Queening it at Long Beach

Did you know that ships were not allowed to pick up survivors during World War II? And that applied to one of the biggest ships of all time - Queen Mary - when it sliced into its escort ship (there's an irony) and left 300 drowning. It had been zig-zagging to avoid Nazi destroyers, the bosun's locker was holed and water rushed in.

Built in 1934, it was retired to Long Island CA in 1967 as a hotel without parallel. But visitors say they can hear ghostly pounding on the lower decks and cries of drowning sailors. Of course, it could be sound effects and played to invite conjecture. Everyone loves a sailor they say but the Queen Mary sailed on and left breaking hearts and minds behind.

Rules is rules even for Queens!

Contributed by Barbara Turner