Clavin - Dark Noon: The Final Voyage of the Fishing Boat Pelican

D A R K N O O N

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DARK

N O O N

T H E F I N A L V O YA G E

O F T H E F I S H I N G B O A T P E L I C A N

Tom Clav in

I N T E R N A T I O N A L M A R I N E / M C G R A W - H I L L

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Copyright 2005 by Tom Clavin. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America.

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DOI: 10.1036/0071486593

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T o t h e " P a c e r s " : F r i e n d s f r o m f o u r t h

g r a d e o n... a n d o n .

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A U T H O R S N O T E

Events portrayed in this book are based on archival research, the report of the U.S. Coast Guard court of inquiry, over three dozen interviews, oral histories on audiotape, and contemporary and historical print accounts. I was especially fortunate to locate and interview, over a half century later, three of the nineteen surviving Pelican passengers. Their vivid recollections were invaluable.

No character in the book was invented, nor are there any com-posite characters. Neither is any scene manufactured. In writing the book after two years of research, however, I drew upon the common practices and concerns of 1951 together with interviewees impres-sions and observations to bridge a few small narrative gaps and to add texture to selected scenes. In particular, I augmented eyewitness accounts of survivors and rescuers with speculations of family members and other Montauk captains to provide more insight into Captain Eddie Carrolls words and thoughts as the Pelican plunged into trouble that day in 1951.

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Copyright 2005 by Tom Clavin. Click here for terms of use.

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A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S

The idea for this book was born on the fiftieth anniversary of the Pelican tragedy when I read an interview with Irene Stein in the September 1, 2001, edition of Newsday, a Long Island daily. Since then I have spoken to her and other people affected by what happened on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend in 1951. I must first thank those people who shared with me their painful memories, especially Irene Stein and her son John Stein Jr., Martin Berger, Angelo Testa Jr., Seymour Gabbin, and Rita Carroll.

This book is also the result of extensive research and interviews with members of the Montauk fishing fleet, onshore witnesses, family members, and others who had details to contribute.

I am grateful to Bill Akin, John Badkin, Howard Barnes, John Behan, John Blindenhofer, Frank Borth, Chris Brown, Bob Byrnes, Henry Clemenz, Sonja Connors, Renee Carey, Lisa Cow-ley, Frank Dickinson, Bruce DiPietro, Wally Drobeck, Cynthia Dunwell, Perry Duryea Jr., Julie Evans, Paul Forsberg, Bradley Glass, Roberta and Emmitt Gosman, Vincent Grimes, Jesi Han-nold, Raymond Hegner Jr., Patrick Henry, Jim Hewitt, Bob Kaelin, Carey London, Joe Luksic, Joe Marmo, George McTurck, Ed Miller, Jim Miller, Frank Mundus, Paul Pasqualini, Tony Prohaska, ix

Copyright 2005 by Tom Clavin. Click here for terms of use.

Tom Rock, Frank Tuma Jr., Bob and Sybil Tuma, Stuart Vorpahl, B.J. Wilson, Mark Wysocki, and Ron Ziel.

Id also like to thank Robin Strong and others at the Montauk Library, and the resources of the East Hampton Star, the New YorkTimes, Newsday, the archives of other New York City dailies at the New York Public Library, the East Hampton Historical Society, the Montauk Historical Society, and the U.S. Coast Guard.