EDMUND FITZGERALD, GALES OF NOV. with CAPT. DARRELL WALTON
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ย. 2022
- Join me, the History Mystery Man, for another interesting sit-down with Captain Darrell Walton, whose Uncle Ralph Walton went down on the mighty ship during a nasty November storm on Lake Superior in 1975. All 29 men went to their watery graves just 15 miles from the safe harbor of Whitefish Bay. Captain Darrell discusses the final hours before the ship went down. Did it break in two on the surface first or did it nosedive to the bottom...or something else? We may never know, but Captain Darrell offers a solid explanation as to what he believes happened. Captain Darrell digs into the official reports from the United State Coast Guard for his own conclusive report of what really happened. Thanks for your support...enjoy! #HistoryMysteryMan #EdmundFitzgerald #LakeSuperior #GalesOfNovember #GreatLakes #GreatLakesShipWrecks
Gordon Lightfoot passed away May 1st in Toronto Canada. I hope someone rings the Bell one time for him, for keeping the memory of the 29 crew members alive!
They did…30 bell tolls, 29+1 for Gordon Lightfoot.
Here here!
Omg. That was my 72nd birthday. I always loved this ballad but didn't realize when it happened. This native Minnesotan was on the other side of the world in 1975. It was 20+ years later when I realized that the disaster happened while I was gone. RIP to all 30.
Gordon was certainly a musical master..I remember listening to him throughout the 80's I'm gonna miss him..R.I.P
MR LIGHTFOOT..rest easy
Amen
Recently bought book “The Night the Fitz Went Down”. I had said in a previous message that McSorely said he didn’t care about the shape the Fitz was in. On page 79 of the book, it was reported that crewmen “demudding” the bottom of the ship (shoveling out the mud) came up on deck & reported to McSorely “the keel was loose again” to which the Captain replied “all this SOB has to do is stay together one more year, after that, I don’t care what happens to it”. That is a helluva attitude for a ship’s Captain to have & only reinforces the idea that in McSorely’s last year on the Fitz all he thought or cared about was retiring with as much pension as he could earn & getting home to his wife who’d been having recent medical problems.
Which is why I believe he gambled to push thru that horrible storm instead of anchoring behind Michipicoten island & waiting it out till morning. He sure wasn’t thinking of the lives of the crew. But Captain Paquette said, “I think he just really thought that ship would get him thru”. But that doesn’t square with opinions of other crewmen who said they thought he was afraid of the Fitz & the way it handled.
Wow...that's super interesting. I wonder how that quote from McSorley got to Paquette? Thanks for sharing this here...HMM
I feel McSorely was suffering from complacency. This would affect his decision processing as well as his attitude. The Friz was overloaded running 3 ft lower in the water for the conditions the ship came up against. McSorely should have anchored behind Michipicoten Island waiting out the storm.
@@tammiadams4001 Good points Tammi. If only the good, brave Captain could go back and do it all over again. Thanks for your feedback. HMM
It’s frightening when you think how fast that massive ship went down, not even a chance to cry out a distress call, so so close to home , heartbreaking RIP all 29 souls, you’ll never be forgotten.
It certainly is. Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew...HMM
A friend of mine was up in Michigan and saw the Arthur M. Anderson going out in the channel and she waved and the Captain gave her the master salute. She was thrilled!😊
Already 47 years today. Rest in peace all 29 crew members.
Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan I saw the Fitzgerald the year before it sank while on a tourist cruise in the port of Cleveland. The Fitzgerald was unloaded at the Huletts.
@@epistte Interesting. Was it coming or going? Or up the Cuyahoga?
Captain Darrell is a wealth of knowledge that can't be dismissed. His theories are solid. The conversations , between you two, are remarkable! Thanks for including us!
May the memories of the crew and ship carry on!
Now I like this one for sure, Robert. Thanks for putting it that way...again and again. HMM
Everyone please don't forget captain Don Erickson of the William Clay Ford also went out to look for the Fitz also.
Good point Anthony...thanks for the reminders. With more than 8,000 boats on the bottom of the Great Lakes, there are so many to remember...HMM
It's a piece of history that we never forget. The power of nature is not to be played with.
Never knew that. Thank you. (Lived in The UP when it happened)
Thank you for adding that
You are blessed to have a relationship with this man.
He's the real deal, and it's rare to find such a knowledgeable , experienced "Salt".
Wish I could meet him, and buy him a beer...just to hear his stories, and opinions about sailing the Great Lakes.
Thank you for sharing him with us!
You're welcome; thanks for watching. More with Captain Darrell coming soon...stand by! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan I'll be watching!
Lets Not Forget The Ford And Capt Erickson Pulled Anchor And Went Looking As Well
Good points; thanks for sharing them here Micheal. HMM
The Bravest of Captain & Crew to head into a Severe Storm that they KNEW was perilous & quite possibly deadly..!!! These men (& their families/loved ones) lived a rough and laborious life. Kudos to unheralded AMERICANS!
PS: My sincerest thanks to you, History Mystery Man, ..these two videos are the type & quality which keep you riveted throughout.🛟⚓️🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@davidmoorea1961 Thanks David...so appreciated! HMM
Them Captains & Crew's deserve all our respect. I seen throughout my life many times people put there own lives at risk to save & help others.
@@Houndini Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew, and all the Captains and crew. HMM
I was born and raised on the south shore of Lake Superior. My grandfather was a commercial fisherman not far from where the Fitzgerald sank. I remember my father saying the night the Fitzgerald sank, he never saw the barometer drop so fast and that low. He said it was the worst storm he had ever seen on Superior.
Interesting...thanks for sharing your story here, Kevin. That had to have been a great childhood...being raised in that area. Sounds magical to me. Thanks for watching...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan I am a 4th generation from the little village of Grand Marais. I no longer live in upper peninsula. My paternal grandfather was a captain in the coast guard at Grand Marais. My maternal grandfather was a commercial fisherman. My family has a long history on Lake Superior.
@@kevinthorrington2131 What a great family history. Thanks again, Kevin...HMM
The captain of the Anderson was a true hero that day...even if he didn't think he was being heroic!
Absolutely! Even those ocean salties wouldn't turn back and go help. Later on, the William Clay Ford went out to search too. Captain Bernie Cooper rocks! HMM
The mighty Fitz ,,,I came from the UK to Canada in ,73 ,I remember this tragedy,,they say a massive wave ,,picked up the Fitz ,when she came down she hit bottom and broke her back ,,,,,I am 73 now ,I been on these lakes when a storm rolls in ,,,,the great Gordon Lightfoot passed away yesterday ,, Canada's beloved folk singer ,RIP Gord ,go meet the Fitz boys xxx
Lightfoot and the Fitz are inextricably bound together for all time and eternity like Walter Lord and the Titanic (A Night to Remember). I don't know why, but that is a comfort to me. Lightfoot immortalized the Fitz and made sure that she would be remembered above all of the tragic histories upon those treacherous lakes.
...and Captain Darrell really should put all of his thoughts together and write a book.
I'll buy that book! Thanks again, Lee...HMM
I’m good for an advance copy, if Capt. Walton happens to read this.
I'd buy that book as well
I would buy the book too !!
idk if everything he says is right but he is ok in his ideas.
As a guy born and raised in the Midwest I have a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women that work on the great lakes and also a tremendous amount of respect for the men that die on the great lakes
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, Robert. Well said...HMM
The piercing vitality of the men in the opening montage is a heart stopper. They are as alive to us today as when those "staring eyes" were photographed. Very moving. We aren't looking at men long dead, we are meeting guy's as alive as we are. Captains can never afford to terrify their crew with reckless radio talk. Water never compresses but it always flows. With the big old style open compartments and the bilge system the water flowed with the rolling of the waves. I can see millions of gallons pulling her down then sloshing like in a pool or bathtub. Forward....aft.....forward....aft. Sloshing waves driven by high winds get bigger/higher in shallow waters. Water weighs appx 8.45 pounds per gallon. Imagine the weight sloshing thru the ore compartments dividing screens and bilge. How many additional tons of water were they carrying? Taconite ore is as dangerous as grain in large quantities. Farmers die every year stepping onto or into grain in storage bins akin to the ore in the compartments. It shifts like quick sand. It moves like a viscous liquid. Per the coast guards of both countries, they were infected with a laize faire attitude because they had not lost a big ship in the past few years. Why REALLY train for what just can't happen in these "modern" days of weather forecasting and better ship building. The keel is the absolute spine of a ship or boat no matter the size. Remove the strength by over stressing and patching is a sure plan for catastrophic failure. Once broken under the weight of a working load every part attached to the keel weakens and begins to fail. Failed keel is like a house of cards collapsing piece by piece. Any weakened weld could open without the strength of the keel and other structure. I cannot imagine the personal and professional risk Capt. Cooper faced by turning back to the Fitzgerald? His crew, his ship and his job and his life as well. Because the American Coast Guard had protected itself from having to act by having written safety regulations that kept smaller boats in harbor because of DANGEROUS WEATHER. I am astounded the Huey rescue helicopters went out, but those guys were then and are now crazy! They live for the saving of people in storms like this killer storm. The ripple of fate condemned more lives than "just" the dead. The shallowest waters effected by high winds and barometric low pressure make bigger, shorter waves in the Great Lakes than in most areas of the oceans. We know so much more about wind/weather/hydrology etc. Than they knew in the 1970's. Men still go down to the seas in ships and are lost but for the most part the truth that surrounds a loss is more apparent than the jumble of a--cover that you presented from the Coast Guard et. al. I do believe careers were altered on a down trajectory within the CG, but we civilians would never be allowed to know that because the causes of those transfer/demotions/stopped promotions have the potential to open the CG to law suits.
Super interesting thoughts...thanks for sharing them here. Taconite is dangerous cargo, as you pointed out with your analogy to grain. And...the weakened keel and the weakening components attached to it. You sort of brought it all together; thanks for sharing it all here. HMM
This is by far the best and most thorough explanation of the "perfect storm" of events that led to the Fitz's demise.
Thanks...I appreciate that. HMM
I was born and raised in Michipicoten Bay, north of the wreck. This story is legendary, I remember well the day my dad phoned in Toronto to tell me aboout the ship being missing and the storm that night.
This is a very good video and some incredible insights , that ring true as a bell.
Thank you for posting, and all the great comments on this thread.
Thanks...we really appreciate you and your contributions here. Stop by anytime...HMM
What a great interview with an individual who knows what he's talking about.👍
Thanks...greatly appreciated. HMM
God Bless ya Capt. Darrell
Thanks for that, David! HMM
Captain Walton, thank you for your wisdom, as a 22 year old man, we need this wisdom.
Thanks for that! It's so cool that young folks like yourself are in tune with the story of the Mighty Fitz. Happy New Year! HMM
Patience is the companion of wisdom!
Thanks for this documentary. Very well done. I was 21 when she went down. Now 68 and the story still makes me cry. God bless you.
Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew. HMM
I love the Celtic music at the opening of this video! The images are so haunting. A nosedive by the bow sounds like the only way this could have happened. Another documentary I watched spoke about how taconite ore is dangerously absorbent to water, absorbing 8 to 9 times its weight in water volume. It makes no sense that any Great Lakes mariners or captain that routinely transported taconite ore during that time of year, which was notorious for ship-sinking storms, would risk leaving hatches open upon departure- especially because Capts. McSorley and Cooper already knew they were headed into heavy storms at the time they left. There's a reason "batten down the hatches" is an expression.
I don't discount the 'running aground' theory entirely, but I'm skeptical, especially since in Cooper's sworn testimony he said that the Fitz had cleared the shoals. Unless the ship's hull was in really bad condition and there was water leakage more rapid than what was initially described, I don't see how that could have been the only cause.
I don't know how the Three Sisters ended up being discounted so quickly in some theories. It wouldn't take flooding the hatches for a rogue wave, especially a series of them, to sink a ship. It's also the only thing that explains why all 29 sailors were trapped on the ship and they never issued a distress call. Nothing else can take a ship down that quickly.
The only alternative is that water got into the cargo hold another way, the taconite increased in volume rapidly as it all shifted forward or to one side, and the Fitz didn't stand a chance. If she caught one or more rogue waves from the front, that would have been enough to shift all the iron to the bow by itself. It's notable, however, that divers to the wreck report that two of the hatches were buckled inward, implying a huge downward force onto them at some point, and resultant leakage. Mike TenEyk said in an interview that it wouldn't take rogue-sized waves to cause that buckling or leakage, just the 30-ft waves constantly battering the ship may have been enough.
It may be my cynicism about corporate oligarchy and the lengths they will go to for profit, but I've privately wondered if the Fitz wasn't deployed in rough conditions, with dangerous cargo, after years of possibly poor maintenance (according to some accounts), with the hope for a big insurance payout on a ship whose bankers and corporate backers knew was likely to sink. It wouldn't be the first time something like this was done. If the ship was indeed getting older and in need of more moneyed repairs, I think it's highly plausible.
Sadly, I also think it's plausible that McSorley's "We're holding our own" might have been due to knowing they were utterly screwed and didn't want Cooper to take the risk of the Anderson and its crew coming back for them when he knew there was nothing anyone could do to save the Fitz.
As an aside, it drives me crazy that everyone in that region insists on pronouncing Sault Sainte Marie wrong. It's not hard to say "Saul," and it is a French name, after all.
I believe there is sufficient proof based on what we already know that the Fitz slammed into the lake floor nose/bow first. Whether it tore in two upon impact or came apart on the way down remains an open question. Thanks! HMM
The Captain of the William Clay Ford went out and searched also.
I was a shipfitter/loftsman at Fraser Shipyard. The summer before the ship went down we went to Thunder Bay and took "as built" dimensions off the Fitz because she was the next boat we were going to "lengthen" like we had done to the Calloway and the Green. The captain invited the 3 of us for lunch in his dining room. I was amazed how beautiful that boat was and hadn't known that she was set up for passengers. Sad day when we heard she went down. God bless the families.
Great story! Thanks for sharing it here! So you had lunch with Captain McSorley? HMM
She was a "Beautiful Ship"!
I didn't remember his name at the time but when we head what happened I sure knew it!
In another video there is conversation about plateing being at the Fraiser yard with the name of the Fitz chalked on it. Was that the case?
@@erbewayne6868 Lots of plates were prefabricated in preparation for the lenghtening that was planned. We usually built the 120' midbody ahead of time.
I was onboard a destroyer headed back to Norfolk in late Mar., early April of 1982 when we encountered an early spring storm system a couple of hundred miles east of the Bahamas. We had prepared for heavy weather. Chow consisted of sandwiches and chips with bug juice to drink. The galley was secured, everything tied down. It got so rough all the crew not on duty were ordered to berthing compartments where you had to strap in with something like a seat belt to keep from being pitched on the deck. Everyone was carrying a barf bag on their belt. Going out on deck was prohibited and hatches were dogged. I had one of the surface scopes in CIC which was useless given the sea state. The waves were everywhere but the biggest were coming from the SSW and at one point were rolling us to starboard at 55°. At this point a crack was discovered amidships and all crew were ordered up to the mess deck and issued flotation devices. We were assembled in the breeze ways, sitting on the deck by Divisions. As I stated earlier, we had rolled over to 55 degrees a couple of times. When the bow went down in the troughs the stern would rise up out of the water and with the screws (props) out of the water it felt like ship was going to come apart the vibrations were so rough. In addition when the bow was up and the stern down you couldn't climb the ladders (stairs ways) as it felt like your foot was welded to the deck. When the bow was down you could climb them in two steps. Also when the storm was at its worst we took a wall of green water over the bow that blew out two bridge windows and left another loose with a crack. No one wanted to eat because of the pitch ( up and down) along with the roll (side to side) made one nauseous. Crackers and a half cup of bug juice (Kool Aid) was the meal du jour for 3 days (the length of time we were in the weather). I remember thinking about the Eddy Fitz and the song, particularly the line about how the waves turn the minutes to hours. We got word that one guy was lost off a carrier and two off a cruiser ahead of us between the Bahamas and U.S. mainland. It was an interesting and telling time aboard ship, but not one I would wish to repeat.
Whoa! This is, in part, why I do these videos...to hear the great stories that come back to me. I remember being in terrible seas in the Great Lakes Tug I worked on. First time it happened, I got so seasick. It took me a good two years before I started getting over the sea sickness. I lasted about 10 years out there before I decided I wanted to change course. Kool Aid is still one of my favorite drinks, to this day. Never knew the Bahamas got that rough. Thanks again, Joseph...HMM
@Joseph Dowling, my Father told of the same story during WW II; of during Battle stations, some were confined to quarters, and screws shaking the whole ship like crazy when they came out of the water...
I was a kid growing up in Iowa when the Fitz went down, I actually remember my dad talking to some buddies about how terrible it would be to be out on water in a storm like that. At the same time I had a older cousin in the U.S.N. He told the family of some storms and rough water he had been in and that sealed the deal for me. No sailor was I going to be.
God Bless all sailors world wide who have gone out and never come back.
Remarkable story...there were quite a few navy ships that were built in the 1980's and 1990''s that had significant cracks. The Navy Times did a story on them...how bad did the crack end up. Also where was it located? Thanks for the story and service.
@@thereissomecoolstuff You're welcome! Thanks for watching...HMM
Love the video, I celebrate the Edmund Fitzgerald every November 10th each year.
I'll be celebrating right along with you, Riley. Thanks for watching...HMM
Yes...may they never be forgotten....RIP to all the Fitz crew members.
DdddDDdDDddFDfDDD
Udyd
My favorite portion of this is when the Captain finds his sheets on the past repairs and damage reports.Great.
Yah...that's good stuff! Thanks for watching, John...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan always,turned my friends on to this as well,we are all into Maritime,water,fishing ECT.Have you considered doing a bit on Tsunamis or even great lake storms.Capt.Darrell would have alot to share I'm guessing.thanks!
@@JohnnyLaps Some great ideas. Capt. Darrell and I are already talking about what we're doing next year...thanks! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan I will be here 👍
RIP the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I keep this date updated on my calendar to so I can honor and memorialize the crew. Another casualty of the Witch of November. Bless them and honor them.
Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew! HMM
16:50 As a hard working 19 year old, I couldn’t agree more. Most people I’ve met from my generation don’t have much of a work ethic, and it really makes me hope I’m not the only one in my generation who sees what a problem this is.
That said, I'm sure grateful for you and your work ethic. We are fortunate that you "get it"... thanks. HMM
This man's explanation for the sinking of the Fitzgerald is the most plausible one I've ever heard, this man should be on the NTSB
I'll buy that! Thanks for taking the time to watch, Anthony. HMM
Scary after all these years, we still learn about the Fitz.
I guess we'll never really know what happened for sure. That's why we keep coming back for more...thanks William! HMM
Great interview very informative, born in Bridgeport 39th and Halstead, Lake Michigan in the summer could turn you blue while swimming in it! Let alone November in the deepest of the Great Lakes would be unimaginable to be a washed in it! lost of the Fitzgerald is a sad tragedy but the Superior is the final resting place for many a sailors. November 10th 1975 for Edmund Fitzgerald marks one ending and November 10th 1775 marks the beginning for the USMC both a Naval/Marine remembrance! As Lightfoot sings "Does any one know where the love of God goes When the waves turn the minutes to hours?" That song still chocks me up when I hear that passage!
Yeah...that song grabs hold and doesn't let go...beautiful ballad. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, and taking the time to watch...so appreciated. HMM
If this happened today all the families would have sued the pants off the Coast Guard's unpreparedness and this time of year that is crazy. Thanks Don and Darrell for more great history and mystery.
Not true. As we learned after the loss of the El Faro, the ultimate responsibility for the ship lies with its master, or the Captain.
@@spaceflight1019 It's understood thanks for letting me know. Thanks it's good to learn something new every day.
@@beberle9641 The El Faro was unique in that it had a bridge audio recorder. It took the Navy's submersible to find it in 15,000 feet of water. They transcribed it, and it's available online. I highly suggest reading it, but with one caveat: once you begin you won't want to stop.
I was only 10 yrs old when the Fitz went down. I really hadn't learned of that tragic day until I was much older. I enjoy listening to both of you and the stories of the past.
You're both very good at storytelling and make it feel like it didn't happen that long ago. My daughter lives in Algoma, and we go to the park near Bay Ship builders. It always reminds me of Edmund Fitzgerald and how she never made it back to get repaired.
Every year on or near November 10th, I come here to watch your videos. Kinda my salute to the 29 men that died that day. God bless them all. Thank you for keeping her memory alive.
Thanks for coming back, Sue! I so appreciate your support. And thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew. HMM
I remember being in 5th grade in Huron, Ohio and our teacher had a discussion with the class in regards to the Fitzgerald sinking. Then my Father giving me the local news paper to read about the Fitzgerald. To this day I always remember this ship and loss of life. God Bless the crew.
Thanks for watching. The story of the Mighty Fitz never lets go. HMM
Thank you History mystery man for all you done keeping the Edmund Fitzgerald story alive, much respect to you.
Thanks Martin...so appreciated. HMM
The Fitzgerald is a big thing in my hometown of Sault Sainte Marie, Captain Walton, God bless you!
As it should be! Thanks again! HMM
I would love to sit and listen to all his sailing stories. In my early 20s I had everything filled out to submit to the Coast Guard and made contacts at a couple shipping companies, and I just sat on it. Huge regret that I didn't go work on the boats.
Then there's the Fitz. The family has a cabin in Paradise (on the Bay) so we grew up watching the boats, going to Whitefish Point and the Soo. It's hard not to think of her and those men.
My late Step Dad sailed for years on the Calloway and a few others. I have nothing but admiration for all these sailors.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here...and thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew. What a great childhood you must have had in that cabin in Paradise! HMM
I could listen to you two talk all day and night HMM!
This story is so tragic and fascinating.
Thank you for you and Captain for keeping the memories of these brave men .
Thanks again, Roger. Always so glad to hear from you! HMM
I’m a 50 yr old married woman. Never had an anyone in my life involved inter shipping industry, fishing, or anything of the like. A few yrs ago I got super interested in the navy ship wrecks from WWll. Now I find myself watching more and more about the Great Lakes and northern passage.
Well...thanks for taking an interest in the shipping industry. We're glad you're here...stop by anytime! HMM
I think the Fitz " Nose dived" off Caribou Island. The sinking was so fast and harsh the men had 0 chance to get out.
Bless all the men and families for their loss!
Amen Douglas; thanks for watching...HMM
I still believe that they should bring up bodies and identify as I have read they know of 5. And given a proper burial. This was a tragic loss of life. My sympathies to families.
I was on a Destroyer in the Vietnam Era, and we encountered a storm in the Pacific just east of Hawaii that was so bad we didn't think we were going to ever make it. The ship was old (1943) and had a lot of rusty week frame members. She twisted, bucked, and vibrated so hard every time we hit a wave, we didn't think we would recover. The maximum roll she was designed for was 56 degrees, and we were routinely taking 53 degree rolls constantly. this went on for close to three days. In the middle of the storm we lost steering control, and the Machinest Mates had to crawl into the after steering compartment and steer the ship by hand getting radio orders from the bridge. It was terrifying, and I'll never forget how scared we all were. I can't watch these interviews without getting a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes for those terrified men on that ship.
That sounds beyond scary. But...it also adds to your character that you carry with you...better off for having the experience, as frightening as it was. Thanks for sharing your story here...and thanks for watching. HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Thank you for what you do and the nice way you do it. I had tears in my eyes just watching those video's. I guess because of my Naval experience, and having lived in Michigan, I have always felt for those poor guys on the Fitz and terror of those last minutes. You brought it home to us in some fine videos.
@@jimbos1567 Thanks kindly...so appreciated. Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew...HMM
I hope you are going to have more videos with Captain Darrell Walton.
Yes sir...coming in October. Thanks for your interest...HMM
Yesterday I was in superior and Duluth. The weather was terrible up there yesterday. 40-50 mph winds, 12ft waves out of the bay. Couldn’t help but think of the EF while going over the big bridge and looking off into the lake. Great video here, an important piece of the history in the nort woods
Thanks Muffy...thanks for sharing your thoughts here. HMM
Darrel Walton you lived a assume adventurous life my hat is off to you & your father, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for watching. Life is to be experienced and enjoyed no matter what the consequences.
This is a fascinating set of videos I could sit and listen to him for ages talk about the fitz and his experiences. So many mysteries remains... thanks for continuing to keep the memory alive!!
Thanks Peter...so appreciated. Stop by anytime...HMM
Just wanted to say thank you for this awesome video , loved it ! Does Capt. Darrell have a merch. store , i'd love to buy one of those hat's he gave you . Thaks Again !!
@@jimtaddeo1118 Thanks Jim. I don't believe a merch store exists but worth pursuing. HMM
I don't know why it didn't occur to me that both of the Waltons you interviewed are related. It did occur to me that the similarities of the backgrounds are remarkable -- both had fathers who were chief engineers, etc. But the two Walton brothers are so different from one another that you can know all that about them and still be somewhat shocked to find out that they're brothers 🤣 They're both good men, though, and I truly appreciate their dedication to keeping the memory of the Fitz alive. May the souls of all aboard rest in peace.
Yeah....it's interesting...a typical story of brothers...complete opposites yet each brings so much knowledge, expertise and character to the table. Thanks again, Kim...HMM
Maybe some day you will be able to hear some footage of the "Walton Brothers Band". Tom does a great rendition of "Jimmy Buffets, Margaritaville", with myself, Brother Kim, and Brother George!
You say you wish you had a better...or more.. of a maritime collection, but you Sir, have piece of the Holy Grail under that glass! Thank you so much for sharing this with us! Captain Walton is a wealth of information, as are you!
Thanks Stephanie...so appreciated! And thanks for watching...HMM
Darrell I had 4 brothers growing up. Your folks did a great job . Brother Tom is just as interesting to listen to as your self thanks for sharing 👍
Thank you very much for your kind words!
Incredible information
Pops unloaded iron ore at Cleveland’s Erie Ore Dock. I was just a wee lad and those boats were the biggest thing I’d ever scene. He honestly never worked the Fitzgerald, but still rings close to home.
The Great Lakes can be wicked. Even on a friend’s 52’ trawler, you’d get tossed around. And she weighed 26 tons
Thanks for sharing
Part of the reason I do these videos is to hear all these cool stories shared here. Thanks for sharing yours, jakespeed63! HMM
Now that's Class , Respect and Dedication
Thanks Jeff...HMM
Thank you for sharing this interview. This man is a Fountain of Knowledge and has the life experience to back it up. I would love to see him dispute the many videos Ric Mixter has done on the Fitzgerald where he still to this day blames the Crew for not fastening the Hatch covers properly. Parrots the Authorities conclusions and dismisses any possibility that other factors were the cause of the Sinking.
I've been a Freighter fanatic for decades and have read anything about the Fitzgerald I could find. I couldn't believe the hatch cover explanation and was never satisfied with the "Official Story".
This gentleman was the first person to lay out ALL the information and I agree with his conclusions.
Thank you again for sharing, and I enjoy your channel, looking forward to new content.
Super interesting perspective; thanks for sharing it here. We'll never know exactly what happened, and the loose hatch cover theory is on the table...everything's on the table, but I lean toward Capt. Darrell's explanation, which is also supported by Capt. Cooper on the Anderson, who was in same sea. I tend to go with people who were there, and have been there. Thanks for watching...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan your right we will never know exactly what happened, and nothing should be ruled out. I always believed the media narrative about the sinking, but since the internet I have found so many stories from people with different perspectives. I agree with what Bernie Cooper said is the closest thing to fact, he was there, and his experienced Opinions should carry the most weight. Thanks again for sharing the interview and replying to my comments.
@@difreighterwatcher8603 You're welcome! I mean, Capt. Cooper was there...in the same sea. His opinion matters most to me. HMM
I have always believed the Fitz demise exactly how the Captain described. A real privilege seeing and hearing him again this year. Thanks so much for doing and posting!
You're welcome; thanks for coming back! HMM
Thank you for your videos... I've always been fascinated by the Edmund Fitzgerald since reading a Great Lakes Shipwrecks book (bought from a historical museum in Petoskey, MI) and your videos inspired me to do some more research and I found out I'm related to one of the men who perished.
I was watching your video from last year where you were standing in front of Watchman William J. Spengler's former house in Toledo. You mentioned not much was known about him, so after finding a couple of articles in the Toledo Blade (thanks google newspaper archives) from the week of the wreck I saw he was from the Archbold, Oh area. I remember my father telling me that my grandma (who grew up in Detroit and Bryan/Defiance/Archbold) talked about being related to the Spengler's (I thought in reference to the Spangler's candy company in Bryan.) Long story short after some digging found out that William Jacob Spengler Jr. and my Grandmother were 2nd cousins as her paternal grandmother was his grandfathers older sister. I'm unsure if they met as he was 8 years older so likely had already joined the Navy when she moved to Bryan from Detroit. Anyhow, he had a 15 year Navy career and was wounded aboard the USS Maryland during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Small world.
Wow...super interesting info; thanks for sharing it here. Would you by chance have any photos of William Spengler?
I’ve always thought this. If he did bottom out he wouldn’t go blabbing it all over the radio
I agree. Like Darrell said...Captains keep it close to their chests. Thanks for watching, Mike. HMM
Hey! Thanks for these vids. I've recently been stung by the Fitzgerald "bug". Not really even sure why, perhaps it was remembering the Gordon Ligthfoot song as a youth.
After watching many videos on the subject, and listening all of the theories, I think Cap Darrell and Cap Cooper are the ones that have the right scenario for her loss. She was "submarined" by the "3-Sisters", this possibly due to the overloading, bottoming out and taking on water and losing that extra buoyancy needed to recover after being hit and having her Stern lifted.
The damage to the front of ship bares tells me she went into the lakebed hard.
It is a terrible thought to even think of what those men in the bridge were thinking and feeling as that happened.
I can't imagine the fear they went through. Thanks for taking an interest in the Mighty Fitz and her crew, Lee...so appreciated. By the way the pilot house is all twisted up, you know it landed hard on Superior's bottom. HMM
I was on the Eisenhower in rough seas for 3 days! Scary as hell!!! I can’t imagine being on a little boat in rough weather. In the weather they were in you would be lucky to survive 20 minutes in the water! RIP!
Scary indeed. Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew...and thanks for watching. HMM
Great job guys in keeping the history of the Fitz alive. Excellent information on previous structural damage to the Fitz. Over many years some ships will suffer more damage than others through hard use.
Thanks again, Todd...we appreciate your thoughts and contributions. HMM
Thank you Captian Walton for sharing your experience and knowledge with us. I personally understand how this one event reverberates throughout the strings of life. It certainly has for my own. I have a VERY close family connection whose story has never been publicly told but has affected our family in ways that to this day are still deafening. May those who died that night and their families be carried by Angels.
What is your "never been publicly told" story, if I may ask? Thanks for watching...HMM
My wife, son, & I were one the Carnival Ecstasy during Hurricane Sandy. We were delayed a day in getting back to our final port as we had to wait for her passing. Once she got by we followed her a few hundred miles behind. Even from that distance we still experienced some real good swells. We were towards the bow on the starboard side above the first full window above the red line. The gales were strong gust to near 70 mph, & the swells were large, the largest we ever seen. Water hit our window 3 times. Will not as wild as some folks stories are it wild in its own right. My wife licensed for the Great Lakes to operate the big boats, later learned that our ship sustained damage on that trip, & had to be dry docked for structural repair. The ship was just a few degrees from taken on water too. Despite it being a crazy first big ocean trip for the 3 of us we all enjoyed it, & had many great memories. My wife, & I wanted to have one last ride on her but it wasn't to be, & now the ship in the ship grave yard in Allaga Turkey.
Awesome stories...thanks for sharing them here! Did you get seasick in the rough seas? I had that problem for my first two years when I worked the Great Lakes tug and barges. Thanks for watching...HMM
Yeah Brother, the force of water is unbelievable at this time of year. We had a bad one a couple years ago and the force of the waves knocked the beacon light right off the end of the pier and bent the railings in! Unreal!!
The Great Lakes can be so brutal. Thanks for watching...HMM
What a great interview! Thanks.
You're welcome; thanks for watching...HMM
Thank you for the documentaries on the Edmund Fitzgerald, I watch every single one!
Please don’t forget though, to make note of the music and the artist that you use in your uploads so I can hunt them down and look them up. I’d love to know who was playing that song in the beginning.
What am amazing video HMM! I was a small child when the mighty Fitz went down. I'm originally from Illinois, now I live in Arizona. My respects will be paid to the courageous crew, and the big Fitz. Loved this interview! Quite an amazing Cap he is! Outstanding job my friend!
Thanks Jody...so appreciated. Whereabouts in Illinois are your from? HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Born and raised in Macomb. Home of WIU
@@jodyvillalobos357 Isn't that where the old Macomb County Courthouse is...the one that Abraham Lincoln tried cases in? I could be wrong on that, but if I'm right, I've been in that courthouse...thanks! Huge Lincoln fan here...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan No you're correct. The McDonough County courthouse is where Lincoln practiced law you are exactly correct sir
@@jodyvillalobos357 Thanks. I have covered Illinois from one end to the other "Looking for Lincoln" HMM
That's my kinda dude, wearing a Fender shirt with some Ford on the side.
Thank you for a great video. My friend Bruce Hudson always comes to mind as I learn more of the story.
Refresh my memory...you knew Bruce? Thanks again...HMM
Never in my wildest dream a lake could be so fatal. I knew the Great Lakes but never knew how deadly they could be and honestly I thought they're like other normal lake. Definitely something new to me.
Having spent 10 years (tug and barge) on the Great Lakes, I can attest to their brutal nature. Thanks for watching! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Thanks for your sharing as well. It's an eye opener for me. The Great Lakes more like a freshwater 'sea' if I might say. Got waves, storms. It's brutal like you said and deadly.
@@bleachiniac Yeah...the ocean ain't got nuttin' on the Great Lakes...thanks again. HMM
I have been running charter boats for 23 years, various sizes. I have had fires and taking on water situations while offshore. Having the crew locked in knowing where everything is and knowing their job kept our guest safe and us too.
Where do you run your charter boats? Thanks for watching...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Clearwater beach Fl
"don't tell me no more mom". Lol. What a great two-parter! So happy I found this channel. Always been struck by this tragedy, living along the shore Lake Erie in NE Ohio. I understand why must edit some content, yet would've been cool to hear it all.
Thanks for finding me! I live in your same neck of the woods, most of my life. And I worked on the Great Lakes for 12 years. Capt. Darrell is amazing! HMM
If memory serves me correctly, and I’m knocking on the door to 68 so that’s not definite, I watched an earlier video that said that the families of the 29 men received $600 per man. As the captain said, something is not right with the official reports. $17,400 was the cumulative value of these men. My heart aches for the families to know this
Seems to me I remember that $600 per man number too...great memory! Thanks for your interest in the Mighty Fitz and her crew. Thanks again, Don R...HMM (I'm a Don R too)
@@HistoryMysteryMan my “official” name given to me at birth is Donnie Ray. Last name also begins with an “R”. Like Bruce Hudson, I was a Mopar man in my younger years. My 1971 Demon 340 was my first, but I gave that to my new bride in 74 and bought a 68 Roadrunner 383, 4 speed. There’s something about muscle cars and late teens-early 20s guys.
@@DonRRicks No doubt. Those muscle cars are part of our culture. Thanks for your support Donnie Ray. HMM
I just came back and rewatched this.amazing dialect between two guys who know what the hell they are talking about.
Thanks John...for all your support. #Grateful HMM
@@HistoryMysteryManDon,why would the clamps ever NOT be clamped down, regardless of weather knowing things change on the lakes at the drop of a hat?
Good question. Not sure if the following scenario is still true, but back in the Fitz's day, some captains, with an extended calm weather forecast, would tell the deckhands to just clamp the corners...one hatch cover ways about 6.5 tons. If the weather is going to drop, forecasters are better about predicting a big blow these days. Thanks...HMM@@JohnnyLaps
Another awesome video, HMM... I could listen to you and Capt Darrell for hours .. what a wealth of information both of you all are!!!
Thanks again, Bill...always glad to get your feedback! HMM
Awesome video ty. And rip brother’s ❤
Thank you! And thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew. HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan will never forget 👍
Thank you for shedding some much needed light on this haunting mystery…
You're welcome; thanks for watching! HMM
Very good summary of the cause of the Fitzgerald’s sinking. I sailed with Cleveland Cliffs in the early 70’s and saw the Fitz numerous times while locking through the Soo. I’ve read most of the literature and reports and the Captain’s story makes the most sense. While not experiencing anything like the weather in November 75, I have witnessed first hand the groaning of the steel while the ship twisted at midship. Easy to see while standing aft looking forward. Very noisy and visible movement of the ship while experiencing heavy seas. I will always remember that. November 10 remains a very emotional day for me.
Understood Neil...thanks for sharing your thoughts here. I can't imagine hearing those giant freighters creak and groan...must be especially eerie. Thanks for your service on the Great Lakes! HMM
There was a video of a Russian (?) cargo ship posted years ago that was designed much like the Edmund Fitzgerald -- long and very narrow-waisted.
You could see this ship bending very noticeably in the middle and bow and stern bobbing up. The ship finally broke in half which was the obvious end. It was like the 2 ships that broke up on the Great Lakes previous to the Fitzgerald, including that had a survivor who lived to the 2000s.
The crew of that Russian(?) cargo ship were all saved by nearby vessels but the fact that they continue to design, build, and sail ships like this after numerous accidents with similar designs and poor maintenance records is unconscionable.
The British had a cargo ship called MV Derbyshire that sank south of Japan in 1980. In broad respects, this was similar to the Fitzgerald design except she was MUCH bigger and had her pilot house/bridge at the aft/bow of the ship. A rogue wave was also blamed in her sinking. 44 people died; no one survived. That was 42 crew plus two of their wives! It was a 91,000+ ton ship, far bigger than the Titanic and the largest British ship ever lost at sea.
@@AvengerII Thanks for chiming in with your interesting info. Yes...both the Daniel J. Morrell (sank in Lake Huron in 1966) and the Carl D. Bradley (sank in Lake Michigan in 1958) had survivors. The Derbyshire would be an interesting video story. Thanks for watching...HMM
Fascinating perspective here. Much respect to Capt. Darrell. It’s also interesting to look at some of the similarities between the FAA’s debacle surrounding ValuJet Airlines compared to both the USCG and CCG’s handling and report of the Fitz.
Thanks. I'll have to check into that comparison you spoke of...sounds interesting. Thanks for watching...HMM
I remember my folks telling me about that storm, as they lived in Ontario Canada and could see these massive ships so close to the Canadian shore line that they were really worried as that was not a normal shipping practise at thAt time.
No doubt. If the ships were hugging the north side of Lake Superior (not the normal shipping lane) it was typically about trying to protect themselves from severe winds from the north. Thanks for watching...HMM
After my grandfather discharged from the navy, he eventually wound up on this ship and not long after he changed occupations it went down.. he lost many good friends 😔
Interesting. Sounds like fate. Thanks for watching....HMM
This video popped up randomly on my feed, and I am so glad it did. Since then, I have been trying to learn as much about the Fitz as I could. I think of the horror those 29 men felt when they realized they met their end. Thank you for sharing this information
You're welcome; thanks for taking the time to watch! And thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew...HMM
Thank you for these interviews. I'm from the South but my mom's family is all from various areas around the lakes. The Fitz has always had a great deal of mythos to me and it is incredible to hear all of this.
Thanks...so appreciated! Happy New Year from the History Mystery Man!
I just want to say this story of the fitz has always interested me since it happened in 75 and I was 11. I would love to add I wish I had the captains ford jacket hanging on the chair he’s sitting in. Smart man
Thanks for watching! HMM
3 longs and 2 shorts for the SS Edmond Fitzgerald on November 10 2022. And ring the bell 29 times for those who went down with her. Thanks for the great videos HMM. Brian
Back at ya with the 3 longs and 2 shorts. Thanks again, B Eberle...HMM
Hey that's so cool thanks so much! Have a great day. A salute to all veterans and active duty men and women all over the world.
I somehow feel more emotion on behalf of those killed that night on the Fitz, even than for the victims of Titanic. To me, large bodies of fresh water hold more dread than the same volume of seawater ... the buoyancy differential for one thing. From the lower deck of SS Earnslaw on Wakatipu, looking over the side, you just know that to fall in would be a one-way ticket to the 400' bottom.
To the men of the Mighty Fitz...RIP, and thanks for your service. Thanks for watching...HMM
Many thanks to you for doing this (now annually) and keeping the story of the Fitz alive. Until your video last year (which I only found a few days ago) I was not familiar with Captain Walton but as others have said he is an AMAZING person and resource! I was first hooked by the song when I was a kid-even with no boating/sailing background-the song is so well written I could FEEL the fright of being on the doomed ship (a testimony to Lightfoot's writing). When I was a teenager in the early 1980s, my local library had a copy of "Gales of November" and I read it several times over. The library assisted me in finding my own copy in the late 80's since it was already out of print (and obviously before the Internet and Amazon) and I think I paid about $65 for it back then but it's a treasured book. I once made a "Crew List" of the Fitz and matted it and framed in next to a matching frame of the lyrics of the song, and had it displayed for years in my home. I hope to get to the area some day-maybe '25 for the 50th anniversary???
Thanks for sharing your stories here, David...super interesting. I'm a bit embarrassed, but I've never read the Gales of November; I need to get on that. HMM
thank you for sharing. I can't imagine how horrible this storm was that day... so close to the safety of the bay but she went down in a second.
I know...it's so hard to think about how terrified they must have been. Thanks for watching, Winston. HMM
My wife's 1st husband was on the Fitzgerald months before it went down. He was a coal passer, working 4 hours on, and 4 hours off. He mentioned, we all knew there was a weak spot on that ship.
Interesting. I'm searching for people who once worked on the Fitz who wouldn't mind talking with me. Thanks for sharing your story here. HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan sorry to say he passed away a few years ago. We do have 1 picture of him & a coworker on the Fitzgerald.
@@jaycook4399 Love to see that pic...thanks.
@@HistoryMysteryMan tell me how to get it to you, and I will within this week
@@jaycook4399 Could you message me on Messenger through Facebook?
I was 10 years old when Emma Fitzgerald went down I've been hearing the song ever since I always wanted to know what happened and now I'm finding out God bless the 29 men that was on Edmund Fitzgerald that passed away sorry to families for your loss rest in peace
Thanks for remembering the Mighty Fitz and her crew. HMM
Thank you so much for sharing with us. The knowledge and your theories which I agree with. I have followed since 1971 when I got to see her in Huron Ohio at the age of 8 years old. God Bless all that perished that night and their loved ones that were left behind. The legend shall live on forever with people keeping their memory alive.
I will always put blame on the Coast Guard for having all of the ships laid up, shame on them!
Thank you again History Mystery Man for sharing this again on the 47th anniversary of her sinking. Hopefully and may they rest in peace.
Thanks kindly. You saw the Fitz in Huron? HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan yes I did, she was picking up taconite or coal I can’t remember. Wish I could share the picture of her that I have
@@tmayer0009 If you find the pic, I'd love to see it...thanks again! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan give me a Facebook page or someplace I can send it to you and I sure will
@@tmayer0009 Email me at donradebaugh@gmail.com. Thanks...
Well done. Thank you for your work and the Captain's willingness and great demeanor!
I could listen to you two gentlemens conversation for hours. I hope you do it again next year!
Thanks a million. I'm thinking before next year. Thanks for watching...HMM
Tammi, yes Captain McSorely WAS distracted. His wife was having more health issues, he was on his last trip before retiring. He was thinking about everything else but his job at the moment.
In his book “The Night the Fitz Went Down”, Captain Dudley Piquette of the Wilfred Sykes said when they were taking on cargo (taconite pellets) the Fitz was pulling out & he noticed many of the hatch covers on the Fitz were still not fastened down properly on the Coemings.
In other words McSorely was in a big hurry.
This agrees with the Coast Guard’s assessment that on the Fritz’s wreck on the bottom there were all kinds of the Kestner clamps simply hanging down on all the hatch Coemings. The investigating officer said the same thing when asked what sank the Fitz he said “complacency”.
Interesting commentary Craig; thanks for sharing it here. HMM
When the Fitzgerald pulled out of the Superior, WI docks, it was a Sunday. Would have meant overtime pay for the crew.
@@Seafarer62 When I worked the Great Lakes, it was two weeks on and one week off all year round...12-hour shifts (6 on, 6 off around the clock). There was no overtime pay based on which day of the week it was.
That's really great viewing. Thank you for sharing. You 2 make a good team
Thanks andrew...so appreciated. HMM
According to a former yard worker, there's still plate steel with the Fitz's name on it.
Now that would be a super interesting find! Wonder where it is! Thanks for watching, David J...HMM
What a bloke! Next time you see Darrell tell him I'm adopting him as my seadog uncle! Another great vid full of good content. 10 from 10👌
Ha! I love this one! Thanks! HMM
Hey seadog Cuz😊😊
I'm adopting him as my seadog uncle as well!!!
@@shasha-muse6054 We're in! Thanks for watching...HMM
Thanks for calling me a Bloke". I was on an English Dart team called, "The Blokes", way back in the 70,s. Ha ha..
@@darrellwalton938 Captain Bloke!
Damm … so cool,thanks! JD
Thanks! HMM
Brilliant. The most revealing docs on the EF I've seen. What a great get in Capt. Darrell and the preservation of that history. Again, TY, Sir. Subscribed.
Thanks...and thanks for your subscription! HMM
Love this guy!
The Coast Guard blamed it on crew negligence, which I don't believe for a minute. What I believe happened is this, the Fitzgerald bottomed out on caribou shoals, then he loses the vents, which causes the Fitzgerald to be taking water from both topside and below the waterline of the Fitz. Then, the Fitzgerald slows down to let the Anderson catch up to her. Then the Anderson is hit by those three rogue waves and then about 30 or 45 minutes later (I could be incorrect with timing) as the Fitzgerald is going into another wave, the first rogue wave slams into her stern pushing her forward end underwater, the second rogue wave pushes the bow into the lake bed (which explains the huge gash on the bow) and then the third wave pushed the aft section up, which put strain on the midsection and caused it to snap in half. After that, Arthur M Anderson and William Clay were headed out to the rescue and as they say, the rest is history.
Another fact is that Fitzgerald was able to carry 25,000 tons of iron ore. On that final voyage, she was loaded with 26,200
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, John. Makes sense to me. HMM