Circumstances of Wreck
After delivery of its load of Colombian sugar in Saint John, New Brunswick the Eldia was hit by a storm delivering 80 miles per hour (129 km/h; 70 kn)winds. This storm was part of a period of extreme weather which caused President Ronald Reagan to pledge federal disaster relief. Running for the open sea without cargo or ballast, and therefore riding high on the waves, the Eldia was unable to match the strength of the storms. Her captain, Ernesto Garces, was also hampered by her lack of contemporary electronic technology for monitoring the weather, which had enabled other ships in the area to anticipate the problems that would come with the storm and take appropriate action; all he could do was monitor radio broadcasts. He attempted to bring the ship under control but was forced onto Nauset Beach at around 4pm. Two hours later the ship was abandoned by its crew of 23, who were rescued by helicopter.
Due to the ease of access to the area New England residents crowded to see the sight when the weather improved. One estimation is that approximately 150,000 did so. The town collected US$81,693 by charging $2 a day for visitors' car parking, and many businesses conducted a lot of additional trade during this curious period.
The wreck was drawn back off the beach on 17 May 1984, taken to a scrap-yard in Rhode Island and then on to another at Staten Island, where it was cut up in 1989.
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