The pleasure cruiser MV Darlwyne disappeared off the Cornish coast in south-west England on 31 July 1966, with two crew and twenty-nine passengers. Formerly a naval picket boat, the vessel had undergone considerable structural modifications which adversely affected its seaworthiness, before beginning service as an unlicensed passenger boat without radio, distress flares or other lifesaving equipment. On the fatal voyage, a group from the Greatwood guest house in Mylor were taken on a 30-mile trip to Fowey. The outward voyage was completed without mishap, but the weather had significantly deteriorated when the return trip began late that afternoon. When the vessel failed to return to Mylor the alarm was raised, and air and sea searches began on 1 August. Twelve bodies were eventually recovered, but no further traces of the vessel were found at the time. A subsequent Board of Trade enquiry exposed the laxity with which boat licensing regulations were being administered, and led to stricter enforcement. In 2016 divers found an anchor and other debris in the vicinity of Darlwyne's final sighting, which they stated were in all probability relics from the vessel.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_of_MV_Darlwyne

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1715:

Introduced during a time of civil disturbance in Great Britain, the Riot Act came into force, authorising authorities to declare any group of twelve or more people to be unlawfully assembled. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Act

1907:

Robert Baden-Powell held the first Scout camp at Brownsea Island in Dorset, England, beginning the Scouting movement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsea_Island_Scout_camp

1981:

At one minute past midnight, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles became the first music video broadcast on the American cable television network MTV. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Killed_the_Radio_Star

2004:

Nearly 400 people died in a supermarket fire in Asunción, Paraguay, when exits were locked to prevent people from stealing merchandise. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ycu%C3%A1_Bola%C3%B1os_supermarket_fire

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

august: 1. Awe-inspiring, majestic, noble, venerable. 2. Of noble birth. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/august

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.   --Herman Melville https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Herman_Melville