Pat Shingleton for Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012

As we sort through the ironies of late August and early September, storms a couple of items come to mind. North Texas was on LSU’s schedule in 2005, 2008 and 2012, the same years for Katrina, Gustav and now Isaac. The “1898 Hurricane” claimed 190 lives, was one of the worst in New England history and sank the steamship, The Portland. The ship was designed for flat coastal bays, regularly making runs from Boston to Portland, Maine, and the ship’s captain was known as a “storm racer.” In winds of 90 miles per hour and 30-foot seas, the Portland went down at 9:30 p.m., verified by pocket watches that came ashore. One hundred and fifty ships went down that night, and in 2002, the wreckage of the Portland was located. Fastcast: Sticky.