A few years ago, I was at the maritime museum display. Complete with the bell from the ship. The curator told me that one of the deck hands pointed out to the captain, a number of broken hatches that should be repaired. Prior to departure. Supposedly the captain told him that the repairs will be done at the end of the shipping season.
It's always an honor and a privilege to hear Captain Darrell's stories. The propeller blade coming off and causing the fence rail and the two vents to come off is very interesting. Maybe the blade could have caused damage to the hull as well. One thing is certain: they don't want anyone to find out because of liability. Plus, I think the Coast Guard knew they screwed up. The Morrell was a 60 year old ship when it sank, and the Bradley was only 46 when it sank. The Fitzgerald was only 17 when it sank. So, something tells me that the Coast Guard and the Insurance company are hiding the truth. It has more to it than the ship being a memorial site. Like I have said, this whole Fitzgerald tragedy is very similar to the MV Derbyshire tragedy. Anyway, thank you for posting this, Mr. Don. I always re-watch the other Fitzgerald videos. Keep up the great work
Well done! Every year, I look forward to your documentaries. You are not only keeping the memories of the Fitz and her crew alive, but you and Captain Darrell are bringing new theories to the table!
Thanks again! A part of me enjoys the conversation and a big part is full of sadness for the loss of life. The lives that were changed because of it. Thanks to you and Captain Darrell for the continued quest for answers!
I'm a certified welder for a military contractor people don't realize that over welding is bad it makes the joint to stiff it will crack instead of flex continuous stress cause metal fatigue. It will eventually fail
The prop blade coming lose is very interesting in regard to the onboard damage and now the "Static Pressure" concept in regard to the underwater damage is really interesting since they investigated the shoal area and saw no signs of impact. Those two points are very feasible as to what really happened. Does make one ponder the possibities. Great for discussion anyway.
Sooooo my first question is will there be a Part 5 to this History Mystery Man? Thanks so very much for sharing your stories of this mystery, always look forward to seeing more of them and listening to you and Captain Darrell Walton. Only 2 more days until the memorial service and bell ringing in honor of her and her crew. Keep them coming please 🙏
Thanks for sharing! The more I watch these, the more I want to learn more! One thing you guys might find interesting is how that the cook Red Burgner said how people would complain how bad the ship moved! And he said that during the winter layup she would groan like a much older ship due to her overwork. Dudley Paquette also mentioned something you guys might find interesting. Around midnight of the 10th of November, he heard Mcsorely call the Anderson telling him he had to cut back his rpm’s because of how bad the ship was working! And they were only in small seas by that time! She could’ve easily been sinking from that point on! They also raised the Cedarville’s logbook after she sank. They raised it because of Len Gabrysiak’s testimony about what speed they were going and where they were at and were able to confirm it. And for the picture you put of the Bradley, that’s the Irvin L. Clymer. When she was launched in 1917, she was named Carl D. Bradley but only until 1927, when the 2nd Bradley was built.
Definitely should get the log book. I'd even support cutting open a hatch in the stern to try and attempt to get the engineering logbook, tho it's likely a god awful mess in there. With the ROV technology of 2024 there's no excuse. Many other ships are graveyards and we dive on them no problem. It's like someone is really trying hard to hide something regarding Big Fitz, and the socialist Canadian government stands in the way with its ridiculous bans and 'rules' (I'm Canadian). Great video, as always.
How watertight are the main floor cabins? Reason I ask, is the Cooper said water was going OVER the hatch crane...so looking at the image of the Fitz and her crane, that would put the main floor underwater.
Oh man look at the hatch plate bases. At 14:40 point. They are riveted on the ends but welded in the middle. If that prop had been bouncing up and down and in between the plate holds. It could have knocked the plate away from the deck. And if it had done that on. Both sides. The center would have fallen out from underneath. Once you get enough damage. There is no stopping that. I could see that possibly failing in that way
Even if they could recover the logbook..Could it be able to be read after all these years in the lake bottom? With the paper disgenerating by being immersed so long
If it still exists yo would have a hell of a time reading it considering how waterlogged it would be. I mean considering that she's been underwater for almost 50 years. I doubt you're going to be able to read the log book if you find it.
If the propeller blade was lost during the storm could it possibly be found along the route the fitz took? By sonar? Would definitely bring light to the theory of it coming loose and taking down the fence and or vent covers
HMM and Captain Walton, another Heartfelt Thank You and Hand Salute! Always Interesting and Informative. Be Safe Out There! HMM are you going to be at the NMGL this weekend or on Monday?
"Don't let nobody on deck!" “What’s that, Fitzgerald? Unclear. Over.” “I have a bad list, lost both radars. And am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas I’ve ever been in.” "If I’m correct, you have two radars.” "They're both gone." That's the most cryptic piece of the puzzle right there. What was happening aboard the Fitzgerald at that point to where anyone would even begin to contemplate going on deck?
Cooper said nobody would go on the deck, common knowledge it wasn't safe, people didn't have to ask. Same for all ship, it was protocol. SO, the fact McSorley said that means someone or more Than one brought up the need to go on deck!!! Why? I personally think lifeboat 1 broke lose and was slamming up agaisnt the Fitz. This would explain why Lifeboat 1 was found NE OF Caribou!!! The rest of the debris was near the wreck site...LB 1, 15 miles north!!!! That Lifeboat was probably banging and slamming and they thought, " we gotta cut the fuc#$@ free it's going to come thru the pilot house". Most likely broke off on her own.
Every year, over 3 million people visit Arlington cemetery. How many people visit the fitzgerald a year? 0. Every year, 350000 people visit Lincolns tomb. How many visit the fitzgerald? 0. Every year, 1.8 million people visit Pearl Harbor. How many visit the fitzgerald? 0. All those previous places are all gravesites, yet you can freely and respectfully visit all of them. Doesn't that seem odd? It's almost like someone is trying to hide something. And what's stupid about this whole law that bans diving, captain Darrell himself, isn't legally allowed to dive on the wreck if he wanted to visit the grave of his uncle. Him as a surviving family member isn't allowed to go visit his uncle if he wanted to. Now that's beyond ridiculous. I understand that they are down there, but people aren't there to disturb, there only there to remember.
More than 0. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (the memorial site for the Fitzgerald) has over 100,000 visitors every season. And on the anniversary of the sinking (Nov 10) a memorial service is held at this museum, including ringing of the bell by family members of those lost.
@@lincolnw8194 Well, you can't. Not legally. At the request of the family of the Fitzgerald's crew, you need a permit from the Canadian government. Otherwise it is illegal. The other problem is depth. For divers who dive for a hobby it is more than twice as deep as most are rated to dive. To do so requires special equipment, support equipment and training. This could possibly run over $1,000,000 for 1 visit, for special diving equipment, or a mini sub, or a robot. And lots and lots of lighting. It is pitch black down there. Sunlight can't reach it.
I found an old news video from 1995 which shows the much younger Captain! Think from channel 11. I've been digging through very old photo albums of all of us on my cousins boat out of Bay View Yacht club. My mother estimates there are probably several thousand of pics of all the ships docked in Toledo from back then. My dad still has his old Minolta camera. We would head up to Belle View, Boblo Island, go out to Put in Bay and out to Cedar Point. We would spend summers out on the water.
Was watching a video on the big old boats channel about the loss of the Bradley .It meantion the loss was due to brittle steel as her sister ship broke up whilst being towed to be scrapped .. Was the Fitz built with the same brittle steel like the Bradley n sister ship
It's said that there was a body found with a corked lifebelt on them. Then they spotted a body in the bridge, but never shown in a range of respect which is understandable. Makes me wonder, though.
The body with the corked lifebelt was narrowed down to one of the wheelsman because he was apparently 6'2-6'3, that's what Capt. Darrell said in one of the older videos. There were three wheelsmen on board: John D. Simmons, John J. Poviach and Eugene W. O'Brien. The body in the pilothouse? I never heard of that before because I thought that the mates, captain and the cadet were all blown downstairs once the windows blew.
I think Cap Walton should get the other family members and make a plea to have the log book brought back up. They also should maybe leave a letter from each family member writing a small letter to there family members who passed on the fitz. And leave something that is new from this time, I say this for a reason. If they take the log book there taking a piece of history from the wreck,I think the crew would be ok with this cause it would shed more light on them and the fitzs finally moments. But also leave like maybe a new case of beer or Irish coffee something the crew would like. You take something you should leave something. Let the crew and ship know hey people still remember us and miss us after all these years. I hope this is ok to say I don’t have any family members who was on the fitz so I don’t mean any disrespect. For me I think it would be a win win situation plus since the bow is in American waters technically it could be possible
Another great episode! It was interesting to hear and listen to all of these new details that have just surfaced after so long. My honest opinion on how she went down as of now is when she struck Caribou Island, one of the blades came loose and hit both the vents and the railing, thus causing the first signs of trouble. With that, the ship was slowly going down via the damage and the hatches that were damaged over the eyes. In the matter of a minute or two, it nosedived, the first three hatches imploded and it finally snapped in half before the stern capsized and settled on the bottom. It's interesting to think what would have happened to the Fitzgerald had she made it and beached itself. Would the damage be enough to write her off or would Mutual Life and Columbia/Oglebay give her an overhaul?
Do you think when they change the from a coal burning to a different kind of fuel oil engine in my opinion I think it weaken the structural of ship and also the loading of ship to carry more than it was supposed to do you agree with my theory about and would ask captain Darrell Walton opinion on it too and you can mention my name and my town of Escanaba Michigan
Here's a big hole in the hogging theory, if it really did hog that bad then why did only one fence rail go down as reported. It would have to have been both.
@gregwhite8503 I think the hogging theory is impractical, to have hogged/bent that much it would have been bent so much she would have snapped. She had 26,000 tons of ore in her, if water rushed in it would have sagged and not hogged. The hogging theory makes little sense, especially when if that much water did get in, she would have sunk in seconds. One fence rail is down, not 2, get rid of the hogging theory.
Must be the Erubrus...Franklin's ship. I've see all Fitz video. No log book visible. With 530 feet of water pouring thru, it would be long gone. Probably outside near the body that was found in the 90s. RIP crew
@ wow I always wondered about this. I heard the story about one of the new guys always saying he wanted to see some real storm that season and after they got to whitefish point, he went down and got a tape recorder said his will put it in a bag and threw it overboard before they went back out to look for thefitz.
in 74/75 I unloaded her. I respect your figures regarding load limits and freeboard and it's probably my imagination but man.... they all seemed to have about 8' left and my immediate response seeing them dock was wow! I pleasure boated on Lake Erie and knew what those lakes could do. it wouldn't take much weather to wash the deck in those years.. how vigilant was the CG monitoring tonnage?
@@bluerazor7049 No danger to the crew.. the boats hit brake wall in Cleveland and had 4 hours to wind down the river to the dock. The crew was going on about the day. The deck hands would swing down and fix the mooring lines.. the mates would adjust to the dock and the hatch covers in most cases were removed and ready to unload. The Fitz had solid hatch covers. Most of the Cliffs boats had telescoping hatches that were drawn back by cable.
Another great day with our two favorite Captains!!! Thanks gentlemen! May you both have Fair winds and following seas!!!
I never tire of Capt Darrells commentary.
A few years ago, I was at the maritime museum display. Complete with the bell from the ship.
The curator told me that one of the deck hands pointed out to the captain, a number of broken hatches that should be repaired. Prior to departure.
Supposedly the captain told him that the repairs will be done at the end of the shipping season.
Thank you again for another in this series. I could listen to Captain Darrell for hours…
We may never know what happened .Could it be the way the boys would want it. Awesome story it never gets old
It's always an honor and a privilege to hear Captain Darrell's stories. The propeller blade coming off and causing the fence rail and the two vents to come off is very interesting. Maybe the blade could have caused damage to the hull as well. One thing is certain: they don't want anyone to find out because of liability. Plus, I think the Coast Guard knew they screwed up. The Morrell was a 60 year old ship when it sank, and the Bradley was only 46 when it sank. The Fitzgerald was only 17 when it sank. So, something tells me that the Coast Guard and the Insurance company are hiding the truth. It has more to it than the ship being a memorial site. Like I have said, this whole Fitzgerald tragedy is very similar to the MV Derbyshire tragedy. Anyway, thank you for posting this, Mr. Don. I always re-watch the other Fitzgerald videos. Keep up the great work
Exactly, but with Oglebay out of business, it's a matter of time before the truth surfaces. No matter what, the truth will always come out.
Actually the Bradley was only 31. But still very young compared to how long lakers should last!
Another great conversation. Thank you! I have been obsessed with the wreck of the Fitzgerald for decades! Captain Darrell is a wealth of knowledge!
Well done! Every year, I look forward to your documentaries. You are not only keeping the memories of the Fitz and her crew alive, but you and Captain Darrell are bringing new theories to the table!
Thanks again! A part of me enjoys the conversation and a big part is full of sadness for the loss of life. The lives that were changed because of it. Thanks to you and Captain Darrell for the continued quest for answers!
Love Captain Darrell videos. Can’t wait to watch it all.
I'm a certified welder for a military contractor people don't realize that over welding is bad it makes the joint to stiff it will crack instead of flex continuous stress cause metal fatigue. It will eventually fail
Cant get enough of these, all super interesting.
The prop blade coming lose is very interesting in regard to the onboard damage and now the "Static Pressure" concept in regard to the underwater damage is really interesting since they investigated the shoal area and saw no signs of impact. Those two points are very feasible as to what really happened. Does make one ponder the possibities. Great for discussion anyway.
Just got off of work! What a way to start my Friday evening and weekend! HMM and Cap'n Darrell!
Sooooo my first question is will there be a Part 5 to this History Mystery Man?
Thanks so very much for sharing your stories of this mystery, always look forward to seeing more of them and listening to you and Captain Darrell Walton.
Only 2 more days until the memorial service and bell ringing in honor of her and her crew.
Keep them coming please 🙏
Thanks for sharing! The more I watch these, the more I want to learn more! One thing you guys might find interesting is how that the cook Red Burgner said how people would complain how bad the ship moved! And he said that during the winter layup she would groan like a much older ship due to her overwork. Dudley Paquette also mentioned something you guys might find interesting. Around midnight of the 10th of November, he heard Mcsorely call the Anderson telling him he had to cut back his rpm’s because of how bad the ship was working! And they were only in small seas by that time! She could’ve easily been sinking from that point on! They also raised the Cedarville’s logbook after she sank. They raised it because of Len Gabrysiak’s testimony about what speed they were going and where they were at and were able to confirm it. And for the picture you put of the Bradley, that’s the Irvin L. Clymer. When she was launched in 1917, she was named Carl D. Bradley but only until 1927, when the 2nd Bradley was built.
Thank you again HMM and Captain Darrell.
I've learned so much between you two about boating and the dangers.
Till your next video.
This is awesome. The Anderson is tied up next to my office this morning. I got some great photos of her unloading sand for the new Bills stadium.
That is so cool. I seen that ship one time out on Erie. It's an amazing sight!
These videos are always amazing thank you for taking the time to make them
Definitely should get the log book. I'd even support cutting open a hatch in the stern to try and attempt to get the engineering logbook, tho it's likely a god awful mess in there. With the ROV technology of 2024 there's no excuse. Many other ships are graveyards and we dive on them no problem. It's like someone is really trying hard to hide something regarding Big Fitz, and the socialist Canadian government stands in the way with its ridiculous bans and 'rules' (I'm Canadian). Great video, as always.
The engine room is gone, when that lake water went down the stack the boilers exploded, everyone back aft died very quickly
These really are your best work Mr History Mystery Man!!! Thank you for sharing the good Captain and his theories!!!
Not being familiar with shipping, this tragedy has always fascinated me. I have learned a great deal from these videos. Thank you.
Absolutely love these! Both of you are awesome! Thanks HMM
A complex and fascinating puzzle that obviously has plenty of room for common sense theories. Thank you.
How watertight are the main floor cabins? Reason I ask, is the Cooper said water was going OVER the hatch crane...so looking at the image of the Fitz and her crane, that would put the main floor underwater.
Thanks as always
Great job, as always.
The Fitz made her last trip locking through the Soo 49 years ago today headed northbound to Superior Wisconsin
Another awesome video thank you too
Oh man look at the hatch plate bases. At 14:40 point. They are riveted on the ends but welded in the middle.
If that prop had been bouncing up and down and in between the plate holds.
It could have knocked the plate away from the deck.
And if it had done that on. Both sides. The center would have fallen out from underneath.
Once you get enough damage.
There is no stopping that.
I could see that possibly failing in that way
I wonder if the log book is still in the wheel house it may have gotten wash out.
Even if they could recover the logbook..Could it be able to be read after all these years in the lake bottom? With the paper disgenerating by being immersed so long
Get the log book.
I have to agree with you, most wouldn't but I'd say that with the diving technology that we have now, retrieving the log book would be easier.
If it still exists yo would have a hell of a time reading it considering how waterlogged it would be. I mean considering that she's been underwater for almost 50 years. I doubt you're going to be able to read the log book if you find it.
I mean, they recovered a journal from the Titanic and were able to read from it after drying it out carefully.
Yes get the log book
I almost forgot that 10 November is Sunday. MARINE CORPS birthday and the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
She locked thru the Soo headed northbound 49 years ago today.
Great seeing you guys today!
I'll be attending online ceremonies Sunday.
This is what I look forward to!!!! More, please
If the propeller blade was lost during the storm could it possibly be found along the route the fitz took? By sonar? Would definitely bring light to the theory of it coming loose and taking down the fence and or vent covers
HMM and Captain Walton, another Heartfelt Thank You and Hand Salute! Always Interesting and Informative. Be Safe Out There! HMM are you going to be at the NMGL this weekend or on Monday?
Thanks Captain Darrell for the book recommendation. Been listening to the trials of the edmund fitzgerald on audiobook. Its super interesting.
"Don't let nobody on deck!"
“What’s that, Fitzgerald? Unclear. Over.”
“I have a bad list, lost both radars. And am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas I’ve ever been in.”
"If I’m correct, you have two radars.”
"They're both gone."
That's the most cryptic piece of the puzzle right there. What was happening aboard the Fitzgerald at that point to where anyone would even begin to contemplate going on deck?
Cooper said nobody would go on the deck, common knowledge it wasn't safe, people didn't have to ask. Same for all ship, it was protocol. SO, the fact McSorley said that means someone or more Than one brought up the need to go on deck!!! Why? I personally think lifeboat 1 broke lose and was slamming up agaisnt the Fitz. This would explain why Lifeboat 1 was found NE OF Caribou!!! The rest of the debris was near the wreck site...LB 1, 15 miles north!!!! That Lifeboat was probably banging and slamming and they thought, " we gotta cut the fuc#$@ free it's going to come thru the pilot house". Most likely broke off on her own.
Every year, over 3 million people visit Arlington cemetery. How many people visit the fitzgerald a year? 0.
Every year, 350000 people visit Lincolns tomb. How many visit the fitzgerald? 0.
Every year, 1.8 million people visit Pearl Harbor. How many visit the fitzgerald? 0.
All those previous places are all gravesites, yet you can freely and respectfully visit all of them. Doesn't that seem odd? It's almost like someone is trying to hide something. And what's stupid about this whole law that bans diving, captain Darrell himself, isn't legally allowed to dive on the wreck if he wanted to visit the grave of his uncle. Him as a surviving family member isn't allowed to go visit his uncle if he wanted to. Now that's beyond ridiculous. I understand that they are down there, but people aren't there to disturb, there only there to remember.
More than 0. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (the memorial site for the Fitzgerald) has over 100,000 visitors every season. And on the anniversary of the sinking (Nov 10) a memorial service is held at this museum, including ringing of the bell by family members of those lost.
I actually meant at the wreck directly. People going down to see her.
@@lincolnw8194 Well, you can't. Not legally. At the request of the family of the Fitzgerald's crew, you need a permit from the Canadian government. Otherwise it is illegal. The other problem is depth. For divers who dive for a hobby it is more than twice as deep as most are rated to dive. To do so requires special equipment, support equipment and training. This could possibly run over $1,000,000 for 1 visit, for special diving equipment, or a mini sub, or a robot. And lots and lots of lighting. It is pitch black down there. Sunlight can't reach it.
I love these videos
Great info. One day the real truth I hope comes out.
You guys keep at it. Please.
Great as always Don!
I found an old news video from 1995 which shows the much younger Captain! Think from channel 11. I've been digging through very old photo albums of all of us on my cousins boat out of Bay View Yacht club. My mother estimates there are probably several thousand of pics of all the ships docked in Toledo from back then. My dad still has his old Minolta camera. We would head up to Belle View, Boblo Island, go out to Put in Bay and out to Cedar Point. We would spend summers out on the water.
i hope they get Mr. Donald Evans on here
Was watching a video on the big old boats channel about the loss of the Bradley .It meantion the loss was due to brittle steel as her sister ship broke up whilst being towed to be scrapped ..
Was the Fitz built with the same brittle steel like the Bradley n sister ship
It's said that there was a body found with a corked lifebelt on them. Then they spotted a body in the bridge, but never shown in a range of respect which is understandable. Makes me wonder, though.
The body with the corked lifebelt was narrowed down to one of the wheelsman because he was apparently 6'2-6'3, that's what Capt. Darrell said in one of the older videos. There were three wheelsmen on board: John D. Simmons, John J. Poviach and Eugene W. O'Brien.
The body in the pilothouse? I never heard of that before because I thought that the mates, captain and the cadet were all blown downstairs once the windows blew.
@ interesting, thank you! Sad though…
Perhaps I misread something in an article, my apologies!
No body found in pilot house, the one found came from there. Ive seen the video. Sadly obvious who it is. RIP crew.
@@normpaddle RIP crew indeed.
Get the log book! What is being hidden from the public!!!
How About The Sister The Homer??? Would Love To Hear Your Thoughts About That Deal Please???
I think Cap Walton should get the other family members and make a plea to have the log book brought back up. They also should maybe leave a letter from each family member writing a small letter to there family members who passed on the fitz. And leave something that is new from this time, I say this for a reason.
If they take the log book there taking a piece of history from the wreck,I think the crew would be ok with this cause it would shed more light on them and the fitzs finally moments. But also leave like maybe a new case of beer or Irish coffee something the crew would like. You take something you should leave something. Let the crew and ship know hey people still remember us and miss us after all these years.
I hope this is ok to say I don’t have any family members who was on the fitz so I don’t mean any disrespect. For me I think it would be a win win situation plus since the bow is in American waters technically it could be possible
Very good synopsis! Food for thought! Thanks for watching!
@ thank you Captain
Another great episode! It was interesting to hear and listen to all of these new details that have just surfaced after so long.
My honest opinion on how she went down as of now is when she struck Caribou Island, one of the blades came loose and hit both the vents and the railing, thus causing the first signs of trouble. With that, the ship was slowly going down via the damage and the hatches that were damaged over the eyes. In the matter of a minute or two, it nosedived, the first three hatches imploded and it finally snapped in half before the stern capsized and settled on the bottom.
It's interesting to think what would have happened to the Fitzgerald had she made it and beached itself. Would the damage be enough to write her off or would Mutual Life and Columbia/Oglebay give her an overhaul?
I really enjoy hearing Darrel's stories. Another great video buddy. All the best to the both of u2. 👍🇺🇸🗽🇺🇸👍. LET'S GO TRUMP
Do you think when they change the from a coal burning to a different kind of fuel oil engine in my opinion I think it weaken the structural of ship and also the loading of ship to carry more than it was supposed to do you agree with my theory about and would ask captain Darrell Walton opinion on it too and you can mention my name and my town of Escanaba Michigan
Here's a big hole in the hogging theory, if it really did hog that bad then why did only one fence rail go down as reported. It would have to have been both.
that's assuming the hull failure would have been symmetrical. If she was panting and twisting maybe not
@gregwhite8503 I think the hogging theory is impractical, to have hogged/bent that much it would have been bent so much she would have snapped. She had 26,000 tons of ore in her, if water rushed in it would have sagged and not hogged. The hogging theory makes little sense, especially when if that much water did get in, she would have sunk in seconds. One fence rail is down, not 2, get rid of the hogging theory.
They may have eventually. A lot more was probably happening. I think lifeboat 1 came off before Caribou at it was found NE of there.
Who is the Chap singing at the beginning and at the end?
Mike Fornes
Tom from Lightfoot cover band called Whispers of the North
These accidents were in the same area right?
The log book is still on the counter in the chart room.i saw it in live video.
Must be the Erubrus...Franklin's ship. I've see all Fitz video. No log book visible. With 530 feet of water pouring thru, it would be long gone. Probably outside near the body that was found in the 90s. RIP crew
@normpaddle I saw it man.
Out of respect for everyone on the ship I wish we actually know what actually caused it to sink
Do we know how many degrees the freighters were rolling that night, estimated the Anderson?
I think I just read Bernie saying 43. He did say two people quit, one at the Soo and the other when they got to Port.
@ wow I always wondered about this. I heard the story about one of the new guys always saying he wanted to see some real storm that season and after they got to whitefish point, he went down and got a tape recorder said his will put it in a bag and threw it overboard before they went back out to look for thefitz.
in 74/75 I unloaded her. I respect your figures regarding load limits and freeboard and it's probably my imagination but man.... they all seemed to have about 8' left and my immediate response seeing them dock was wow! I pleasure boated on Lake Erie and knew what those lakes could do. it wouldn't take much weather to wash the deck in those years.. how vigilant was the CG monitoring tonnage?
Wow, that must have been a sight to behold! Did you happened to see any of the crew out on deck?
@@bluerazor7049 No danger to the crew.. the boats hit brake wall in Cleveland and had 4 hours to wind down the river to the dock. The crew was going on about the day. The deck hands would swing down and fix the mooring lines.. the mates would adjust to the dock and the hatch covers in most cases were removed and ready to unload. The Fitz had solid hatch covers. Most of the Cliffs boats had telescoping hatches that were drawn back by cable.
I don't think McSorley did anything wrong! I think the Fitz just hit bottom and that's all she wrote!
Rick mister ?