On a cold winter’s night late in the year of 1869, John McGregor, along with his eight-year-old son, Jack, stood on the New England shoreline near their home. They looked out over the immense Atlantic Ocean. Bright moonlight reflected on the vast body of water and made the night almost as light as day. Jack twisted his head to look up at his father and continued the conversation. “Well then, are they salvagers or wreckers?”
“I’d say those damn mooncussers are salvagers, wreckers, and despicable pirates. They take over a ship’s cargo any way they can. It’s not unusual for ships to get hung up on the rocks in these waters. Those men may have started out as honest salvagers, but when they decided that wasn’t profitable enough, they found other ways to make their fortunes.”
Jack heard the strong disapproval in his father’s voice. He wrinkled his brow and responded, “Like what?”
John looked down at his youngster and answered, “They don’t just wait for a ship to wreck along the shore anymore. They’ve devised a plan to make it happen!”