Piece by piece, video by video the real story is coming out. I'm definitely inclined to believe, thanks to your uploads, that the sinking was a collection of different incidents and deferred maintenance that all built up over time and the scales were tipped that night in that dreadful storm. If Capt Darrell says she bottomed out on Six Fathom Shoals I think that's as close to a fact as it's possible to be. I'm from England, but this whole tragic incident just fascinates me.
Thank you for the very kind words! My Great Grandparents came from England. Stay tuned, there is more info coming that has been brought to our attention. Thanks for watching!
@@somedayzo6 it is true. She’s been declared a “grave sight” and no one is allowed to dive or send drones or submersibles down to her. Oddly enough, there are other ships with known bodies still in them, and you can dive on those. Including at least one in the Great Lakes.
Fascinating idea that the hull plating was weakened during unloading in late October. That, along with shoaling at Six Fathom Shoals caused the water to invade the ship and produce the list that Capt. McSorley reported at 15:10 that Monday. Looking at all the damage to the starboard bow, it looks like they were having a starboard list and the bow hit bottom hard, a little to the right of center. The bow then plowed the bottom for some distance before ending up leaning a little bit to port. Keep up the great work. Before the 50th anniversary videos in Nov. 2025, I hope you two do a video that summarize all the great new info that you and Capt. Darrell have uncovered.
The ship didn't break on the surface . Why? 1/ The debris field is concentrated in a small area whereas a surface break would have seen it scattered more 2/ The lake bed is piled up along the left side of the upturned hull but not the right side. This suggests the stern was still rolling to 180degrees when it hit the bottom. 3/ the screw was still under power when the bow hit the seabed. With the bow embedded could the torque have twisted the stern until the mid section shattered?
Very interesting as always, really sad about how Lower Lakes Towing "maintains" (and I use that term loosely) their ships. We are so lucky the Michy isn't sitting on the bottom of Lake Superior. Basically answers her future status. I think Capt Darrell hit the nail on the head when he said anyone left with info about the Fitz is getting it off their chest before they are gone. Really starting to put the pieces together on the chain of events that led to the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
I backpack all the upper peninsula of Michigan and around the Great Lakes. It’s always amazing and it never gets old to see those old beautiful freighters go by on island camps. Captain Walton is incredible to listen to! Love the knowledge we can gain from legends like him.
HMM and Captain Darrell are pure gold! Such a joy to just sit and listen to them talk. Thank you both for doing what you do and giving your gift of knowledge to all of us. Best Christmas present EVER!!!
Thank you for posting this, my grandmother was married to John Poviach one of the 3 wheelman . She never got over the loss of johnny and carried his last name till her death in 2001 .
I just don't get a ship that size being aloud to sail with obvious structural issues and lack of maintenance required. The power of the almighty dollar. I have been facinated with this story ever since hearing about it on the news back in 1975, and of course the Gordon Lightfoot tribute song. Again it just blows my mind the lack of concern for the crew with the ship knowing it desperately needed repairs.
Lots of new evidence that all seems to add up to me. Great detective work gentlemen! You two never disappoint thanks for sharing all your thoughts and wisdom! Can’t wait to see the next part!
10:50 I agree 100%. It took decades, but the scales finally tipped. Nowadays, it is finally more expensive to put ships in danger than 50 years ago. And this trend can be seen in our whole culture. A hundred thirty years ago, a railroad brakeman had a short life, and it was just accepted as part of the job. The railroads fought the installation of airbrakes due to $. So, again, I absolutely agree with your statement that the insurance companies pressure must be a big factor here. Money talks.
Beyond the great info coming to light in these videos, is the fact that more people who had actually been in /on/ part of that days' events are reaching out to Capt Wilson. THESE pieces of info, no matter how small, add context to the larger picture. Here's hoping many more reach to share vital pieces of information. Great video, keep 'em coming!
We saw the freighters anchored this last winter in Lake Erie from really high winds. There were like 8 of them sitting out north of Huron and Sandusky, OH.
Monday just got better Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yeah! These 2 legends dropping some wonderful content as always 👌🙏 happy new year cpt Darrell and cpt Don 🥳 much respect. I better get my pipe tobacco 🏴☠️🪕
Happy New Year, you all. From what it sounds like to me (now I maybe all wet here), but from the info I'm gathering for everyone involved & all the new information coming to light, the Fitz may have twisted in two & that's why the center section is missing. Cause if she would have struck bow first I would think there should be a lot of damage to the bow, but from the images we have seen, there isn't. Which leads me to beleave she broke up in the middle, which would also explain why the stern is inverted.
Does anyone think we could get Captain Darrell this invested in the Kennedy assassination I bet we could peel the whole thing open in about a week..... I'm a 20-year homicide investigator in this guy has the mind of a cop!!!
We all know what happened in the Kennedy assassination. Look up a video of James Files( he was a assassin for the Chicago mob) he gives details of this and claims to be the shooter behind the fence and made the last the fatal head shot.
My goodness, the abuse the Fitz had taken is mind numbing! Thank you fellas for all your work and bringing this knowledge to the light. I think out of everything about the whole Fitzgerald disaster, the thing that bothers me most is when I hear someone blaming the crew of complacency and not doing their job being the reason why she went down. That really upsets me! So these facts and bits of knowledge you fellas are digging up and getting out there are fantastic, and if for no other reason, to clear and honor those fine gentleman that went down with their ship. Thank you fellas so much!!🙏
I'll never forget the winds the day the Fitz went down, ripped the sliding door off my dairy barn here in Wisconsin, I always thought Captain Paquette's theory on the sinking made the most sense especially when you see what a short life it's sister ship had.
HMM and Captain Walton My Heartfelt Thanks and A Hand Salute For All This Interesting Information. I Really Appreciate All That Both Of You Do and Be Safe! Blessings and Happy New Year 2025
I’m so pumped for the next episode! Please never stop doing these together ! I believe there’s more information in caps head the storm of 1913 and I’d love to hear him speak on wrecks like the Cedarville THANK YOU CAP AND HMM FOR GETTING BACK TOGETHER!
Oh man, what a pleasant surprise after waking up from a nice nap on an off day! Happy New Year to you and Captain Darrell from the great state of Alabama!
Concrete boxes are a very common hull fracture fix and are widely accepted. 30 in a single ballast tank does seem excessive but every time one of those goes in the coast guard and the classification society (ABS, Lloyds Register, etc) sign off and inspect those. There is always a stipulation that a permanent repair must be made next time the vessel dry docks. Insurance companies cannot tell anyone to anchor their boat in a storm. That decision lies solely with the ships master.
Great Video as always ! So great to hear Captain Darrell ! Have you ever considered doing a Live stream with Captain Darrell so we could ask questions in chat and have him answer ? Maybe you could use Stream Yards App so you and Darrell would not even have to be in the same location ? Just an idea love your videos !!
As always very good video I have live most of my life in Minnesota I was 10 years old when this happened remember it like it was yesterday these videos are fantastic thank you and captain Darrell
Another excellent video report. These are by far the best examinations of this sinking, the fact an independent dive team found red paint on part of the shoal near Caribou Island and right after the fence rail and 2 vents. However knowingly having a 20 ft plate pulled away from the cargo hold and not fixing it before moving the vessel should be criminal negligence. Thank you very much for your excellent reports
2:10 so what your telling me is the Edmond fitzgerald was bascially on a last run before a last day before retirment refittment, and they skimped on a repair before going into the worst storm ever
👍👍👍 recently got " night the Fitz went down"( Paquette based book), I tend to agree exactly with his hypothesis...and that of old steward ,Red Burgner....the timetable for Nov8-11 '75, at the back of the book,states that he did report the damage after passing the shoal..but didn't report radar malfunction til an hour later...so I believe his radars were working when he passed the shoal and knew where it was,but, something definitely occurred in that vicinity .. either way that boat shouldn't have been out on the lake... it desperately needed repairs...it so sad, they'd have made whitefish bay in probably another hour...but anyway,thank you feller's,see ya later 👍👍👊🤘
Thanks HMM & Capt. Darrell for another informative video! The possibility that the propeller blade that was fastened to the deck came loose and knocked off the nearby cargo hold access cover is an interesting possibility. But the information that a plate on the floor of the cargo hold was knocked loose and/ or severely damaged could be a bombshell, especially if she did run aground on Caribou Shoal and the damage was in the area of the ballast tank or tanks where the floor was compromised. That's some really good investigative work Capt. Darrell. I would love to see more proof and information on the cargo hold damage. Looking forward to the next installment! Happy New Year Guys!
Great points Captain. All that water in the hold, flowing forward, going down at a probable 15 degree angle. If the plate was pulled up in the front half of the ship, the front was full of water. When the bow hit the bottom, the stern would be near the surface and I would assume the middle would be crushed and the front hatch covers blown off by the force of the water in the hold. Happy new year and keep digging.
Captain Darrell and historys mystery man need to write a tell all book and give us the real all theories scoop on the fitz, all in one shot and the sinking . Or maybe make a movie, or at least a super long video.
This is a Labor of Love for Captain Darrell. His uncle perished on the Fitzgerald and his father lost his brother knowing the offical story was Contrived B.S. God Bless you Captain Darrell for digging up the Truth. The Record Stands Corrected and no longer are the Hatch Covers and the Crew the Foils in this Disaster.
Was at Sturgeon Bay today. Mesabi Miner, Burns, and a Canadian Steamship Lines boat were there. I have the same name as one of the crew, and the Fitz went down on my sister's birthday. On lake Winnebago that night, it was complete whitewater. A storm like it seems to hit every 20 years on the same day, and were overdue for another.
Another great episode..don't stop .thank you for this interesting videos ..
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I started studying this subject a few years ago. Not long after I found out there were deck plates actually sitting and waiting to be installed after its last trip. Several reports that the boat was flexing from bow to stern, 3 waves from the stern.
looking forward to this! More incredible evidence of the truth! This kind of reminds me of Nascar ignoring the loss of many drivers in the cup series and modified series too Basilar Skull fractures due too unrestrained helmuts and head coming forward with such force as to cause Basilar fractures. Earnhardt's passing made them realize there was a big problem ! like it took the shipping industry with the loss of the Big Fitz.
Great video gentlemen! I would love to have an autograph from each of you or a pic of the Fitz with your autographs on. I'd be glad to pay the shipping, please let me know if we could get one. My husband and I love watching your videos. We both hope that one day the truths you've uncovered will come to light and you'll get the credit you deserve. Happy New Year! God Bless~
The curator at the museum said to me that a shipmate told the captain of the ship that a few hatches were loose, not sealing, and needed to get fixed, prior to leaving port. Supposedly the captain told him that the hatches would get fixed at the end of the shipping season.
Growing up in Michigan.... Central Michigan to be more precise. I heard about this all through my Schooling ..... elementary through highschool. Class of .02
Assuming it played out this way, I wonder if McSorley was trying to race the storm? He had expressed concerns about seaworthiness in the past, and may have been trying to minimize his time in the worst of it. He and Cooper did, I think, take a less direct route to try to get shelter from the Canadian shore, but the storm didn’t cooperate. So maybe he was hedging risk? Not sure how this speculation fits with the forecast, etc., but it seems possible to me. I also wonder if anyone ever asked Cooper if he regretted not taking shelter as others did. At least a couple of the ocean-going vessels that passed the Fitz and the Anderson that night reportedly expressed such regrets. I believe Cooper was an expert on weather and storms on the lakes in particular (I read somewhere it was a personal interest of his), so I’m sure he and McSorley had some interesting conversations before their decision to proceed. Never heard anything about that. Perhaps Cooper never discussed it. Difficult subject, I suppose, despite the fact that the Anderson made it.
The champs of true crime( and this was a crime!) investigators! Thanks Don,Happy New year to you and the good Captain!My wife is traveling so it's fries and a cold beer and HMM vids tonight
Cooper said he had green water across his decks all the way up to the pilot house. The Anderson shook it off. I think those two Captains knew what they were doing. The exception has got to be that the Fitz was compromised. Not just with one or two defects, but several.
@TheChadWork2001 I agree. Both Captains had a lifetime on the water and their decision to run was based on that experience. McSorely had help letting the upkeep get neglected.
Raymond Ramsay, one of the navel architects who designed, and built the Fitz, repeatedly voiced concerns that the Fitz was being overloaded past design specs. He even voiced concerns during building, that "actual" bulk heads be installed, since without them, the ship would be prone to "springing". Turns out, all his concerns were repeatedly witnessed by the crew especially after the load line was increased. If what captain Darrell found out is in fact true, then this seems to me to be more of a criminal liabilty. this would indeed explain, why the ships owners/insurance co. went to great lengths to silence anyone who could confirm the cause of loss was directly related to company neglect. Had this tragedy happen today with everyone recording everything on their cell phones, I would bet there would be overwelming evidence that the company was responsible. to this day, I still get deeply offended when anyone tries to put any blame on the Fitz's crew. These men were all doing the best the could, with what they had to work with.
I would be most interested in seeing how the ship has rusted and deteriorated since the last dive in 1995. But the real smoking gun would be seeing damage to the hull. Unfortunately, the bow section is buried in the mud. And the middle part of the ship exploded when the bow stopped skidding on the bottom. The stern doesn't appear to have any major hull damage. The part of the hull that hit 6-Fathom Shoals is likely destroyed or buried in the mud.
A question- In general, how much trouble would a Captain get in trouble for hitting the sides of a lock ( or other objects ). You guys have said the Fitzgerald started bumping into things after her load capacity was changed.
Thank you gentlemen for doing the honest investigating and reporting the facts. I know this information does not bring peace to all the families, but the world deserves the truth, if for no other reason than to ensure that future tragedies are prevented. I wish peace and justice for all of us in 2025 and beyond.
I (somewhat)recently started a discussion on one of the Facebook discussion groups regarding a mid-75 photo of the Fitz going downbound in the Soo(It’s the one I sent you and that you’ve used in the fast few related videos)…..so many were dismissive of the hatches not being properly secured/warped. Shoot, they’re still doing the “summer clamping/every other clamp” nonsense claiming it’s fine. Michipicoten/Elton Hoyt II is a prime example of pushing a ship further than it should go(it cracked in the early eighties in roughly the same area)……had sea conditions been anything other than calm, that ship would be on the bottom as well. Looking forward to the next installment…..
Would you please tell Captain Darrell that I picked up a copy of the book the night that Fritz went down and I can say it's very interesting so far and I think it makes a good companion to Ric Mixture 's book tattle tails sounds
I could listen to Captain Darrel Walton all day. ❤️
You and me both! Thanks...HMM
Piece by piece, video by video the real story is coming out. I'm definitely inclined to believe, thanks to your uploads, that the sinking was a collection of different incidents and deferred maintenance that all built up over time and the scales were tipped that night in that dreadful storm. If Capt Darrell says she bottomed out on Six Fathom Shoals I think that's as close to a fact as it's possible to be. I'm from England, but this whole tragic incident just fascinates me.
Thank you for the very kind words! My Great Grandparents came from England. Stay tuned, there is more info coming that has been brought to our attention. Thanks for watching!
@@darrellwalton938 Thats brilliant me old shipmate! I am from England keep it coming... Merry New Year!
Have a fantastic New Year in 2025!
Allowing the Fitz to sail, was pure criminal negligence.
Precisely why no one is allowed to dive on her again.
Is that true?
@@somedayzo6 it is true. She’s been declared a “grave sight” and no one is allowed to dive or send drones or submersibles down to her. Oddly enough, there are other ships with known bodies still in them, and you can dive on those. Including at least one in the Great Lakes.
@@atomicwedgie8176 Wow! That sounds very suspect
@@somedayzo6 it reeks.
Captain Darrell is full of wisdom.
I'll buy that...and I'd buy his book if he'd write one...thanks! HMM
Fascinating idea that the hull plating was weakened during unloading in late October. That, along with shoaling at Six Fathom Shoals caused the water to invade the ship and produce the list that Capt. McSorley reported at 15:10 that Monday. Looking at all the damage to the starboard bow, it looks like they were having a starboard list and the bow hit bottom hard, a little to the right of center. The bow then plowed the bottom for some distance before ending up leaning a little bit to port.
Keep up the great work. Before the 50th anniversary videos in Nov. 2025, I hope you two do a video that summarize all the great new info that you and Capt. Darrell have uncovered.
The ship didn't break on the surface . Why?
1/ The debris field is concentrated in a small area whereas a surface break would have seen it scattered more
2/ The lake bed is piled up along the left side of the upturned hull but not the right side. This suggests the stern was
still rolling to 180degrees when it hit the bottom.
3/ the screw was still under power when the bow hit the seabed. With the bow embedded could the torque have twisted
the stern until the mid section shattered?
Very interesting as always, really sad about how Lower Lakes Towing "maintains" (and I use that term loosely) their ships. We are so lucky the Michy isn't sitting on the bottom of Lake Superior. Basically answers her future status. I think Capt Darrell hit the nail on the head when he said anyone left with info about the Fitz is getting it off their chest before they are gone. Really starting to put the pieces together on the chain of events that led to the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
They all need to start coming forward now the time has past for withholding
@@nw8000 I'd love for some people that have been lying to us in the government get the balls to tell some truth. We are being corralled.
No accident in history didn't include a cascade of missteps involved. Thank you for the content.
You're welcome Keven; thanks for taking the time to check it out. HMM
I backpack all the upper peninsula of Michigan and around the Great Lakes. It’s always amazing and it never gets old to see those old beautiful freighters go by on island camps. Captain Walton is incredible to listen to! Love the knowledge we can gain from legends like him.
The story of the Fitzgerald never gets old I could listen to this 24/7❤
I live on the Canadian side of the river...i can see zug island from my balcony....ill now see the fitzt everytime i look over there
HMM and Captain Darrell are pure gold! Such a joy to just sit and listen to them talk. Thank you both for doing what you do and giving your gift of knowledge to all of us. Best Christmas present EVER!!!
Another step closer to mystery solved thanks HMM and Captain Darrell.
Thank you for posting this, my grandmother was married to John Poviach one of the 3 wheelman . She never got over the loss of johnny and carried his last name till her death in 2001 .
I just don't get a ship that size being aloud to sail with obvious structural issues and lack of maintenance required. The power of the almighty dollar. I have been facinated with this story ever since hearing about it on the news back in 1975, and of course the Gordon Lightfoot tribute song. Again it just blows my mind the lack of concern for the crew with the ship knowing it desperately needed repairs.
Greed kills.
Lots of new evidence that all seems to add up to me. Great detective work gentlemen! You two never disappoint thanks for sharing all your thoughts and wisdom! Can’t wait to see the next part!
10:50 I agree 100%. It took decades, but the scales finally tipped. Nowadays, it is finally more expensive to put ships in danger than 50 years ago. And this trend can be seen in our whole culture. A hundred thirty years ago, a railroad brakeman had a short life, and it was just accepted as part of the job. The railroads fought the installation of airbrakes due to $. So, again, I absolutely agree with your statement that the insurance companies pressure must be a big factor here. Money talks.
Beyond the great info coming to light in these videos, is the fact that more people who had actually been in /on/ part of that days' events are reaching out to Capt Wilson. THESE pieces of info, no matter how small, add context to the larger picture.
Here's hoping many more reach to share vital pieces of information.
Great video, keep 'em coming!
We saw the freighters anchored this last winter in Lake Erie from really high winds. There were like 8 of them sitting out north of Huron and Sandusky, OH.
Great video
Thanks Eric...Happy New Year. HMM
@HistoryMysteryMan Happy New Year HMM! Really appreciate these videos.
Very nice video Don! 😎⚓️🚢⛵️🌫🌊
Thanks...so appreciated. Happy New Year. HMM
With 1m Darrell Walton's the world would thrive ❤️
Heaven help us all! Ha ha ha
Incredible! More and more evidence. Always interesting stories. Thank you for this.
Captains Darrell and Don. Another great job. These theories making more sense. As I said before , money over cost of human life. 😊😊
Monday just got better Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yeah! These 2 legends dropping some wonderful content as always 👌🙏 happy new year cpt Darrell and cpt Don 🥳 much respect. I better get my pipe tobacco 🏴☠️🪕
Don, I really like these interviews with the Captain, his input is always interesting. Keep up the good work!
Love these sea tales. Thanks Gentlemen! ☺️🙌
This is extremely interesting!~!!
Thanks...so appreciated. Happy New Year. HMM
My day just got exponentially BETTER!!! The two best personalities on Utube!!! Happy New Year to you both! God Bless!
Happy New Year, you all. From what it sounds like to me (now I maybe all wet here), but from the info I'm gathering for everyone involved & all the new information coming to light, the Fitz may have twisted in two & that's why the center section is missing. Cause if she would have struck bow first I would think there should be a lot of damage to the bow, but from the images we have seen, there isn't. Which leads me to beleave she broke up in the middle, which would also explain why the stern is inverted.
Like El Fari in 2015 off the coast of Bahamas...poor maintenance
This man is extremely knowledgeable
Keep 'em coming!!! Please, please,please!
Merry Christmas and a happy New year
My favorite channel
Does anyone think we could get Captain Darrell this invested in the Kennedy assassination I bet we could peel the whole thing open in about a week..... I'm a 20-year homicide investigator in this guy has the mind of a cop!!!
Absolutely
Where was the prop blade replaced at? Lorain?
We all know what happened in the Kennedy assassination. Look up a video of James Files( he was a assassin for the Chicago mob) he gives details of this and claims to be the shooter behind the fence and made the last the fatal head shot.
Check out JFK: The Enduring Secret. It’s a podcast about the assassination. You’ll thank me later.
Look at Leroy Blevins Snr work on the JFK assassination here on TH-cam. It's pretty sewn up.
Another outstanding video! Full of the nuggets of information. Thanks again for your time and effort!
You're welcome Robert...sorry it's taken me so long...holidays and all...trying to catch up on comments. Happy New Year my friend. HMM
My goodness, the abuse the Fitz had taken is mind numbing! Thank you fellas for all your work and bringing this knowledge to the light. I think out of everything about the whole Fitzgerald disaster, the thing that bothers me most is when I hear someone blaming the crew of complacency and not doing their job being the reason why she went down. That really upsets me! So these facts and bits of knowledge you fellas are digging up and getting out there are fantastic, and if for no other reason, to clear and honor those fine gentleman that went down with their ship. Thank you fellas so much!!🙏
Wow! What a great surprise
Thanks for another great episode, HMM and the esteemed Captain Darrell. I wish you both and your families a healthy and happy New Year. 🥂⚓️
I'll never forget the winds the day the Fitz went down, ripped the sliding door off my dairy barn here in Wisconsin, I always thought Captain Paquette's theory on the sinking made the most sense especially when you see what a short life it's sister ship had.
HMM and Captain Walton My Heartfelt Thanks and A Hand Salute For All This Interesting Information. I Really Appreciate All That Both Of You Do and Be Safe! Blessings and Happy New Year 2025
I’m so pumped for the next episode! Please never stop doing these together ! I believe there’s more information in caps head the storm of 1913 and I’d love to hear him speak on wrecks like the Cedarville
THANK YOU CAP AND HMM FOR GETTING BACK TOGETHER!
Oh man, what a pleasant surprise after waking up from a nice nap on an off day! Happy New Year to you and Captain Darrell from the great state of Alabama!
Thanks Alabama! I was stationed at Dauphin Island Air Force Station, 1969-1970. Great times in Alabama!
I agree with you Captain Darrell, the log book could have some vital answers.
Happy New Year everyone .
Big Fitz is legend .
crew , Captain , mates heroes all .
peace and comfort friends .
Another great episode thank you gentlemen 👍🏻
You're welcome Jeffery...thanks again. HMM
Again another great video. Im learning all about storms and rogue waves. As always thanks. Love ýou guys.❤
Just fascinating... You never want these to end!!!!!
First day of my week vacation- Another video, YAY😸😸😸
Concrete boxes are a very common hull fracture fix and are widely accepted. 30 in a single ballast tank does seem excessive but every time one of those goes in the coast guard and the classification society (ABS, Lloyds Register, etc) sign off and inspect those. There is always a stipulation that a permanent repair must be made next time the vessel dry docks.
Insurance companies cannot tell anyone to anchor their boat in a storm. That decision lies solely with the ships master.
Great Video as always ! So great to hear Captain Darrell ! Have you ever considered doing a Live stream with Captain Darrell so we could ask questions in chat and have him answer ? Maybe you could use Stream Yards App so you and Darrell would not even have to be in the same location ? Just an idea love your videos !!
We’ve been kicking that idea around. Maybe in the future.
Love the videos with Capt. Darrell! Please don’t make us wait another 9 days for part 3!! Lol
As always very good video I have live most of my life in Minnesota I was 10 years old when this happened remember it like it was yesterday these videos are fantastic thank you and captain Darrell
We are holding our own
Thank you 🙏. Living treasure captain 🧑✈️
IMO one didn’t even need the alleged Caribou Shoals hit for that boat to sink
Understood...thanks for sharing. HMM
Another excellent video report. These are by far the best examinations of this sinking, the fact an independent dive team found red paint on part of the shoal near Caribou Island and right after the fence rail and 2 vents. However knowingly having a 20 ft plate pulled away from the cargo hold and not fixing it before moving the vessel should be criminal negligence. Thank you very much for your excellent reports
2:10 so what your telling me is the Edmond fitzgerald was bascially on a last run before a last day before retirment refittment, and they skimped on a repair before going into the worst storm ever
👍👍👍 recently got " night the Fitz went down"( Paquette based book), I tend to agree exactly with his hypothesis...and that of old steward ,Red Burgner....the timetable for Nov8-11 '75, at the back of the book,states that he did report the damage after passing the shoal..but didn't report radar malfunction til an hour later...so I believe his radars were working when he passed the shoal and knew where it was,but, something definitely occurred in that vicinity .. either way that boat shouldn't have been out on the lake... it desperately needed repairs...it so sad, they'd have made whitefish bay in probably another hour...but anyway,thank you feller's,see ya later 👍👍👊🤘
Day is instantly better when I see that a video from HMM w/Darrell is posted 😎
Thanks HMM & Capt. Darrell for another informative video! The possibility that the propeller blade that was fastened to the deck came loose and knocked off the nearby cargo hold access cover is an interesting possibility. But the information that a plate on the floor of the cargo hold was knocked loose and/ or severely damaged could be a bombshell, especially if she did run aground on Caribou Shoal and the damage was in the area of the ballast tank or tanks where the floor was compromised. That's some really good investigative work Capt. Darrell. I would love to see more proof and information on the cargo hold damage. Looking forward to the next installment! Happy New Year Guys!
That information came from a retired employee who worked at Zug Island! Very reputable!
@@darrellwalton938 that's good to know. So cool that almost 50 years later some of this stuff is coming out and being discussed.
love these videos
Thanks again fellas keep up the great work
Great points Captain. All that water in the hold, flowing forward, going down at a probable 15 degree angle. If the plate was pulled up in the front half of the ship, the front was full of water. When the bow hit the bottom, the stern would be near the surface and I would assume the middle would be crushed and the front hatch covers blown off by the force of the water in the hold.
Happy new year and keep digging.
Captain Darrell and historys mystery man need to write a tell all book and give us the real all theories scoop on the fitz, all in one shot and the sinking . Or maybe make a movie, or at least a super long video.
That pilot house door dogged open, you think they were getting flooded in there ?
I don't know, but if they were, it'd seem to me that the door would be dogged closed. Thanks...HMM
Such gripping information!!!! Can't get enough!!! I'll be anxiously waiting for the next installment
I've always wondered what exactly happened to the Fitz and if how she sank was actually caused by the storm she was in. Excellent -- just excellent.
This is a Labor of Love for Captain Darrell. His uncle perished on the Fitzgerald and his father lost his brother knowing the offical story was Contrived B.S.
God Bless you Captain Darrell for digging up the Truth. The Record Stands Corrected and no longer are the Hatch Covers and the Crew the Foils in this Disaster.
So captain mcsorley knew bout the plate that got riped up and still went out
Happy New Year everybody. Thank you Mr. Don and Captain Darrell for all the great stories
Was at Sturgeon Bay today. Mesabi Miner, Burns, and a Canadian Steamship Lines boat were there.
I have the same name as one of the crew, and the Fitz went down on my sister's birthday. On lake Winnebago that night, it was complete whitewater. A storm like it seems to hit every 20 years on the same day, and were overdue for another.
Another great episode..don't stop .thank you for this interesting videos ..
I started studying this subject a few years ago. Not long after I found out there were deck plates actually sitting and waiting to be installed after its last trip. Several reports that the boat was flexing from bow to stern, 3 waves from the stern.
Gordon Lightfoot made a song
That brought this event back to memory
Yep...his amazing ballad traveled the world...which is why the story of the Mighty Fitz is known all around the world. Thanks...HMM
looking forward to this! More incredible evidence of the truth! This kind of reminds me of Nascar ignoring the loss of many drivers in the cup series and modified series too Basilar Skull fractures due too unrestrained helmuts and head coming forward with such force as to cause Basilar fractures. Earnhardt's passing made them realize there was a big problem ! like it took the shipping industry with the loss of the Big Fitz.
But did the ship break near this spot he’s talking about, or could it still be one of the holds
I would say this. The spot Capt. D is talking about is part of the 200-ft. section that's missing...thanks! HMM
Are those plates for the Fitz to be repaired still at the same place? That would amazing to find!
Happy New Year Captain Don and Captain Darrell!
Great video gentlemen! I would love to have an autograph from each of you or a pic of the Fitz with your autographs on. I'd be glad to pay the shipping, please let me know if we could get one. My husband and I love watching your videos. We both hope that one day the truths you've uncovered will come to light and you'll get the credit you deserve. Happy New Year! God Bless~
That is a possibility. Thanks for watching, and Happy New Year!
Wow. That makes sense.
Fantastic video!
The curator at the museum said to me that a shipmate told the captain of the ship that a few hatches were loose, not sealing, and needed to get fixed, prior to leaving port.
Supposedly the captain told him that the hatches would get fixed at the end of the shipping season.
another awesome
Thanks...and Happy New Year my friend. HMM
@HistoryMysteryMan happy new year
Growing up in Michigan.... Central Michigan to be more precise.
I heard about this all through my Schooling ..... elementary through highschool. Class of .02
two guys with shovels start chasing me ha ha ha now that's hilarious ha ha ha
Assuming it played out this way, I wonder if McSorley was trying to race the storm? He had expressed concerns about seaworthiness in the past, and may have been trying to minimize his time in the worst of it. He and Cooper did, I think, take a less direct route to try to get shelter from the Canadian shore, but the storm didn’t cooperate. So maybe he was hedging risk? Not sure how this speculation fits with the forecast, etc., but it seems possible to me. I also wonder if anyone ever asked Cooper if he regretted not taking shelter as others did. At least a couple of the ocean-going vessels that passed the Fitz and the Anderson that night reportedly expressed such regrets. I believe Cooper was an expert on weather and storms on the lakes in particular (I read somewhere it was a personal interest of his), so I’m sure he and McSorley had some interesting conversations before their decision to proceed. Never heard anything about that. Perhaps Cooper never discussed it. Difficult subject, I suppose, despite the fact that the Anderson made it.
I sailed on the Michicpicoten when it was the Elton Hoyt 2nd.
The champs of true crime( and this was a crime!) investigators!
Thanks Don,Happy New year to you and the good Captain!My wife is traveling so it's fries and a cold beer and HMM vids tonight
Cooper said he had green water across his decks all the way up to the pilot house. The Anderson shook it off. I think those two Captains knew what they were doing. The exception has got to be that the Fitz was compromised. Not just with one or two defects, but several.
@@michaelnault5905 McSorely was a bad leader and Captain because he risked lives making bad decisions to benefit the corporation.
@TheChadWork2001
I agree. Both Captains had a lifetime on the water and their decision to run was based on that experience. McSorely had help letting the upkeep get neglected.
The U.S. needs to dive the Fitz and, Canada has no right to dictate an American Shipwreck.
As a Canadian, I agree. My stipulation would be no pictures allowed out of respect for the crew.
Keep the chapters coming fellers
Raymond Ramsay, one of the navel architects who designed, and built the Fitz, repeatedly voiced concerns that the Fitz was being overloaded past design specs. He even voiced concerns during building, that "actual" bulk heads be installed, since without them, the ship would be prone to "springing". Turns out, all his concerns were repeatedly witnessed by the crew especially after the load line was increased. If what captain Darrell found out is in fact true, then this seems to me to be more of a criminal liabilty. this would indeed explain, why the ships owners/insurance co. went to great lengths to silence anyone who could confirm the cause of loss was directly related to company neglect. Had this tragedy happen today with everyone recording everything on their cell phones, I would bet there would be overwelming evidence that the company was responsible. to this day, I still get deeply offended when anyone tries to put any blame on the Fitz's crew. These men were all doing the best the could, with what they had to work with.
A twenty foot section of the bottom of the cargo hold not being welded back in place sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I would love to know how much was spent on suppressing this incident and its details by whomever was calling the shots.
With all these factors lining up against her
I am severely surprised that she did not end up on the bottom sooner
We need another drive on the Fitzgerald with the newest tec we have and a citizens report.
I would be most interested in seeing how the ship has rusted and deteriorated since the last dive in 1995. But the real smoking gun would be seeing damage to the hull. Unfortunately, the bow section is buried in the mud. And the middle part of the ship exploded when the bow stopped skidding on the bottom. The stern doesn't appear to have any major hull damage. The part of the hull that hit 6-Fathom Shoals is likely destroyed or buried in the mud.
A question- In general, how much trouble would a Captain get in trouble for hitting the sides of a lock ( or other objects ). You guys have said the Fitzgerald started bumping into things after her load capacity was changed.
Thank you gentlemen for doing the honest investigating and reporting the facts.
I know this information does not bring peace to all the families, but the world deserves the truth, if for no other reason than to ensure that future tragedies are prevented. I wish peace and justice for all of us in 2025 and beyond.
I (somewhat)recently started a discussion on one of the Facebook discussion groups regarding a mid-75 photo of the Fitz going downbound in the Soo(It’s the one I sent you and that you’ve used in the fast few related videos)…..so many were dismissive of the hatches not being properly secured/warped. Shoot, they’re still doing the “summer clamping/every other clamp” nonsense claiming it’s fine.
Michipicoten/Elton Hoyt II is a prime example of pushing a ship further than it should go(it cracked in the early eighties in roughly the same area)……had sea conditions been anything other than calm, that ship would be on the bottom as well.
Looking forward to the next installment…..
Would you please tell Captain Darrell that I picked up a copy of the book the night that Fritz went down and I can say it's very interesting so far and I think it makes a good companion to Ric Mixture 's book tattle tails sounds