Taking the Sea: Perilous Waters, Sunken Ships, and the True Story of the Legendary Wrecker Captains
by: Dennis Powers
Published by: AMACOM
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Reviewed by Muhammed Hassanali
The growth of seafaring gave rise to many marine professions. This book focuses on one: wreakers. While wreakers from all over the country are covered, there is disproportionately more on Thomas Whitelaw than any other wreaker.
Wreckers/salvors earned their living by rescuing people, cargo and ships (it is hoped in that order) that were in distress while at sea–either by running aground or caught in severe weather. At a time when communication was primitive, maps unreliable, and weather forecasting more art than science, the expertise that wreakers brought was indeed valuable. Given their line of work, they were both despised and loved.
Whitelaw lived from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century and during his career saw the shipping industry transform. Visually, ships were transitioning from wooden clipper to steel-hulled steamships – the sails were giving way to engines; internally, the industry was undergoing a paradigm shift. The “lawless” salvaging industry was becoming more regulated, and various pieces of legislation to protect commercial interests were passed into maritime law.
European immigrants to the United States brought the profession of wreakers across the Atlantic. The tradition flourished first in Key West and later moving north along the Atlantic shoreline, to the Pacific shoreline and to Great Lakes regions as the shipping industry expanded.
The book draws from the archives of nautical museums, interviews with decedents, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other records. The sources are rich and varied, the narrative is free-flowing, and the book easy to read. Vivid descriptions give readers a true front-view of events and assessment of the situation. One almost feels that one were there. The center of the book contains reproductions of black and white pictures. These pictures are thoughtfully printed on paper that accommodates the nuances of grey shades (as older pictures are likely to have), while the text is on pages that allows for highlighting and jotting notes in the margin.
While the book is written for the general reader, its thorough treatment of such a specialized subject area makes it a likely candidate for use in academic settings. The quotes and references alone are invaluable.
Armchair Interviews says: Powers has written three other books about the sea: Sentinel of the Seas: Life and Death at the ӬMost Dangerous Lighthouse Ever Built; Treasure Ship: The Legend and LegacyӬ of the S.S. Brother Jonathan; and The Raging Sea: The Powerful Account of the Worst Tsunami in U.S. History.
Author’s Web site: http://www.DennisPowersBooks.com
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