Wednesday February 17, 1943
possibly collision with barge F.F. Clain
Depth:
80 ft
The Harry Rush is described as a freighter by Krotee, not always the most reliable source. The wreck commonly known as the Harry Rush is a sailing ship. The wreck is the typical three parallel wooden walls, very low-lying, with some steam machinery and chain pile at the west end. The orientation of the wreck is unusual, as if it sank while running for the shore, rather than riding out a storm. The absence of towing bits makes it likely this was a true sailing ship rather than a schooner barge.
Pentland Firth is the channel between the northern tip of Scotland and the Islands that form Scapa Flow, the great British naval base, and today one of the best wreck diving locales in the world.
Built:
1934, England
Specs:
( 164 x 27 ft ) 485 gross tons
Sunk:
Saturday September 19, 1942 collision with minesweeper trawler USS Chaffinch (400 tons) - ? casualties
The United States Coast Guard is this nation's oldest and premier maritime agency. The history of the Service is very complicated because it is the amalgamation of five Federal agencies. These agencies, the Revenue Cutter Service, the Lighthouse Service, the Steamboat Inspection Service, the Bureau of Navigation, and the Lifesaving Service, were originally independent, but had overlapping authorities and were Shuffled around the government. They sometimes received new names, and they were all finally united under the umbrella of the Coast Guard. The multiple missions and responsibilities of the modern service are directly tied to this diverse heritage and the magnificent achievements of all of these agencies.
The old Life Saving Station at Sandy Hook, with its distinctive watchtower. 100 years ago this would have been a busy place during a storm like this. Today it is a museum.