Simply A Loss

Bodies of 2 fishermen found off coast of Gloucester
By Associated Press
Saturday, January 3, 2009

GLOUCESTER - The Coast Guard says the bodies of two fishermen have been found after their trawler sank in the waters off Gloucester.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Connie Terrell says the bodies of 36-year-old Matteo Russo and his father-in-law, 58-year-old John Orlando, were pulled from the water Saturday about 15 miles southeast of Gloucester. Their 54-foot boat, the Patriot, has not been found.

Terrell says a Coast Guard cutter, helicopter and rescue boat rushed to the Patriot’s last known location after the boat’s fire alarm went off around 1:45 a.m. Saturday. A separate alarm that activates when a vessel is underwater later went off.

Terrell says the Patriot had recently been inspected and had proper safety gear.

Gloucester is 25 miles northeast of Boston.

Sea Fever

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

--John Masefield

Psalm 107:23-30 (King James Version)

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.

Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

My prayers and thoughts go out to the family and friends of Matt and John, as well as the Gloucester fishing community.

Simply A Loss

C_A_B