Posted by Brendon Baillod on August 23, 19100 at 14:44:20:
In Reply to: Tom Farnquist... posted by Matthew Williamson on August 23, 19100 at 04:25:09:
I agree with Bob. Although Tom is a fairly unpopular figure in the Great Lakes maritime history community, I hate to see disparaging rhetoric directed at individuals, even if it's true. It opens the newsgroup up to flames and personal insults. I would agree that Tom likes publicity and has engaged in unethical behavior in many areas, but I haven't heard and I highly doubt that he sent the bell to be sanded.
: Does anybody here know of Tom Farnquist? He's the man who led the expedition to retrieve the bell from the EDMUND FITZGERALD. I am doing research for a motion picture and would like to know a little more about him...
: What I DO know is that, after meticulous restoration of the ship's bell by a local university, Mr Farnquist decided he did not like the "look" of the bell and sent it in to be SANDED and POLISHED!
: I'd like to give him every opportunity to defend his actions BEFORE I draft them into my screenplay. I'd also like to serve this warning: if the above story is indeed TRUE, and he has had the bell resurfaced on his own volition, then I will take great pains to pursue a more thorough investigation of his character.
: As it stands, based on evidence I've recieved, Mr Farnquist is a plunderer and an opportunist. His interest in the FITZGERALD goes only as far as his own pockets- people like him are out to rape history for financial gain. The recovery of the bell may have been a good thing for the families of the crew, but I strongly doubt that such altruism is a part of Mr Farnquist's collective psyche.
: Let me know!
: Matt Williamson