P3-EDMUND FITZGERALD’S TOM WALTON ON MISSION TO KEEP MEMORY OF THE CREW ALIVE
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ม.ค. 2023
- The Legend Lives On, in part because of Tom Walton, once a Porter in the Mighty Edmund Fitzgerald turned Editor of the Toledo Blade, shares his thoughts on the Fitz with his chief aim being to preserve the memory of the 29 men who went down with the mighty ship on November 10, 1975. Walton lost his uncle Ralph G. Walton (Oiler) on the Fitz. His father, working on a different Columbia Transportation ship that terrible day, served as the Fitz's Chief Engineer for several seasons. Few people left on earth as connected to the story as Tom is. This conclusion of the 3-part series includes a visit to Capt. McSorley's memorial marker at Calvary Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio, where McSorley lived with his wife Nellie, whom is also introduced in Part 3. So many thanks from the History Mystery Man to all the viewers who are part of this journey to keep the memories of the men alive. #HistoryMysteryMan #EdmundFitzgerald #LakeSuperior #GreatLakes
I'm glad Tom Walton is around to discuss all these things.
You and me both brother; thanks for watching...HMM
As I watched the video, still with a sense of deep sadness at the loss of 29 men, a cold chill went over me when Ralph Grant Walton’s memorial stone was shown. He was the same age as my dad, both born in July of 1917. I feel a connection to these men, even though the closest I’ve been to the Great Lakes was in Chicago twelve years ago. My condolences and prayers are still with the surviving family members who relive the tragedy even now over 47 years later
It's neat that you keep a connection to these brave men. Thanks for remembering the crew of the Mighty Fitz! HMM
May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Thanks Kim, for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew. HMM
I've never bought the loose hatch cover theory either. No way. McSorley told Cooper he had a fence rail down. I figure the hull was bad at that point. Whatever happened next was so fast Bernie Cooper didn't have time to blink, and he had an entire lifetime of experience. Knew what he was doing, seeing, and looking for. The Coastguard should have gave his concerns the depth and weight he deserved when he radioed in that night. Great interview.
Interesting perspective, as always Michael. Thanks for your contributions! HMM
Captain Coopers voice answering CG request to go back out and look for the Fitz was the most stressed strained ever taped!!
I'm a millennial ( we are getting older ). But I've been fascinated by the story of the Fitzgerald since childhood. I couldn't just wrap my mind around how a ship like that can just founder so fast.
Then in October of 2015 one evening I heard after work on the news an American frieghter was missing. That ship was the SS El Faro.
Then I sadly got a glimpse of the impact a loss like that incurs. I had unknowingly been past the port of Jacksonville many times where the Tote terminal was.
One of the crew members had family in my home town. Where I was work while the El Faro fought against the storm she foundered in.
After the news broke the wreck was found just like that the news clip way before my time about the loss of the Fitzgerald hit my memory.
It's just crazy how things just resonate. Respect to all who were lost upon the waves. As well as those still sailing out there upon them.
Real small world.
Super interesting thoughts; thanks for sharing them here. I've been hearing more and more about he El Faro...I'm going to have to dig in on that one. Thanks for watching! HMM
I've watched all three episodes of your Mr. Tom Walton interview. That must have been a real privilege to have spoken with him, a genuine former crew member of the Fitz! The entire Walton family has been very generous in their support of your channel. As a viewer, I can say that we really appreciate their honesty and enthusiasm for keeping the memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald alive.
I would have loved to have read some of Tom's articles in the Toledo Blade, or even better attend one of his presentations.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks Todd. I'd love to sit down with Tom again. When you consider how many are still alive who actually worked on the Fitz, I bet you wouldn't get more than a handful. It was an honor...so big thanks to the Walton family. HMM
More Fitz content. 🥰🥰 thank you.
You got it; thanks for your support! HMM
That ship was so big that if you stood it on it's stern at the bottom in the depth of water in which it sank 200 feet of the bow section would be out of the water. That is beyond amazing!
Which means when the bow landed first at the bottom, a portion of the stern could have still have been above water. If it wasn't already coming apart on the way down, it broke for good when the bow hit the lake floor. Thanks for watching! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan I believe, the propeller, is what 'torqued' the stern over and why it ended upside down... the engine would have still been at speed!
@@atomicwedgie8176 Makes sense...thanks. HMM
Thanks 3 times over for the completion of the series. I would very much like to meet you both someday at a convention such as the “Gales of November”. I grew up visiting Duluth/Superior and the North Shore watching the ore boats through the 60s and 70s always thinking in the distance one of those ships must have been the Fitz. I remember the great restaurant adjacent to the entry port in Duluth called “The Flame” which had large windows facing the water with booths in front elevated a few steps up from the main dining area, when the freighters arrived they would ring a bell and get on the PA, announce the ship, tonnage and all interesting details. As the ships approached it was like they were going to collide they were so close. No doubt the coolest restaurant I have ever been to. It closed and sat dormant for many years to finally be replaced by what is called The Aquarium. Thanks for all you do with The Fitz, a great pleasure to see!
Thanks...I appreciate your support. Where is the Gales of November convention hosted? That would be so interesting and meaningful to go to that. I'd be happy to meet you anytime. What a great story you have...visiting the north shore of Superior...wow! HMM
I watched all 3 videos and was so impressed! I remember when it happened and heard some new details. Thank you!
You're welcome Peggy; thanks for taking the time to watch. HMM
I was 7 years old when the "Big Fitz" went down. Even then, since I had relatives in Toledo, had watched the freighters and actually seen her in the port while visiting them, I knew it was bad when I heard the news on moms kitchen radio (always tuned to WJR) the following morning as I was getting ready to head out and wait for the school bus.
I was born and raised in Fremont and, now live in Republic, Ohio. I've been past that cemetery in Sycamore countless times. Now, I'll have to stop and pay my respects. I'm not a "laker" but, as an owner operator truck driver, I still feel a certain connection to them since we're all involved in the transportation industry.
I can see your connection to the maritime industry. You both provide valuable services...transporting our goods around. I've been to Fremont Speedway a million times. Thanks for that salute at the cemetery next time you drive by...HMM
Same! Trucker here! Always been fascinated by the Big Fitz
Very amazing
It would be cool if someone made a movie about it and I’d also be next to you in the theatre. They could start the movie right from the first thought about the ship
I'd love to see that movie...thanks for watching! HMM
Think about what he said; "The Fitz was all about tonnage records, she was always out there." That says so much and is so over looked. That ship was used and abused to the point she broke in the worst storm of a century. And after hearing about some of the things that went down after the sinking. I honestly believe there was a cover up. The powers that be knew the Fitz had structural issues but did not repair them because they planned to chop the ship in two to extend the length.
Your analogies sure make sense, and I appreciate you sharing them here. HMM
Brilliant, another Tom Walton video. I could listen to his stories all day long 👏
Thanks for watching! Tom Walton is amazing! HMM
I love you're Fitz content....it's like nobody else's on the Tube.
Thanks! That one means a lot. I appreciate you! HMM
May 1st 2023 Gordon Lightfoot died in Toronto Canada! I hope someone rings the Edmond Fitzgerald Bell 1 time for him!
Yeah...maybe we should ring the bell 30 times now...thanks. HMM
A major motion picture of the wreck of the Fitz needs to be made. The victims and their surviving family/friends deserve a respectfully done and accurate movie memorializing them. Such a sad and tragic event that happened…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. I'd love to see the movie...just wonder how they'd tell it...being that we don't know for sure what happened. Thanks for watching! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryManI would be all for it just so long as they refrain from going all “Hollywood” by trying to solve the mystery with some overly dramatic portrayal of the wreck itself. Hopefully, the main focus would be to try to tell the story as accurately as possible.
@@blacksunshine1089 Understood. But...being we don't know what happened, nor will we ever, it would take one heck of a production team to do it right...thanks!
@@HistoryMysteryMan They would have to do multiple ends like they do today so you can choose how the movie ended
I think that in the end, the final decision would (and should) be left to the surviving family members of the Fitzgeralds crew about a possible movie.
Thank you for a wonderful presentation on the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I remember this happening back in 1975. There was a small clip on our TV here in Melbourne Australia. I bought the record of Gordon Lightfoot's song (The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald) and always thought of my dad who was a Chief Engineer in the British Merchant Service throughout the Second World War, and post war. I remember dad taking us on board the various ships he worked on and in the early 1960s, mum and I visited him when his ship was in port. I'd spend the whole day with him; have an evening meal with him, and fish off the pier with him. It brought back a lot of memories of my mum and dad. This story of the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald brings tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. May God grant those souls lost at sea, HIS eternal Peace and Rest and may HIS perpetual Light shine on them. Requiscant in Pace!
Thank you for your thoughtful remarks and input. The story of the Mighty Fitz grabs hold, and never lets go. I'm glad the video resurrected some nice memories for you, going back to your dad. Thanks for his service...and thanks for taking the time to watch. HMM
Theory: The Friz was 729' it's in 530' of water, you could stand the ship on end, and it would stick up out of the water, 200' into the air. Already running very deep in the water, taking on water, it was almost submerged the captain said he water rolling/coming over the deck, when the 1st rogue wave's hit it from behind/stern, lifted the rear of the ship drove the bow underwater with such great force the front piece broke off underwater and continued it projector 45` angle straight to the bottom, the center/cargo area with only 3 bulkheads disintegrated, the rear section with the engines still running got hit by the second rogue wave and flipped it on over and it came to rest upside down. Think of the energy it took to flip the rear section on over like that, unbelievable. Thought: We all know the crew was confined to quarters with their cabin doors shut and dogged down; I've always wondered as fast as the ship went down, if any of the crew was still alive (cabin acting as A sealed air pocket) when the ship came to rest on the bottom, what was going through their minds as (they waited) for what they knew was in store for them, the since of dreed they felt at that time is unimaginable..... What if. Kind of answered it here. Maybe that's where G. Lightfoot came up with the line. Open to interoperation. Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours....
Super interesting comments; thanks for sharing them here. You make a lot of sense in my book. Confined to their cabins as they were with their doors dogged down, their cabins would become air- and water-tight...so it's possible that they lived until the oxygen ran out or the pressure from the depth got to them...or both. HMM
Wow, I loved this video! What wonderful, amazing and historic footage - especially the pic of a happy, young McSorely couple! Furthermore, Tom Walton, is a wealth of personal and historical Great Lakes experiences. He, his father and uncle are intimately and forever part of the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. God bless you both for spreading the sound of the 30 bell rings!!!
Thanks Wendell...we really appreciate that. And thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew...HMM
Still love hearing all about Edmund Fitzgerald Don, great piece
Thanks again Tammy. The story of the Mighty Fitz grabs ahold and never lets go. HMM
What really haunts me is headstones with no bodies it doesn't seem to me there is no closure it makes me wonder if there souls are resting in peace
You ask a difficult question, but one that's worth thinking through. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Mighty Fitz and her crew. HMM
Mr. Garrow, “Closure” is a myth propagated by the self help *industry.* This is one of the more recent bastardized words or terms (such as “empath”) the industry uses to sell junk pop psychology. It means what ever the individual deems it to mean which has no universal application. Human lives are sloppy, complex and don’t come wrapped up in a bow nice and neat. Life is messy. Don’t be taken in by cheap advertising from an avaricious *industry* that preys on the neurotic (typically geared toward female neuroticism.)
Haven’t even watched yet but had to tell you I heard Gordon Lightfoot’s song yesterday afternoon while driving. Haven’t heard it in possibly years. And here’s Part 3!What a coincidence. Having watched your videos it truly almost had me shedding tears in the car. So meaningful, touching, a beautiful tribute that I never realized as such. Thanks for your in depth and personal history lessons. can’t wait to watch your latest installment shortly.
Thanks for your support...sooo appreciated. It's interesting that you heard the song the other day. Radio stations rarely play it anymore. I was in a restaurant in Huron, Ohio Wednesday night and heard it come over the restaurant's audio system. At first, I didn't know if I was just hearing things or if it was really playing. It was indeed playing...so cool. Thanks again...HMM
Scary. I was wondering why a movie has never been made at the exact moment they started talking about it.
We'd all love to see that one...thanks! HMM
What a wonderful presentation! Listening to Tom Walton recount these memories had me totally transfixed.
Thanks! I really appreciate that. Stop by anytime...HMM
To have a good paying job in Monterrey, California has to be a truly amazing experience. This Tom Walton is precious
Tom is the best; thanks for watching Andrew...good to hear from you again. HMM
Hello Don. I truly-truly enjoyed watching this P3. So much emotion, in so many areas.
As you know, my family boated the Great Lakes heavily in the 1970's. We were based out of Anchor Point Marina just east of Toledo. My Dad owned a 40 foot cruiser called 'Omni'. Even as a young boy back then, I was a true boatnerd.
I knew pretty much every ship of that era which cruised western lake Erie. And even vessels from other areas. At the 3:27 mark of this video, Tom rattles of many of vessels in the Columbia Fleet. I recall seeing and hearing from every single one of them.....including the Mighty Fitz. I mentioned this before in a prior video.
On a related note, just the other day I pulled out 5 years of cruising log books from the early 1970's that I enherited from my Dad. I'm so lucky in that my memory can still recall most of the events from that wonderful period in my life.
Again, what a great series Don. You hard work is most appreciated! A+ my friend. Chuck
Thanks Chuck; I'll take that A+! You have an interesting upbringing...what great memories you have that helped shape who you are. Those log books would be an interesting case study. Thanks again Chuck...race season on the way! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan My upbringing in many respects pales in comparison to yours Don! You are one of the most interesting persons I've ever met. But one thing I know we can agree on is our love for 3 key things 1) ships, 2) racing 3) small town America! Can't wait for the racing season to begin. Just need to get through our Ohio Winters.
@@chuckg6039 We're cut from similar cloth...thanks Chuck!
A great big storm on a great lake takes down a great ship along with 29 great men! Thanks HMM for not letting this memory fade away. I know I will never forget. Thank you Brian.
You're always welcome Brian. Thanks for your continued support. HMM
Thank you Don for another great Fitz story. How about you and Tom and Darrell do a video explaining each Fitz crew member and the jobs they did on the Fitz. Also please do a Roulo Brothers History video!
You're welcome Steven; thanks again. The Roulo Bros! Wow...a blast from the past for me...HMM
Thanks so much for all your information and memories. RIP to all that lost their lives that tragic day!! 😢😢
You're welcome! Thanks again...HMM
Incredible video, the detail and content and to hear from someone who served on the fitz , and seeing the towel , made it more real . The memory of the 29 men will never be forgotten. On the anniversary of the disaster in the snow and fog , watching the anderson coming in and then doing a horn tribute to the fitz. It gave me a feeling that the big fitz is still out in the lake . On eternal voyage. Thank you again for the videos
You're welcome Wayne. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Fitz and her crew. Love the eternal voyage...sweet. HMM
With much due respect to the brave 29 and their families - the Fitz was repeatedly overloaded and broke many records .Are there maintenance records available? The Fitz had 3 cargo holds, the Anderson had 5. Could it have been that the stress points failed? Looking at the watery grave the brave found- the lip above the wheelhouse is severely bent down. That may suggest a crest of 30 feet or more came crashing down . In between the waves, the Fitz was stern raised, riding the crest and bow down between? A rocket to the bottom perhaps with the ore shiftng position?
I believe she was already sinking...getting lower and lower in the water. When the stern lifted, she nosedived and never recovered. During the lift, the taconite shifted forward and down she went, nose first. In fact we know she landed bow first based on the damage and how she's planted in the lake bottom floor. Thanks for watching! HMM
I've been dreaming about writing a screenplay for a potential Edmund Fitzgerald film adaptation. I would do it like how Tom Walton stated to have character development by having the crew interact with each other, but I would like to feature Bruce Hudson as the first crew member we see, who is driving in his red 74 Dodge Challenger heading to the port. If you want to talk about the film idea, feel free to message me more about the film idea. I would love to get some more ideas and suggestions in writing the screenplay so that it can tell the story in a very historical and accurate way, while being respectful to the lost 29 crewmen and their families. Best wishes!
Great idea...we're behind you 100%. You need to read the book "Gales of November" which is, in part, a character study of the men who went down with the Fitz, and their families. Must read! Thanks...HMM
Thank you again my friend!
May they not be forgotten!
You're welcome Robert; thanks again! HMM
Excellent video again. Thanks HMM
You're welcome; thanks for taking the time to watch! HMM
Wow What a powerful story! ... Thank you for sharing the entire series!
You're welcome Craig; thanks for taking the time to watch. HMM
Thank you, sir. It is a real honor getting to listen to you.
Tom is a fantastic interview! Thanks for taking the time to watch...HMM
A movie about the fitz would be a smash hit. I would hop large amounts of profit would be given in equal shares to the relatives. I still believe they were very short changed on compensation over the whole ordeal.
Big time👍 $600.- bucks even back then was chump change....
I read a couple places that Mr Lightfoot gave a sizable chunk of the earnings of the song to the victims families but not sure how true that is, from what I’ve heard about the man it’s entirely possible
I think the biggest challenge would be trying to show the sinking as it’s so ambiguous to what actually happened during the event
I'd sure love to see a major motion picture on the Fitz...but being that we don't know what happened, how would you tell the story? Maybe you tell the story up till the very moment. Thanks for watching...HMM
I was thinking the same thing, how this could be a great movie if done right… I’d leave the “how” ambiguous but people would probably hate it
Although I completely understand the approach of no further dives, I feel there is more to learn from them. I also believe they would help to keep the memory of 29 men alive by providing a new opportunity to discuss their lives and dedication to their craft. Either way, a tragic event no doubt. Thank you for this series.
You're very welcome; thanks for watching...and thanks for sharing your thoughts here. HMM
Great video! Very interesting!!
Thanks for watching! HMM
Tom god bless You mate
Very powerfully...thank you!
Fun Fact: there was a movie that was gonna be made about the Edmund Fitzgerald's final voyage. The ship chosen to play the Fitzgerald was the V.W. Scully (later the Algosound) and the ship chose to play the Arthur M Anderson (I'm not 100% sure on this so forgive me if I'm incorrect) was the Seaway Queen. The Scully ran the name Edmund Fitzgerald from 1978-1979 for being used in the production. Sadly, the movie was never completed but the footage was kept and used in a 1995 documentary about the Fitzgerald's final voyage and the raising of the bell. Its a very good documentary and you can watch it on here and its almost 50 minutes long.
Thanks for sharing this information; I've never seen it, so I'll definitely be checking it out. The thought of making a movie on the Fitz is so intriguing because the Mighty Fitz IS the Titanic of the Great Lakes, and largest ship to ever go down on the Lakes. But, unlike the Titanic, we don't know what happened to the Fitz...so it would be fascinating to see the position a movie producer would take in regards to her demise. HMM
Just found of those New Jason Islands bills and bought it. Thank you for the video.
You're welcome; thanks for watching. Very cool find for you...HMM
The only dive that would be permitted eventually, would be to take care of the fuel that is starting to leak..
I believe this will happen also. I have the utmost respect for those in the ship still. Nor do I want to disturb them. In my humble opinion though. The shipping company does not want anyone visiting the sight , more so than the families. New passive technology might shed some more insight on how/ why the fitz is at the bottom of superior.
D. Damick. Agreed. With all respect to the great men who lost their lives and their loved ones, I believe it would be against the best interest of a couple of the powers that be. Just my opinion though. I can not even imagine how the loved ones feel. Even though I have had a few relatives pass at work due to the greed of others.
@@Trinitystillmyname unfortunately I think any real chance of smoking gun proof of what caused her to go down disintegrated when the midsection ripped apart, I still think she touched ground even briefly amidships somewhere in the area of Caribou Island and that’s where the problems truly began
Super interesting comments; thanks for sharing them here. Good point on the mid section. I also believe that's where the hole was, but we'll never know because that section of the ship is gone. In terms of the leaking fuel...let it leak. Thanks all...HMM
Thank you HMM for keeping the memories of the Fitz alive.
Will there be more stories about the Fitz this coming year?
Yep...I'm going to be sitting down with Captain Darrell again...just gotta work it out with him. Thanks for your support, Roger.
Excellent documentary. Haunting and fascinating. His uncle Ralph was born July 22 (my birthday) in 1917 (my mother's birth year.) McSorley and my dad were both born in 1912. I was a junior at Michigan State University when she went down. Still remember that day. Seemed impossible at the time.
Those are some interesting comparisons you're sharing...some serious connections to the Fitz. Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew...and thanks for watching. HMM
Really enjoy your videos regardless of the subject. I think you and I would get along well as we have so many similar interests. Keep them coming.
Thanks..sooo appreciated. Be glad to meet you! HMM
Thanks history mystery man, interesting talk.
You're welcome; thanks for watching...HMM
God bless all
Thanks for all the kind words...HMM
This is really what history is! First hand accounts with interviewer, interviewee. Mr. Walton is so refined and I love his telling on the Fitz. His eyes light up and I can see and feel a young man’s excitement and deep reverence. Very humbling indeed for me, since I have never been on a ship, let alone a well-known vessel like the Edmund Fitzgerald. I think you all are on to something with the next chapter in this ship’s story being a major motion picture.
Thanks Penelope...so appreciated! Stop by anytime...and thanks for taking the time to watch. HMM
Ideas to look into: 1. The door in the pilot house dogged open. What if anything could that be attributed too. 2.Rules were broken/bent on load restrictions for that time of year. Prosecution of guilty persons ( if still alive). 3: Radio communications, speculation if Mayday/ help was called? 4: Those in sealed off quarters oblivious to issues, riding the Fitz down to the bottom trapped. Survival even possible?
A hard look at coast guard protocol and failures at that time. No reasonable rescue was attempted by coast guard . Failure of Coast Guard seaworthy ships available to rescue any ships/ sailors in open water at the time. The lighthouse being " out of service". All these things perplex me. Especially Coast Guard failure to rescue, or even attempt to rescue in a timely fashion.
I think point 2 is pretty much moot sadly, anyone in their mid to late 30s then, which was highly out of the norm for anyone of executive level decision making , would be in their late 80s today, anyone of the executive level decision making would have been in their later 40s to 50s back then which would put them in their mid to late 90s minimum today
No mayday and/or distress radio signal was ever heard from the Fitz. It's possible that some of the crew lived a while. When those doors are dogged down, they become air- and water-tight...so they may have lived until oxygen ran out and/or the depth of the lake took them. Haunting however it happened. God bless the Mighty Fitz and her crew...HMM
There really needs to be a movie on the Fitz and the crew
I would love to see a movie on the Fitz! Someone? Anyone?
Excellent Interview series! I could listen to him talk all day.
Thanks...greatly appreciated. HMM
Love this content!thanks
You're so welcome; thanks for watching! HMM
Another awesome video! I love hearing these stories! Gives me a greater appreciation for the sailors of the Great Lakes. I was a sailor in the US Navy years ago, and all of these videos hit home in that sense. Thank you again HMM!
You're welcome Wes...good to hear from you again. The Great Lakes sail much differently than the oceans...both interesting subjects. HMM
While I tend to agree more with Darrell Walton’s line of thought in regards to what did/didn’t occur before the sinking and the importance of pursuing the cause of what caused it, I also respect Tom Walton’s experiences and his point of view as well. Thank YOU, Don/HMM for bringing these stories to us…
You're welcome; thanks for your interest in the Mighty Fitz! HMM
Love the videos. I live in Superior. Been to the dock where the she left many times.
Thanks...I'd love to visit your area sometime. HMM
Hello again Don.
If you may recall, I was a younger neighbor of Bruce Hudson back then and connected with you when you put out the segment about Bruce’s car.
What a masterfully interesting and reverent series of video interviews with both Tom and Darrell. Superbly well done and captivating.
It was quite gratifying to hear Tom mention his work along side Ruth Hudson to continue the memorial representation through the years. You are doing the same thing and it’s evident how proud you are to do so. I couldn’t agree more when you mention how this story never lets go of its grip on you.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t offer a blessed eternal rest to Gordon Lightfoot. His brilliantly powerful composition memorialized The Mighty Fitz and her crew for all time and gave them the finest of recognition they deserved. It brought such an immeasurable level of awareness to the tragedy, She and Her Crew will be remembered for posterity and it’s easy to believe their spirits still sail upon Superior, especially when you hear the haunting voice of her bell sing out at the end.
Again, supremely well done sir. Thank you for your passion and efforts.
Thanks again, Jeff. I remember conversing with you very well. It really intrigued me when you told me that you lived in Bruce's old hood. Thanks for coming back and watching these videos; I sure love keeping the story of the Mighty Fitz alive...and I appreciate you sharing your poignant thoughts here...very well said. HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan A grateful thank you Don. Honored by your reply. Take care.
@@jeffbranchick1516 Of course...stop by anytime...always welcome. HMM
I think they should do more dives. not disturb anything, but it’s important to know
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. HMM
If the Perfect Storm could have a book and motion picture, then the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew also deserve the same.
Oh, and the bell should have been left right where it was at, it's on display somewhere in one of the maritime museums, only for someone to make money off of when people are coming and see it, are any of the family's getting any proceeds from the viewing of the bell? If not, they should be... $600.- bucks compensation, really, even back then that was chump change... No offence to the families, but they got ripped off, in more ways than one...
You raise some interesting points, worth considering. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. HMM
Just a quick one...even if it sank in one piece, the stern would not stick out by 200 feet, buoyancy doesn't work like that....the stern would stay on the surface and the as yet unflooded mid section would be drawn under. Great work as usual Don 👍👍
Thanks for your input John...and thanks again for watching! HMM
While respect for the dead is understandable, can’t there be an investigation of the keel. I think the captain of the Anderson thought the ship hit the shoals, causing a rip in the keel. Shouldn’t there be an effort to get to the bottom of this? Maybe such an accident could be prevented in the future. I think the nephew of one the crew members said they were using out of date maps.
Good observation on the keel. Unfortunately, we can't inspect the keel because most of it is gone. The entire mid-section is literally disintegrated. Thanks for chiming in...HMM
Great video Don!
Thanks Alan...great to hear from you again! HMM
My wifes grand father was a Ships Master (captain) for 20 years as a fact he was certified to master a ship of any tonnage. He started on the Great Lakes as a deck hand before WWII. He claims the Fitz bottomed out at 6 Fathom Shoals at Caribou Island . He claimed that even in the 70's nav maps were still sketchy and not 100% accurate. I believe him and why not he and others that sail those lakes would know.
Makes sense to me; thanks for sharing your thoughts here...HMM
I made a remote control Edmond Fitzgerald, it’s a 1:50 scale it’s almost 16 feet long and it’s 18” wide. I put 4 five gallon buckets of iron ore pellets in it for ballast. I wanted to put a picture in the comments but not sure how
That's awesome...I'd love to see it. Thanks for watching...HMM
Seems that I saw something about a film. I believe the ad read “The Edmund”. I don’t believe it ever got off the ground, seems no one would finance it. If I remember correctly.
Yep...according to Tom Walton in this video he's pretty much saying the same thing. Thanks...HMM
I looked it up on TH-cam after I commented and found a trailer. Look up “The Edmund” in the TH-cam search it was posted 6 years ago. Hope this helps, I’ve really your series on the Fitz!
@@timothybrown579 Thanks...I'm going to look that up!
The dive was probably OceanGate!
I've always interpreted the liric to imply that the hatch gave way as a result of the weight of the water and that it imploded instead of the turnbuckles not being tightened! It never crossed my mind that the liric implied anything negative against the crew!
Thanks for watching Gene; I appreciate your feedback/comments. HMM
I completely understand no diving on the Fitz as it's a graveyard. My question is, why not the Cedarville, Bradley, Morrell, and even shaking hands with Old Whitey on the Kamloops?
Great questions. They're still diving on the Morrell...not sure about the Bradley. Who is Old Whitey on the Kamloops? Thanks again, Dana...HMM
The Fitz was never “overloaded”. Read the engineering reports and what the plimsoll line is.
For the "Design " of the vessel, she was overloaded on November 10, 1975.
Not only overloaded but sanctioned by the CG
Thank you for these three amazing videos! I hope you can find find more Fitzgerald or even Arthur M Anderson workers. ( or even Arthur B Homer the sister of the Fitz, correct? And see if there were any similarities between the ships in structure and how bad they could be.) Like I said another time I wish I could be there sitting with you guys and listening and asking questions. Thank you for these and I hope to see more! And if there’s a movie on the Fitzgerald, I’d be there so fast it’d make your head spin.
Yes on the Homer. A major motion picture could be amazing! Thanks...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan it would be! I hope they do one day. I wish they could’ve made it with Sean Connery. And maybe make a trilogy including the Morrell and Bradley!
I like it! HMM@@jamesmccarthy5086
Good video again 👍. I do kind of wish they would let them go down just to figure out the cause with today's technology ,might figure it out. Moot point now.
Thanks...I can appreciate your wonderment of what happened. End of the day, we'll never know. HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Np man. Yes. Overall it should be left alone. But this is the mystery that will keep giving us years of theorys for sure
The Witch Of November is what the storm was called
RIP to the 29 of the Fitz, and RIP Gordon Lightfoot
How many lifeboats were on the Edmund Fitzgerald and were any deployed by surviving crew or did the storm sweep them all away? Also in the picture of Captain McSorley what are the relation of those two little girls to the Captain? Great series.
👍👍
intro music?
Should the log book from the wheel house be recovered? I understand not ever going into the crews area but one more to see what condition she’s in and to try and recover the logbook might bring some answers
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, Robert...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan sir there is a picture of a family holding another picture of a crew member in the video of lightfoot song, right when he says the wife and the sons and the daughters. I can’t figure out which member it is. I don’t see it anywhere but the video. I’d really like to know because the faces of those kids is just so dramatic!!! The best I could come up with was it maybe Oliver “buck” champeau. Would you happen to know whom the picture is of?
I'll see what I can find out...thanks.@@robertschultz6922
Gordon Lightfoot said that he said they were going to Cleveland, because it rhymed. He couldn't rhyme Zugg Island.
As I understand it, Lightfoot got Cleveland from an incorrect press release he read regarding the tragedy...and later corrected the lyrics. Thanks...HMM
One way to help keep their memory alive is to encourage theater companies to stage “Ten November,” a play by Steven Dietz, for the anniversary year, instead of endless playings of Lightfoot’s song. No disrespect to Lightfoot, but his song is well known, and the play, a serious work of art, is not.
I had never heard of Ten November, till now...thanks for watching. HMM
Was the George Clooney movie 'The Perfect Storm' based on the tragedy of The Edmond Fitzgerald?
No...HMM