The Sinking of the Steamboat Lexington on Long Island Sound

Join former Newsday reporter and historian, Bill Bleyer for a discussion of his newest book, The Sinking of the Steamboat Lexington on Long Island Sound.  This is a story  about the 1840 accident that claimed the lives of 139 of the 143 people on board and remains the worst maritime disaster in the history of Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties).  The disaster also marked an important milestone in journalism history because young lithographer Nathaniel Currier rushed to make an image of the fire for the NEW YORK SUN, which put out extra editions using the illustration, one of the first times a daily newspaper had an illustration with a breaking news story.  Copies of the book will be available after the presentation.  Please register.