Richard Powers was a merchant seaman, chief engineer, aboard the SS Marine Electric when she went down in 15 - 18 ft. seas, 40 mph winds, about 30 miles east of Chincoteague, VA. Thirty-one of the 34 crew members died when they had to abandon ship into frigid, 39 degree, water. Most, including Richard, dying from hypothermia.
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic cruises, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
Richard was the divorced son of John James Powers and Marie Louise Beck. He lived in Marblehead, MA
VA Death Certificate, Informant: Jerome A. Beck
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic cruises, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
Richard was the divorced son of John James Powers and Marie Louise Beck. He lived in Marblehead, MA
VA Death Certificate, Informant: Jerome A. Beck
Richard Powers was a merchant seaman, chief engineer, aboard the SS Marine Electric when she went down in 15 - 18 ft. seas, 40 mph winds, about 30 miles east of Chincoteague, VA. Thirty-one of the 34 crew members died when they had to abandon ship into frigid, 39 degree, water. Most, including Richard, dying from hypothermia.
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic cruises, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
Richard was the divorced son of John James Powers and Marie Louise Beck. He lived in Marblehead, MA
VA Death Certificate, Informant: Jerome A. Beck
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic cruises, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
Richard was the divorced son of John James Powers and Marie Louise Beck. He lived in Marblehead, MA
VA Death Certificate, Informant: Jerome A. Beck
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