In preparation for the submerging of the ARRON K., certain steps were
taken to ensure she would cause no harm to the life already residing in
the reef. This included gutting the ship of all wooden parts, cleaning
the ship, especially removing all oil and fuel from the machinery, for
fear of harming the underwater environment. A precaution to help ensure
the safety of the future divers of the site was the cutting of many large
holes into the starboard side of the ship. However, as the vessel sank,
these holes filled with water. Ed Armstrong of Florida recollects that
the fuel tanks were not filled with water before the ship was sunk which
is a possibility as to why she rolled onto her side as she sank, landing
on her starboard side. In honor of Joe Teitelbaum's efforts, the vessel
was given a new name after one of his own companies, the EAGLE TIRE CO.
On December 19, 1985, the EAGLE TIRE CO. was launched for its final
resting place with her final cargo of $873 worth of high explosives. She
was moored to the sunken ALEXANDER BARGE which she was supposed to settle
next to. However, the EAGLE TIRE CO. broke away from the barge and was
forced to drop the port anchor to prevent further drifting in the
current. Due to these complications, it was decided that she be sunk at
the point where she dropped anchor. She settled on her starboard side
with the access holes covered up and the bow pointing northwest.
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1996
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