New York Times bestselling author Michael Tougias will give a virtual presentation on his book The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue.
On February 18th, 1952 an astonishing maritime event began when a ferocious nor’easter split in half a 500-foot long oil tanker, the Pendleton, approximately one mile off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Incredibly, just twenty miles away, a second oil tanker, the Fort Mercer, also split in half. On both fractured tankers men were trapped on the severed bows and sterns, and all four sections were sinking in 60-foot seas. Thus began a life and death drama of survival, heroism, and a series of tragic mistakes. Of the 84 seamen aboard the tankers, 70 would be rescued and 14 would lose their lives.
This program is free, open to all, hosted by the Baker Free Library and sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council.
The Disney Corporation has made a movie based on the book which will be shown at the Library on Friday, July 15th at 1pm for our Friday Summer Matinee.