Thank you for participating in the food drive on Saturday. Your participation helped to make the drive a success!
I estimate that we handed out roughly 150 grocery lists, collected 13 or 14 heaping full carts filled with grocery items. Also, we collect $ 285.00 that will be converted into groceries later today.
Author Neil Szigethy , who writes as Neil MacNeill, returned for a second visit to our Club last Thursday. A couple of years ago, Neil presented his book about the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Last week, his message was about the mystery surrounding the grounding of the tall ship, Sindia, off the shore of Ocean City in 1901. He also presented his new book The Poe Puzzler, which included many puzzling New Jersey happenings that have occurred over the past, including the Sindia incident.
His talk gave the history of the very strange ship's demise from its departure from Japan, its trip around the Cape Horn , and up the East Cost where it ran aground during a storm. Many questionable actions occurred during the rescue and the unloading of the doomed ship. A large amount of cargo was removed from the stranded ship, without clear documentation of the exact contents, there were claims of potential insurance fraud, and questions of possible government cover-up.
Neil centered his presentation around 3 key figures who played a part in the story. John D. Rockefeller, owner of the ship and the richest man in the world at the time, Allen McKinzie- captain of the ship, and John Corson, who founded and trained the rescue department in Ocean City and was responsible for saving so many lives from the tragedy.
Part of the intrigue concerned Rockefeller, as investigations into the removed cargo took place, with much speculation into its exact nature. Not long after the event, he became quite ill. Was it due to this sinking or the anti-trust break-up of Standard Oil?
The captain, Allen McKinzie, was rescued unharmed, but a court in Britain, found him responsible for the loss. He was temporally suspended, but died before the end of his suspension. John Corson was recognized for his innovations in rescue equipment and techniques. In establishing the life saving stations, he was laying the ground work for our present day Coast Guard.
Neil's latest book is a mystery novel with a plot that includes several New Jersey events. He weaves the Sindia into the story.
Thanks you Neil for this very interesting account.
See the attached flyer with Michelle Koch's information. She is helping our district's clubs create their IMPACT Clubs. More will be mentioned during club visits. Get those brains thinking!
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