Steve Anderson
Member
Hello all:
To quote directly from "The Elizabeth" by Niel Potter and Jack Frost, George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, High Holborn, London, W.C.I., 1965 page 60:
"She was first spotted forty miles east of Fire Island, in New York Bay, by the crew of a commercial airliner, still zigzagging, although she was in neutral waters.
Observers reported that many of her stairways were unpainted, that there were black rust spots everywhere, were paint had peeled off, that only four men were seen on the bridge and two civilians at the stern. She was carrying water ballast, but was riding high out of the water. Several lifeboat davits were empty, as she carried only enough lifeboats for a crew of four hundred; her name was painted over in grey, only the block letters being visible.
She passed Ambrose light at seventeen minutes past nine in the morning, and veteran pilot Captain Seeth, of Long Island, brought her through the Ambrose Channel. He hadn't been specially chosen: it just happened it was his next call in the pilots' rota.
As as the great liner passed "quarantine" the first ship to great here was the sludge vessel, "Coney Island". Her Skipper, Captain Charles Macleary, blew her three long welcoming blasts on his whistle, and received and immediate reply." <end>
This must have been an impressive sight to see the world's largest and newest liner unfinished, painted in grey, arriving unexpectedly in New York Harbor on the Morning of March 7, 1940.
There are a few photographs of her, taken as she was coming up the Hudson river, that many of the liner buffs will have seen.
But here is a true piece of history I have added to my personnel collection it is a 3" by 4" snapshot taken by a crew member of the "Coney Island" showing this moment in history.
This item was hidden in a shoe box for over sixty years and was sold to me as part of the liquidation of an estate with numerous other ocean liner photographs.
Please look at the photo closely, you will see the pilot boat to the right, the painted windows and missing lifeboats, and her battered waterline from the paint washing off on this mad dash across the sea. But best of all look at her first funnel she is returning the welcoming salute of the "Coney Island"
If you think this photo is great you should see the other, and the Morro Castle once's
(An unpublished treat for the members of the ET Board) S. Anderson Collection C. 2002
To quote directly from "The Elizabeth" by Niel Potter and Jack Frost, George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, High Holborn, London, W.C.I., 1965 page 60:
"She was first spotted forty miles east of Fire Island, in New York Bay, by the crew of a commercial airliner, still zigzagging, although she was in neutral waters.
Observers reported that many of her stairways were unpainted, that there were black rust spots everywhere, were paint had peeled off, that only four men were seen on the bridge and two civilians at the stern. She was carrying water ballast, but was riding high out of the water. Several lifeboat davits were empty, as she carried only enough lifeboats for a crew of four hundred; her name was painted over in grey, only the block letters being visible.
She passed Ambrose light at seventeen minutes past nine in the morning, and veteran pilot Captain Seeth, of Long Island, brought her through the Ambrose Channel. He hadn't been specially chosen: it just happened it was his next call in the pilots' rota.
As as the great liner passed "quarantine" the first ship to great here was the sludge vessel, "Coney Island". Her Skipper, Captain Charles Macleary, blew her three long welcoming blasts on his whistle, and received and immediate reply." <end>
This must have been an impressive sight to see the world's largest and newest liner unfinished, painted in grey, arriving unexpectedly in New York Harbor on the Morning of March 7, 1940.
There are a few photographs of her, taken as she was coming up the Hudson river, that many of the liner buffs will have seen.
But here is a true piece of history I have added to my personnel collection it is a 3" by 4" snapshot taken by a crew member of the "Coney Island" showing this moment in history.
This item was hidden in a shoe box for over sixty years and was sold to me as part of the liquidation of an estate with numerous other ocean liner photographs.
Please look at the photo closely, you will see the pilot boat to the right, the painted windows and missing lifeboats, and her battered waterline from the paint washing off on this mad dash across the sea. But best of all look at her first funnel she is returning the welcoming salute of the "Coney Island"
If you think this photo is great you should see the other, and the Morro Castle once's
(An unpublished treat for the members of the ET Board) S. Anderson Collection C. 2002
