Mayday!: Shipwrecks, Tragedies & Tales from Long Island's Eastern Shore

From dramatic rescues to coastal catastrophes, a riveting collection of maritime lore from the eastern shore of Long Island.

Since the mid-1600s, eastern Long Island's shoals, sandbars, and assorted submerged hazards have caused many an unlucky vessel to become shipwrecked. The frequency of wrecks rose to a grim crescendo during the mid-nineteenth century, as New York and New England peaked as shipping centers.

Then came the dawn of the twentieth century and the arrival of advanced na...