Ten Hours until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do » (First Edition)

Michael J. Tougias is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the award-winning author of fifteen books. His latest book, The Blizzard of '78, was a Boston Globe bestseller. He is also the coauthor of King Philip's War and There's a Porcupine in My Outhouse (Best Nature Book of 2003—-Independent Publishers Association). He lives in Franklin, Massachusetts.

The story of the Blizzard of 1978 and the rescue of the boat Global Hope.

KLIATT

In February 1978, the ocean-going tanker Global Hope was discharging its cargo at Salem, Massachusetts when it discovered that water had mixed with the oil in its tanks. The ship moved out a few miles into Salem Sound, where it anchored to let the water settle out. Unknown to its crew, growing winds were swiftly developing into the famed Blizzard of 1978, and within a few hours the ship was taking on water and fighting for its life amid huge seas in zero visibility. The Coast Guard immediately dispatched a small powerboat into the howling winds to the rescue. Overhearing the radio traffic, the pilot boat Can Do in Gloucester immediately headed south to help. The book tells the story of this three-sided drama, and the reader will just have to wait until the end to find how it all came out. There are many reasons for praising this book. First of all, the tale is true, and the author is a professional writer who is skilled enough to let his story tell itself. The radio messages from all three vessels were preserved and therefore much of the narrative was provided by the actual people involved. Readers learn firsthand how mariners handle emergencies at sea, how the US Coast Guard functions, and a great deal of practical seamanship. Mostly, though, this is just a thundering good sea story, chockfull of drama and real-life nautical details. Salem Sound is a nasty roadstead at the best of times, full of sandy shoals and granite ledges waiting just below the surface to rip out the belly of any vessel venturing too close. No matter how familiar, close, nor how well charted, the sea is never your friend.