Tale of a shipwrecked tar to be told at Sackets event

SACKETS HARBOR — An expert on the underwater history of Lake Ontario will offer a tale of one shipwrecked sailor's survival at 6 p.m. July 16 at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, Ray and W. Main streets.

Marine consultant James S. Fischer will tell of the sinking of two merchant ships, the Hamilton and Scourge, during the War of 1812 from the point of view of seamen Ned Myers, who survived the ordeal. Early American author James Fenimore Cooper recounted the sailor's adventures in the book, "Ned Myers: A Life Before the Mast."

Fischer also will present slides of lake bottom ships taken by explorer Jacques Cousteau.

The talk is part of the 2009 Great Lakes Seaway Trail Experience Series. Admission is $5 and benefits educational programming at the Discovery Center. For more information, call 646-1000.