Dear Don,

Your words are some of the most eloquent I've ever read. I am just about speechless and my eyes are brimming with tears; something in the cadence, in the first person, experience, etc. which just came out so well and with such vivid poignancy. Thanks.

For more info, here is a short synopsis I was able to find:

Wednesday January 12 8:04 PM ET
Seven Scottish Fisherman Feared Dead

KIRKUDBRIGHT, Scotland (AP) - Seven Scottish fisherman were feared dead Wednesday after their boat sank in the Irish Sea.

The 70-foot scallop dredger Solway Harvester disappeared after putting out a distress call at about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The coast guard said sonar detected the vessel at the bottom of the sea Wednesday afternoon, close to where it had put out a distress call, off the Isle of Man. Both its life rafts were discovered uninflated, prompting speculation the dredger had sunk rapidly.

Coast guard officials said there was little hope of finding the crew, and the sea and air search was scaled down Wednesday.

Prime Minister Tony Blair offered condolences to the families of the fishermen, who ranged in age from 17 to 33.

``Our profound sympathy is with them all,'' Blair said.

Local police Sgt. Mike Kneeshaw said the southwest Scottish communities of Whithorn, Garlieston and Isle of Whithorn were hard hit by the loss.

``It is a very tight-knit community,'' he said. ``There can be very, very few families which will not be affected by this tragedy.''