Ask the Author: Paul Stack
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Paul Stack
The story has an unusual origin. In 1999 my wife bought a book out of our library's discarded book bin. The book, published in 1953 and titled The Great Iron Ship, was a popular history of a mammoth iron ship launched in London in 1858. I became interested in the ship, known as the Great Eastern, and went on internet sites looking for more information about her. I came across old newspaper articles and even a Currier & Ives print. However, in 2001 I came across a sea shell which seemed to make no sense. The shell is like a child's stacking toy with larger rings on the bottom and smaller rings on top. On the bottom ring is a etched profile of the ship, along with cursive writing identifying the ship and its tonnage. On the ring above that is an etching of a gate next to a large wind-blown tree. The cursive writing carved into the shell identified the gate as the tomb of A. Lincoln, President of the U.S.
I could not find any connection between the two objects. The Great Eastern was launched in London in 1858; Lincoln was interred in Springfield, Illinois, in 1865. After extensive research I could find no link between the President and the ship. I began to assume that the shell recorded an event that no one could write or talk about during his or her lifetime. On that assumption I began 15 years of research to discover the meaning of this enigmatic shell.
I could not find any connection between the two objects. The Great Eastern was launched in London in 1858; Lincoln was interred in Springfield, Illinois, in 1865. After extensive research I could find no link between the President and the ship. I began to assume that the shell recorded an event that no one could write or talk about during his or her lifetime. On that assumption I began 15 years of research to discover the meaning of this enigmatic shell.
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