FROM THE PEOPLE

Footnotes to Long Island History

FROM THE PEOPLE

MARCH 1, 1951

by

Thomas R. Bayles

Editor, The Patchogue Advance:

I would appreciate a copy of your February 15 issue, which has a story of the schooner Louis V. Place tragedy, by Thomas R. Bayles.

The newspapers certainly did their part in writing up the event, even the great dailies of New York and Brooklyn carried many columns and also pictures .I have about 200 book pages of stories about the disaster, and still do not have those which were in the newspapers from Babylon to Patchogue, inclusive - the newspapers nearest the scene. Believe more was written about it than any other Long Island shipwreck, (my incomplete index lists about 400 ships stranded or wrecked on this coast,1660-1950) - even more than about the historic "Circassian" which was wrecked in a gale, December, 1876, about two miles south of my home, when of the 28 who perished, 15 were full-blooded Shinnecock Indians- employees of the Coast Wrecking company, which was trying to haul the ship off the bar, and four persons were saved.

Best wishes to Mr. Moger, if you see him. He is the last of the three Life Saving Service crews who did all in their power to rescue those on the ship. Captain William H. Squires was my father.

If ever out this way on a Sunday, stop in and see my large collection of Long Island shipwreck photos, and a large painting in color of the Louis V. Place.

Harry B. Squires

Bridgehampton, February 19,1951