S.S. United States

This is a sad story, in more ways than one. In the late 1970's the S.S. United States was towed up the Elizabeth River in Norfolk. It was moored near Craney Island at the Grain Pier. At that time they had planned on making it into a hotel and placing it where Norfolk's Harbor Place is now.

It was a good idea but the money didn't work out. Then it went to Florida; again it was sad to watch it being towed after such a storied career, making her 1952 record Atlantic crossing in 3 days and 10 hrs. at 35 knots. (1.149 statute miles)

Living by the Narrows in Brooklyn I remember seeing her enter and leave New York as a kid. It was a majestic sight. I used to take the subway to mid town Manhattan and tour the liners when they were in port. No charge, you just went up the gangway and they let you roam around. I was about 12 years old at the time.

Her last trip with passengers to New York was when she docked there on September 7th, 1969. Funny this post should appear on September 8th, 2024. 55 years later; an orphan who never got adopted for, or adapted to, another way of life.

The plan now is to sink her as the world's largest artifical reef off Florida, and is probably the most noble of options at this point.

But the final sad, though relatively minor blow is that the article refers to her "purposefully" being sunk. Purposefully means, "In a way that shows determination or resolve." I suppose the author of the article, most likely using spell check, meant to say "purposely" which means "in a deliberate manner". A small difference, granted. But still, one last reminder of how much the world has changed since 1952. We don't even spell right anymore.

The photo above is of her now, in Florida, her once beautiful paint faded and peeling. The next photo is of her at the grain pier up the Elizabeth River in 1983. I want to thank Joe Sea Man for sending it to me today. And the last photo, which seems to be dated from 1954, is of her heading into the channel off Sandy Hook. That photo was taken from a fishing boat out of Sheepshead Bay. I got that photo from the Sheepshead Bay Memories site here on Facebook a few years ago. Sadly, I do not remember who posted it. 

"The Man Who watched Trains Go By" (1951) Claufe Rains - Marta Toren

                                       

Claude Raines plays a man who has been the head clerk/bookkeeper for 18 years at a firm in Holland. He lives by the sound of the train whistling to and from Paris his whole life, while he remains where he is.

A scandal at a rival firm leaves that firm bankrupt. But, though it has been proven the bookkeeper was innocent of any wrongdoing or knowledge of the crime by his boss, his life and career are ruined anyway. Even Claude cannot help him find a job.

Through a set of circumstances a police detective arrives from Paris tracing some Dutch currency which has been circulating in Paris on the black market. He comes to Claude's firm. The boss is most cooperative. Too cooperative.

Out walking one night, Claude finds his boss burning the books and running away with the firm's money. They struggle and the boss falls in the canal and drowns. The firm's money is strewn on the ground where it fell, along with a train ticket to Paris. What should he do about that? There are no more books, but keeping the money will make him guilty of embezzlement.  And leaving his family behind is not an option he really cares for. But this is an extraordinary situation.

What should he do? Tell the authorities the truth and risk disbelief and ruin? Or is there another way? And does that train whistle to Paris have an influence? Who can say?

Will he go to Paris so that it looks like his boss stole the money? Is it morally okay? After all, the boss was going to leave him holding the bag.....

Wonderfully adapted from the novel, and filmed in beautiful, almost muted color. This 1952 film stands the test. Also released as "The Paris Express".