Jan 05 2009
Gloucester Trawler Sinks - Two Men Lost
The Gloucester fishing fleet has been greeted by tragedy this new year as the dragger Patriot sank in Middle Bank over the weekend with the loss of her two man crew. Anyone that grew up in a fishing family, or had loved ones involved in the industry dreaded to get that phone call from the Coast Guard saying the boat went down or is missing. As a little kid, with Dad and Grandpa Scola working on a near 60-year old wooden boat, that feeling of unease that comes with winter fishing was not lost on me. Nor is it lost on anyone else that has to hold their breath from a day or two to over a week, while the family is out fishing.
And so now Matt Russo and his father-in-law John Orlando become the most recent names added to the men Out O’Gloucester lost at sea. They are the first since 2001 and will also leave wives and children behind -But that is the price the sea demands of Gloucester for doing business with her, a pact made centuries ago sanctified by the blood of her fishermen. And when the sea takes Gloucestermen, it gives back to the city a grim gift of widows and orphans. Too many to count over the years I’m sure…
More than five thousand souls so far and although the sea does not demand so many lives from Gloucester anymore, this latest tragedy shows that our city and its fishermen are still bound by this ancient pact. I didn’t know the men lost personaly, but like most of Italian Gloucester, I know the family -My deepest sympathies to all of you.
