,
and bays-if you love the legacy of those who sail in deep water and their workaday craft, then you belong with us. Join today! Mail in the form below, phone: 1 800 221-NMHS (6647) or visit us at: www.seahistory.org.
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SEA HISTORY 104, SPRING/SUMMER 2003
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