This is the final part of a series.

In June 1925, a movie company purchased the 277-foot war surplus freighter Corvallis for the purpose of blowing it up. The movie plot called for the ship to be re-named the Mandalay and to explode at the climax of the movie “Halfway Girl.”

To make the final scene even more dramatic, it was to be filmed in color.

On the big day, a flotilla followed as the ship was towed out of New York Harbor. The explosive charges were set and the pumps turned off, allowing the ship to take on water.

At this point the Coast Guard cutter Seneca arrived, telling the movie makers they were creating a danger to major…