SAILING INTO THE ABYSS : A TRUE STORY OF EXTREME HEROISM ON THE HIGH SEAS

Book ID/图书代码： 14780005B01394

English Summary/英文概要： "A thoroughly gripping story of disaster at sea reveals aspects of modern seafaring not always brought to light. The WWII freighter Badger State was bound for Vietnam in December 1969 with 5,000 tons of bombs in her hold. Heavy weather and faulty cargo stowage by the Bangor Munitions Depot caused bombs to start breaking loose — first one, then many, including the 2,000 pounders. Capt. Charles Wilson and a crew inspired by his leadership worked heroically but unsuccessfully to fight the weather and their own cargo. Most of the casualties came when a loose bomb overturned an already-launched lifeboat, throwing most of the crew into 48-degree water. The 14 survivors (out of 40 crewmembers) owed their lives to the presence of the Greek freighter Khian Star and her Captain Nikos. Benedetto, an attorney and former shipping commissioner, interviewed survivors and combed news reports and court documents to construct his compelling narrative, which he sometimes interrupts with extensive accounts of other maritime disasters (the Titanic; the Port Chicago explosion) and interludes about the history of the U. S. Merchant Marine.Most of these asides are readable and informative, but they may frustrate readers eager to get back to the page-turning story of the Badger State sailing to her doom. This book probably won’t achieve the classic status of The Perfect Storm among maritime-disaster narratives, but students of seafaring will be drawn to it in solid numbers. Agent, Agnes Birnbaum." Using eyewitness accounts, official documents, and rarely seen photos, "Sailing Into the Abyss" takes a fascinating look at the human drama behind the deadliest sea disaster of the Vietnam War.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 1969年圣诞前夕，一艘名位SS Badger State号的商船在西雅图起锚，驶向越南的港，船上运有一批支援美军奋勇杀敌的炸弹。但是原本波澜不惊的航程不久就上演了一出悲剧，Badger State号竟然驶离了航线，就几天时间，一艘巨轮沉没了，船上40名船员中26位英勇献身了，这场沉船事故给镁一位相关人员留下了一个难解疑团：越战中最可怕海难的罪魁祸首究竟是谁？ 当William R.Benedetto还在海岸巡逻队下属的海事调查局任职时，他就着手调查此事了。而这项调查进展到最后到是成了他自己的事了。William呕心沥血，历经数载，最后终于完整地展现出那次海难事故的真相，所以就有了这本《驶进深渊》，这是第一本描写SS Badger State号沉船时间的作品， 《驶进深渊》既借鉴了目击证人的口述实录，也参考了大量官方文案和许多尚未公诸与众的照片，叙述环环相扣，紧张逼真，读者宛如亲眼目睹海难事故的少数幸存者。说到幸存者，有一位不得提，那就是船长Charles Wilson，他与我们分享那段痛楚经历，也道出了在面对一系列灾难事件时，他所做过的艰难抉择。 航程快过半时，Wilson和船员们发现，天气预报所说的所谓的晴好天气完全是胡扯，而且胡扯地厉害。两股巨型风暴轮番袭击SS号，折腾得船上的炸弹都摇摇欲坠了，一股排山倒海似的海浪把船体颠得向左舷倾斜52度。这下子可不得了，船体突然发生了爆炸，震得SS号左右摇摆，还爆炸还把船身捅了个大窟窿。Wilson船长因此不得不发出弃船的信号。 但这时又有一颗炸弹爆炸了，把他们逃命的唯一希望--------救生艇给炸沉了。 船员们在狂风巨浪中挣扎，孤立无助，而那些平日里颇为可爱、善良的信天翁们也来凑热闹，各个变得凶残无比，当水手们在冰冷刺骨的北太平洋上孑然无助时，信天翁们竟然还来袭击他们。 Badger State好沉船事故堪称美国近代史中最为惨烈的篇章之一，在此之前，也没有什么有关此次海难事故的详尽报道。 《驶进深渊》以深动、细腻、详实和悯恸地笔锋，刻画出了一位位真实的人物，并向事故中的幸存者和罹难人员致敬。《驶进深渊》让我们看到了灾难背后所隐藏的戏剧人生，歌颂了逆境中所表露出地必胜信念。

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