The Breaking Up of the Daniel J. Morrell

The SS Daniel J. Morrell broke apart on the 29th of November in a similar fashion to the Carl D. Bradley not more than 10 years beforehand. In a similar storm in a similar fashion. But what was dissimilar was one man's story of survival. Last more than 24 hours in the elements wearing nothing but boxers and a jacket. His story is a harrowing, yet sad one.
#History #Disaster
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Deadly Voyage by Andrew Kantar
National Transportation Safety Board Official Report
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[@thomasg2488]

I’d like to hope that when Dennis passed, his crew mates were waiting there with smiles and telling him “you’ve got nothing to be sorry for Dennis, welcome home.”

[@guywhodoesstuff3314]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYfOdWeinL2He7csi=Ggy7KUi8I60T4-r- This song comes to mind

[@dr.disappointment8400]

That HURT to read

[@thegermanfool8953]

😢😢

[@orderofdusk2382]

I'm neither a religious nor spiritual man, but I hope that is what he saw when he passed. Maybe not contact with souls of the dead, but at least a pleasant dream to go out on.

[@earlworley-bd6zy]

Well said.

[@isabellahunt2881]

Oh man, I actually teared up at his description of him hallucinating his crew back together and telling him he wasn't his time to join them. What a heartbreaking dream to have.

[@mottthehoople693]

might not have been a dream.

[@IcanDriveIt]

Sounds to me like a near death experience. Very common amongst people who die and come back. The man described who wasn’t part of the crew was Jesus. He’s also very common amongst survivors. That’s very telling

[@shanna2.2.2]

@@IcanDriveIt def agree with you, and such a neat thing to hear about

[@foo219]

@@mottthehoople693 Under those conditions it couldn't really be anything other than a hallucination. Unless you're implying he made it up.

[@mottthehoople693]

@@foo219 lol hahahah off with the fairies eh?

[@DJ5un]

"After 43 years he was finally connected to the ship, and the 28 shipmates he had left behind. The crew of the diveboat stepped back, leaving the emotional man to his thoughts." I don't know why but that line, that whole scenario just hit me like a freight train. My eyes stung and I welled up thinking about that scene playing out.

[@LostLargeCats]

I immediate teared up at that part.

[@abrandenburg10]

As a Christian, it infuriates me to hear a priest telling him not to speak of such things. How do you respond to a man you're ministering too like that? Just so cruel and unmerciful

[@maggiespeaks8555]

My father sailed the great lakes for many years. I asked him once if he remembered when the Morrell sank. He said he was glad he was loading iron ore in Ashland Wisconsin. even though on Lake superior, he said the sound of the wind through the ore docks that day was the strangest he ever heard, and he was glad he was in port. He sailed for over 35 years. He was also out there on the William Clay Ford searching for possible survivorsOf the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. He told me veteran sailors were sick that night… Which was his way of telling me even he was seasick.

[@paahl1572]

When I was a kid my family was at a museum in Duluth Minnesota and I was looking at the memorial for The Fitz and this older gentleman was standing next to me. This was probably the late 80s so The Fitz hadn’t sank that long ago. Anyway, I was an out going know-it-all as a kid so I was telling this man everything I knew about The Fitz. When I finished he goes “I know. I worked on that ship. My last day was the day before it left for its last trip.”

[@superdave8248]

In all of my years at sea I've been seasick twice. Both incidents on a smaller vessel. You do things a little differently in really rough seas and you pray like hell the seas don't get any worse.

[@thaismatsumoto]

Our house caught fire the same day the Fitz sank. Standing outside in that weather and how bad it was is forever ingrained in my memory.Along with watching the news on the Fitz and the search for survivors.

[@davecrupel2817]

It seems like the Great Lakes are exceptionally hazardous to traverse, compared to the Oceans.

[@flounder2129]

I served in the navy with the son of the Captain of the Ford

[@tamiyacar]

These tragedies always seem to occur when the company decides to do one more journey that wasn't originally planned! Especially in worsening weather!

[@thomaskositzki9424]

Yeah. That's why they weren't planned.

[@LordSluggo]

The Lakes really like to eat ships in November

[@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24]

@@LordSluggo If only these yanks knew how to build a ship properly that didn't fold like cardboard whenever there was some weather... Still some countries have built ships longer than team Yankee has even been a recognised nation.

[@shithappens6887]

@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 like ships from other nations have never sunk.

[@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24]

@@shithappens6887 yeh but when they keep snapping in two over the same stretch of water in the same way for a couple hundred years then you have to ask what's going on? Made in the good OLE USofA lol

[@alanbryant8457]

36 hours and he lost 25 lb. I can't imagine shivering non stop that hard to lose that much weight. Also I never knew about Storm Oil attached to the Sea Anchor. I can understand the oils purpose after you explained it.

[@Fordmister]

Most of it was likely fluid weight, after 36 hours without drinking water your in death by dehydration range as much as hypothermia

[@ezrea9313]

@@Fordmister oh absolutely. I once had a bad stomach bug and in 5 hours became so dehydrated that I passed out, and I lost about 10 lbs of just water weight during those 5 hours. That was a terrible experience

[@Unsound_advice]

@@Fordmister dehydration on the Great Lakes?

[@Fordmister]

@@Unsound_advice yes, for one thing its a major storm, the water is freezing and given the lack of provisions I doubt they had any way of safely getting the water out of the lake without risking falling overboard, by the time they would have been desperate enough to try it anyway the were likely suffering from acute hypothermia, at which point the body is going to instinctually steer away from anything that could make it colder. Its not as simple as sticking a cup over the side and grabbing a drink. plus there is no way a body looses that much weight that quickly through anything other than fluid loss, fats too light, muscle takes too long to break down. as counterintuitive as it sounds dehydration was as likely to have killed the men on that raft as the cold despite it being a freshwater lake

[@kenbellchambers4577]

It is very strange, but nevertheless true, that being naked can often keep you warmer than when wearing clothes. A layer of warm air seems to form a warm zone around the body, and the moisture from evaporation from the skin dissipates rather than forming a dampness as it does inside clothing.

[@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat]

Honestly I’m amazed they survived a few hours after dunking into the water, let alone 1-2 nights after

[@peterf.229]

It’s likely that him doing able to not be in wet clothes might have aided, also seems the others that got in were also wounded

[@jffry890]

Short of the suicidal lyrics, this story is almost exactly lile the song Bones In The Ocean. Sole survivor, survivor's guilt, seeing the ghosts of his crew, being told it's not his time to die, revisiting the wreckage, never returning to sea. The parallels are uncanny.

[@CSltz]

I just can’t imagine how much time and work that you put into these mini documentaries. But I’m glad you do.

[@CSltz]

I’m very sorry that there is two of these remarks almost word for word.Now three. I didn’t realize that the first one. About the Witch went through. I do apologize for that.

[@mike1shinoda2]

Try lemmino and mustard as well

[@garrydavis3475]

Reading a book on it ain’t hard

[@drdrew3]

Because Wikipedia

[@GN77340]

Me tooo

[@vz_61_skorpion]

As a Michigander, these stories from the great lakes hit closer to the heart than some of your other videos. Loving the content, keep up the good work.

[@ScumfuckMcDoucheface]

Couldn't agree more, from Windsor =)

[@stonedperson97]

Agreed, love hearing anything about shipwrecks on the great lakes and knowing that it only happened a few hours from where I live, morbidly fascinating

[@Delta_NWAB747fan]

Nothing like the classic lake boats, also a Michigander. I enjoy hearing about all the stories these boats tell.

[@PastorWisky]

@@ScumfuckMcDoucheface 269

[@pipsuki]

same! from grand rapids :)

[@jasonessery2438]

I was lucky enough to hear Dennis Hale speak personally during an event in Goderich to mark the centennial of the storm of 1913. The oddest part was when he described finally drifting in on a lifeboat full of his own dead crewmates, and how hopeless he felt when calling for help. At the time I was considering a career in the maritime industry. I decided a career in the military was safer! May he rest in peace since he has now crossed over to reunite with his crew.

[@diggerfan9319]

The three greatest Great Lakes ships were lost in 17 years, the Carl D. Bradley (1958), the Daniel J. Morrell (1966), and the Edmund Fitzgerald (1975). Probably not the best era in shipping but still fascinating to learn about these disasters. Good job!

[@DeaconDee80]

It will be nice if they make a movie or min series about them ship. Call it the 3 sisters of November.

[@armorer94]

Imagine being told (in a certain way) that it wasn't your time to die. The hallucination of being back on your ship with all the crew, and them asking you what the hell are you doing here? That is a hallucination with a spiritual component.

[@graveyardelf6765]

No doubt

[@TheMouseAvenger]

Personally, I think of it as a glimpse of heaven. :-)

[@40kanon]

His mates told him it's not his time yet and God himself came to him in the raft to tell him how to survive. Stories like this only further affirm my love for Christ.

[@OlOleander]

Ever hear "Bones in the Ocean" by the Longest Johns?

[@40kanon]

@@OlOleander Kino song

[@CriticalMaster95]

These are the names of those who died aboard the Daniel J. Morrell. Please take a moment to remember their names: Arthur I. Crawley (47) - Captain/Master Phillip Eugene Kapets (51) - First Mate Duncan Robert MacLeod (61) - Second Mate Ernest George Marcotte (62) - Third Mate Stuart A. Campbell (60) - Wheelsman Charles H. "Fuzzy" Fosbender (42) - Wheelsman Henry Rischmiller (34) - Wheelsman Albert Paul Wieme (51) - Watchman Norman M. "Norm" Bragg (40) - Watchman Larry G. Davis (27) - Deckwatch John Michael Groh (21) - Deckwatch (missing) Arthur E. "Art" Stojek Sr. (41) - Deckhand John J. Cleary Jr. (20) - Deckhand John Henry Schmidt (46) - Chief Engineer Valmour A. Marchildon (43) - First Assistant Engineer Alfred Gust Norkunas (39) - Second Assistant Engineer George Albert Dahl (38) - Third Assistant Engineer Wilson E. Simpson (50) - Oiler Donald Everett Worcester (38) - Oiler Arthur S. Fargo (52) - Fireman Chester J. Koniecska (45) - Fireman Saverio Rocco Grippi (53) - Coal Passer Leon Richard Truman (45) - Coal Passer David Lawrence Price (19) - Coal Passer Stanley John Satlawa (39) - Steward (missing) Nicholas P. Homick (35) - Second Cook Joseph Alois Mahsem (59) - Porter Charles J. Sestakauskas (49) - Porter

[@AnimeSunglasses]

We therefore commit their bodies to the deep...

[@katherineberger6329]

@@AnimeSunglasses Til Poseidon gives up His dead.

[@colinvoigt8309]

19 years old…….

[@normpaddle]

Thanks and RIP to them all.

[@darinboyer6085]

Thanks for listing their names, my great uncle was Phillip Kapets, may they all rest in peace.

[@lomgshorts3]

IN order to fit through the ancient locks of the old river/lake system, the freighters were limited to a certain width but not more than 625' in length. This caused great torsion problems with the riveted hulls. My Tug had towed many lake freighters with torn riveted plates or cracked hulls to safety at harbours with dry docks capable of receiving them for repairs and replacement of torn frames and side plates. I was just a kid then, 16 but adult sized so I could lie about my age and work with the tug company. One we towed had a broken back held together with welded chains to keep her from splitting in half. My family were Dutch, so Maersk was the obvious choice to work for. Many lake freighters were lost like this being caught between two high waves bow and stern with no support airships. They broke in half because they were heavily loaded, and had taken on water airships through hatches damaged by storms. Once a North wind started, we all knew that a storm was coming. We monitored 500KHz and channel 16, the two emergency frequencies available at that time and offered salvage contracts to shipping companies to bring their broken ships in to port. We carried four dewatering pumps on deck (that is all we had deck space for), and could sway them aboard ships in distress. Then we took them under tow because their engines would only make any breaks or torn plates worse in a high sea. The Great Lakes had short period waves with deep troughs between them due to their small sized channels and shallow depths. I believe that the Fitzgerald bottomed itself between two tall waves, broke her back, and sank in two pieces just as these ships did. I've seen three Lakers (colliers) pulled into Sodus bay and be unloaded because of developing cracks in their hulls, the coal sold to Rochester, Gas, and Electric to feed their coal electric generating stations, and what RG&E didn't buy went to mills to be ground to "pea gravel" to heat coal burning furnaces for home heating. I had a hard life until I quit Maersk for the State of NY D.O.T. Canal Section and worked the Erie Canal for many years. Working the Erie Canal was much easier as it was a State Job where you worked one of three shifts of eight hours instead of watch on and watch off every four hours. Yeah, we lived aboard our tug, but the hours were better, and the pay and benefits were MUCH better.

[@justrelax8465]

I wonder did the old river freighters have any sort of thrusters?

[@yankees29]

I love videos about there Erie Canal. That’s pretty cool you worked on it.

[@ShaCaro]

Why would Maersk be the obvious choice? It's a Danish company, not Dutch.

[@owenstuder9841]

Ive been waiting for this one because I actually got to meet Dennis when I was up in white fish and all I can say is what a absolutely amazing guy but sad he passed away a few years ago may he Rest In Peace

[@jimk4375]

I was working on the boats in '66 and '67. I took a picture of the Morrell in '66 on Lake Huron. Your description of life on the boats is fairly accurate. Storms can be quite fierce. Such a tragic story!

[@Bald_Cat2007]

Jim, if you don't mind me asking. Which freighters did you work on

[@merafirewing6591]

I'm curious as well?

[@hectorheathcote9495]

High sulphur steel was a big problem with the liberty ships in WW2 as well. Many broke up in the cold waters of the north Atlantic. Fair wind and a following sea.

[@TBone-bz9mp]

Reminds me of an anecdote from a scrap man remarking about cutting up Great Western Castles, a class of British locomotives. ‘Cutting up the ones built before the war is like trying to cut up marble, cutting up the ones built after the war is like ripping up tissue paper.’

[@donovanulrich348]

@@TBone-bz9mp WW1 everyone: 💪 WW2: everyone ✍️ Half WW2 was back and forth politics, no army engagement Edit: Appeasement, that was 3 ish years of politics before Hitler started "invading" You need a army before you can march, it was illegal for Germany to have over 100000 troops. Nothing They weren't allowed to occupy the Rigne land, they occupied it. Nothing They asked for half of the Polish and Austrian sectors and got it Then the invasions started

[@zerosen1972]

​@@TBone-bz9mpThe Castle Class were some of the mightiest 4-6-0s ever built in Britain. The BR Built ones were constructed on the cheap using poor quality steel on purpose as they were trying to phase out steam locomotives for diesel. It's a damn shame that they downgraded in quality like that..

[@TBone-bz9mp]

@@zerosen1972 It’s true, later on when some of them were preserved they were found to be complete sacks of hammers and had to be effectively become brand new engines.

[@zerosen1972]

@@TBone-bz9mp Yep. It's a shame the Western Region didn't care for their steam locomotives like the Southern did. The Austerity Q1s and Bulleid Pacifics were in peak condition up until their withdrawal in 1967. Although they were quite dirty..😅

[@burntnougat5341]

The autumn storms of the Great Lakes are a force not to be reckoned with

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

It's crazy that the weather has been so insane forever. Yet they still tempt fate.

[@finsfan90]

@@thereissomecoolstuff Money has a way of making people do things that they wouldnt do otherwise.

[@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24]

@@finsfan90 sounds like something an evil super villan would say in some cheesy movie

[@kevinmatta9262]

@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 the only one sounding cheesy right now is you throughout this comment page. Stfu about stuff you clearly don't understand.

[@superdave8248]

As an ex-navy guy whose career started some 30 years after this incident, it is amazing how things changed. As I listened to this story it more mirrors events with the Titanic than it does a actual events from some +50 years later. Life rafts, lack of emergency communication, poor emergency floatation ... all these things were things we would have expected to be normal in 1912 when the Titanic went down. Not something you would expect from a ship sailing on the Great Lakes in 1966. In my time in the US Navy, I've seen inflatables with full emergency resources, exposure suits to minimize hyperthermia in freezing water, emergency beacons issued to crew, and even emergency communication systems with their own power banks. And that is not even counting the various IFF and satellite monitoring systems used on US Navy ships for identification and location purposes. If a US Navy ship were to sink, I'd like to believe that the US Navy would be responding before the ship even struck bottom. And the crew of said ship still stood a reasonable chance of surviving even in cold, rough seas.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

I bet you the ship's owners pressured legislation for not really high safety standarts to save money on equipment. The things you mention are expensive and need regular checks and replacements. Governments need to drag companies kicking and screaming to implement higher safety standarts ever since I started to have an interest in such things. Humans don't count as much as profit as long as the humans are replacable.

[@hideousruin]

@@thomaskositzki9424 Yep. And the Navy has to spend it's entire budget or it risks having it cut. All the branches of the military blow billions on countless shit they don't need, so it figures they have a few things they do.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

@@hideousruin I wouldn't count top-notch safety equipment as "Shit you don't need".

[@andrewshepherd1537]

@Thomas Kositzki I think he was referring to the various thousands of things any serviceman deals with that we REALLY don't need. I mean hell, on my last deployment to Iraq, we were issued PARKAS. They had bought parkas to be issued to ALL deploying units, regardless of where we were going. At the same time, we struggled to keep the motor pool supplied with parts and oils, and I hear some of our guys that went with a deployment to Afghanistan struggled to keep batteries and other small parts for their NVDs and thermal optics in good supply. I'm fairly confident all servicemen who have done more than toddle around CONUS bases will confirm that the military has a very bad habit of oversupplying us with shit we don't need, while shortchanging us on things we do

[@thomaskositzki9424]

@@andrewshepherd1537 Yeah sounds logical. Reminds me of "Generation Kill" and the NVD Battery shit-show.Thanks for the insight! :)

[@grapeshot]

Yes I'm sure the image of half the ship continuing to sail had to be one crazy sight.

[@judedeschamps2369]

Anyone find it odd that we get excited when Maritime Horrors releases a video, even though its guaranteed to be a grim tale of disaster and death? Anyways, great video my man, please make more.

[@MrShanester117]

I think it’s odd when people say “we” in their comments

[@GoredonTheDestroyer]

It's a morbid curiosity, I think. We get excited to learn about these horrible events in the same way we get excited when someone asks, "Hey, wanna see a dead body?" We aren't actually _excited_ to learn about the unfortunate misgivings of the mighty Great Lakes, but curiosity often gets the better of us.

[@KitsuneRogue]

As a great poet once said, "man enjoys a good tragedy."

[@GoredonTheDestroyer]

@@KitsuneRogue That's a good way to put it.

[@OutbackCatgirl]

@@GoredonTheDestroyer i mean i would react very differently to that specific question but this is definitely the biggest thing i can think of. it can be a fascination.

[@tigerterrorist79]

YESSS IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE!!! Keep up the great content man. Love me some Great Lakes shipwreck history

[@tigerterrorist79]

Idk if you take requests for certain stories, but I think the disappearance of the Marquette and Bessemer No. 2 is a great topic to cover

[@itskadiebitchx]

as someone from windsor, i grew up listening to horror stories of the great lakes and their vicious storms. a lot of people underestimate their sheer ferocity and size of them. one of the most terrifying ones, imo, is lake erie. i was told, under no circumstances, to swim in that lake or the current would grab you. they give me the shivers to this day. also, fun fact! in tobermory, on - you can SEE some of the old wrecks because the waters near the shore on the late are extremely clear! the bottom is mostly massive rock formations with little sediment and you can see straight down.

[@sharonsplat]

The great lakes shipwrecks are so fascinating. I boat on the great lakes and we often see the large working ships in Benton Harbor. I always say a prayer for their safety when they pull out at the end of season. The weather can change so quickly in November.

[@bethcooper4200]

John on wives computer. Was on the the Bramble when Morrell went down. We were outfitted the next year in about April of '67 and divers went down on the forward section of the Morrell for the purpose of obtaining a sample of the hull for analysis. They also took some video and we could see a section of the Morrell on a small tv device. That was done to ascertain any visual twisting and turning of different structures such as the davits. The Bramble carried out this mission of 20 days duration and was performed with little or no publicity by the Coast Guard. Accordinly, the assets of small boats, a Navy aircraft, CG helos, night illumination from 3 CG cutters and so forth when the Morrell was determined to have gone down can be described perhaps with with a word: Daunting. As the hospital corpsman aboard the Bramble when one of the diver came up from 200 feet down and had finished decompressing I was in charge of giving the diver one of those small airline type bottles of whiskey!

[@bethcooper4200]

To clarify the above we of the CGC Bramble were shadowing the Morrell when she went down at night in the worst storm imaginable. The following spring were were outfitted with deep sea equipment and marine divers and they descended on her for video pictures and most importantly to obtain a hull sample for chemical analysis. By the way, the Bramble did report her approximate position which proved to be highly accurate.

[@StunningHistory]

Many thanks for the shout-out! I have been an admirer of your channel for a while now. You put a lot of heart and effort into making these. Huge respect! 🙏 I didn’t know that bit about Hale holding the rope tied to the wreck. That’s a powerful image and hopefully brought some sense of closure and connection for him. Looking forward to more! -Sam

[@TheZackofSpades]

Stories told with such care and sincerity are among the finest tributes to the brave lives lost in this tragedy.

[@mjustjeanette7026]

Agreed. Care and sincerity and recognition that lives are lost, and/or struggle fought, is why I come to this channel.

[@Maritime_History]

What a story. Thanks for having uploaded this. Dennis Hale sure has 1 of the craziest maritime survival stories I've ever heard of.

[@whensomethingcriesagain]

The Morell is pretty infamous in Michigan, not as much as something like the Fitz, but still noteworthy. Side note, would love to see an episode on the Bannockburn, maybe for another of the maritime ghost stories if you decide to do those again.

[@foreverpinkf.7603]

A true horror story.

[@Klappadler7844]

@@foreverpinkf.7603 Yep, she just went missing, no bodies, no wreckage, no lifeboats, just nothing

[@hqwefg]

I think the Morrell is good evidence of why you should always act in accordance of the worst possible outcome. I mean jesus, 30 hours before anyone raised any alarms because it's "probably fine" when peoples lives are on the line, all it would have taken was some due diligence to realize something was wrong even. Long story short; it's a lot better to have needless busywork than needless deaths.

[@peterf.229]

Technology has improved

[@zerosen1972]

My grandfather said something similar. He was an engineer for Erie Lackawanna when this happened. A lot of industrial companies had an enormous disconnect when it came to dispatch and the field and as a result they pushed these brave men into certain death conditions with very little concern for their well being. 60 years later and I'm working for the company that bought out the EL and it's successor Conrail. While safety warnings and procedures have improved the communications between dispatch and field haven't changed much! 😅

[@bethcooper4200]

Was the hospital corpsman aboard the CGC Bramble when the Morrell disappeared off our radar screen. Some thought she had gone into port. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. John on wives computer.

[@ZenkaiAnkoku2]

A wonderful video, well worth the wait. I don't know why, but this one really hit harder than the others. Hearing the story of a sole survivor of a disaster like this is always heartbreaking.

[@mrto0tsboi]

I worked on the SS Badger for a few summers in college. My friends from out of state are always blown away when I tell them how bad the great lakes can get. There were days out there where you'd look out the port side and see nothing but sky and the starboard side was nothing but water.

[@Xaxvius]

Great to see another video from you! Question: will you ever cover submarine maritime horrors, such as the K-129 or the USS Thresher, or are you gonna stick with purely “surface ships”? It would be fascinating to see what you pull up for those subs. Great content as always.

[@Blisskits]

Would love a series on subs. Would add a video on the fate of HMS Affray to your list too.

[@rosiehawtrey]

I have a feeling you don't want to know about the Thresher - look up 37 pings.

[@williamstocker584]

Isn’t that the theory that the crew was still alive before the sub imploded

[@ashling3]

If we're talking subs, we gotta have a special on the K-Class subs.

[@billstutts6219]

The U.S.S Tang would be another interesting submarine, I think one of its own torpedoes actually sunk it?

[@ellielobes]

I LOVE when you cover lake freighter stories! I live in Oregon now but I grew up in northern Ohio and have always had a deep fondness for these huge lake boats, so it's a nice reminder of home

[@robertknowles2699]

Blame on the steel sulfur ? Length to depth ratio over 10 a danger ? Frigid gamble heading into building waves.

[@mattedward6155]

Don't ever worry about rushing or worry to much about being too perfect, everything you have made that I have watched has been amazing. Keep kicking ass and keep up the good work. ABSOLUTELY LOVE the content stay good man God Bless.

[@whitesapphire5865]

How weird. I was just fine all through the video - It was another piece of maritime history that was new to me, and I was learning something, right up until you mentioned the rope physically linking Hale to the wreck, and that choked me up, then the tears, when said he had died, at age 75. Oh boy, you never really know how things can get to you.

[@literallyanythingelseother]

I have no ties to the sea, boats, shipping, any of that stuff. Do live a couple hours from Lake Superior though so I knew about the many many ships that have sank there. Watching these videos makes me realize the slow horror these men go through. No way to travel fast, no way to remove themselves from the situation. Just on a slow stroll towards disaster. Makes me feel trapped just thinking about it.

[@johndelta00]

I used to live in Harbor Beach, MI and had never heard this story. I can't imagine being out in those waters in November when the sky is gray and the wind is sharp as a razor.

[@darkwind9000]

No worries on the delay my friend! You show such dedication and honor to those that have lost their lives and you help honor them and their families memories.

[@amosburton164]

Growing up in Michigan and having a summer cottage in Harbor Beach these stories of the Great Lakes always captivate me and then BOOM there in the hospital picture of Dennis is my uncle Fr. Cornelius McEachin, I had no idea that he was involved in the story. I'm happy that Dennis survived his ordeal.

[@ariannahernandez886]

I ugly sobbed hearing about Mr. Hales holding onto that rope that connects him to the ship. My heart is broken for him and I hope that in the end he did get to his ship's deck with his men waiting for him now that he arrived when it /was/ time.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

Awesome vid, you described the sinking with so much detail it felt like being there. The ship breaking up with the engines still going must have been a scary sight. Although I live in lower Michigan, I've never heard much about the Great Lakes except the Ed Fitz. Thanks for these stories, they're a welcome history lesson 👍

[@kylebrunelle8849]

Thisn idea was definitely worth the wait. I came across your channel with no interest in ships/boats etc. and now I can’t stop! LOVE you channel!

[@thefisherking78]

I read about this wreck once, I think, but the way you tell the story is like nothing else. Thank you.

[@ZillyWhale]

I love hearing about history on the Great Lakes. Keep it up!

[@admiraltiberius1989]

I do absolutely love this channel, always happy to see another notification.

[@P_RO_]

I've been waiting for this one- thanks! Not to take away from any other lost laker, but to me this is the ultimate shipwreck on the lakes. I know of no other wreck anywhere which had the stern powering onward for 5 miles after breakup; most of the time power is lost almost immediately. And no other wreck revealed such a wide-ranging secret in the pre-48 steel becoming cold brittle; that implied that around 1/3 of the other lake ships could do the same thing and it wasn't an issue which could be fixed such as adding more lifeboats after the Titanic sank. After this wreck many ships which had previously been thought to still have years of life left in them were scrapped as insurers panicked. It also implicated the US military who had become aware of the cold-brittleness problem in WW2 but kept the fact hidden so as to not show an enemy a weakness. There were plans to pass this info along to the entire maritime community post-war; indeed orders were given to that effect but the communications and records regarding this got lost and nobody was ever found responsible for that error. There were the two who were late for her departure and add to that Hale's amazing survival feat and maybe you can see why I feel this way. In all the pics I've seen of Mr. Hale lies something in his eyes which I've seen in very few others, men who themselves had seen unspeakable horrors up close and personal yet they too survived. I can't really describe that, it's as if they can look straight into your soul leaving you feeling uneasy yet somehow comforted about how things will be OK after this life is over as if they've seen the face of God and they know, where we haven't and have only our faith to go on. But I ramble too much... Another excellent video done with respect and without exaggeration, over-hyping, or focusing only on the sensational overlooking all else. I see a great future for this channel.

[@stevehomeier8368]

Many thanks for the fine videos you produce! As a life long Chicagoan I especially appreciate the Great Lakes content. The UNSC Pillar of Autumn was also a great one, History and science fiction being two of my I interests. Also enjoy hearing from the Creepster😉

[@TSwaggoner]

Honestly, I feel your Dennis. I was an opiate addict for many years, bad. Taking over 100 pills per day until my body just could not take it anymore. When my body quit on me I had to endure acute kidney failure and severe opiate withdrawal at the same time. By day 2, It was like every cell in my body was being torn apart and lit on fire. All that I could do was mumble the words , I can’t take this, over and over and over. The only thing that got me through was the thought that at any time, I could throw myself from the balcony to make it stop. That thought was comforting for me and I was able to keep making deals with myself that if I could just hold on another minute, then I would get up and throw myself off. Then 2 minutes, then 2 hours until it began to subside on day 4. A feeling of agony and desperation so deep that the thought of sweet sweet death is your only comfort. That’s a feeling that few people ever experience and it changes you as a person. You just need it to end one way I another.

[@softwhiteund3rarm0r]

You're a tough sob. Opiates are the worst. Glad you made it.

[@apancher]

What a nightmare! My heart goes out to all sailors who have lost their lives. This would be so slow and agonizing. With that said, I can't compliment your videos enough! I know very little of the maritime world, but every one of your videos is absolutely captivating. I really enjoy your explanation of things like the storm oil, as well as your use and of maritime terms.

[@DrDirt-fk5ls]

I love that you're telling these stories. I learned to sail on Lake Michigan. The Lakes should be called, the sea. I live on the Chesapeake, now.

[@adamstalilonis8787]

Very good job, always hard to handle a situation with loss of life. So hard to walk the fine line of being respectful to the families of the deceased while also sharing as much as possible with the general public. Could not possibly have done a better job.

[@ramsfan1st43]

In 2004 I was surfing a particularly nasty reef break. I was inexperienced and cocky, so I took on waves I wasn't ready for. Long story short, the wave took me down, and slammed me on my back, breaking three vertebrae (T12 to L2). I couldn't feel my legs, and right there I thought I was paralyzed. As my thoughts drifted, I couldn't focus on the fact that I was going to drown. I heard a voice call my name. Nothing else, it just said "Eric". Clearly and calmly. As I was alone where I was, it really made an impact, and my brain started clearing, and my adrenaline kicked in. I pulled myself up on my board using the leash fastened to my right ankle, and took the current out, but to this day I couldn't understand what voice I heard. It's nice to know I'm not nuts, so thank you Dennis.

[@macnagy5280]

I’ve read a good deal about the Morrell wreck and its lone survivor, but I had no idea that Dennis had been incredibly close to shore while still being essentially marooned on the raft for quite some time before the helicopter arrived.

[@stuglife5514]

Bethlehem Transport company? How did I not know! I’m from Bethlehem, we were the biggest steel provider in the USA, and produced the best steel in the world (even better then Krupp!) we provided the steel for the Hoover damn, twin towers, Empire State Building, Golden Gate Bridge, many many warships, and so so much more. Chances are if you live in the USA, you’ve been on a bridge or in a building made with our steel

[@DragonSpirit469]

A video well worth the wait! What an incredible story, and so thoroughly researched and well delivered as always. I'm so looking forward to the future of this channel :)

[@beatzbyreefah]

I really like your videos. This one right here was really deep. When you told when you said you tried to kill himself because he didn't want to live he didn't want to die he just wanted to be over that's a real human emotion that I think everybody could understand.

[@Libbathegreat]

Good to see you back! I can completely understand wanting to get it right so bad you can't ever call it 'finished', especially for a story this grueling. You did good :)

[@napesdrk1174]

Never knowing I was a shipwreck buff till recently. Now, obsessed your channel has great content and your skills are improving every episode.

[@Stranglewood]

Great storytelling. The steaming, broken maw of the Morrell's bow is an image that'll stay with me a while. Love your channel!

[@rjensen2621]

Fantastic video as always. Your narration is top notch, it's like book that's so well written you just keep reading and reading and don't realize it's been 2 hours and 10 chapters. These Great Lakes stories are awesome though, I hope you cover more of these steel freighters

[@genosim63]

My step dad was a commercial fisherman out of Boston's North End back in the 1960s and 70s. He went down at sea when I was very young and was rescued by the coast guard. Also, he went through other tough situations related to his job. From the movie 'A Perfect Storm', to any documentary I've ever seen, my heart goes out to every mariner and rescue professional who give their all.Their families as well. Whenever they would leave the house our thoughts constantly included their safe return. May God bless. 🙏⚓

[@franciszeklatinik889]

Thank you for posting this, well worth the long wait.

[@541Ryan]

Your content is amazing man, thank you for the work you put in to educate, and pay respects to these tragic stories.

[@thomasliptak9469]

The sight of your stern still running is absolutely terrifying

[@holi6293]

The survivors wish for everything to just be over reminded me of a story my mother once told. She was on a ship going up the coast of Norway when a terrible storm struck. The ship did not sink, but it was a truly bad situation and all around my mother people was begging for the ship not to go down, and my mother said I begged for the ship to go down, I was so seasick I just wanted it to be over. I was shocked when my mother told me this because at home she had 3 children, a loving husband and a life she loved

[@peregrina7701]

Thanks for making this and your attention to detail makes the wait worth it! Fair winds and following seas ☺️

[@stephenvanostenbridge9030]

Your channel is seriously incredible. So many interesting and informative videos. Keep up the good work.

[@SJ581000]

Thanks for the video! I've really grown to enjoy these and appreciate maritime history and culture. But your videos make me glad to be in the army as opposed to the Navy or Coast Guard. Keep it up dude!

[@clarsach29]

It's incredible how dangerous the Great Lakes can be, and there's a recurring theme of ships being lost there during November storms. As an aside, is there a sailor superstition connected to the giving of male names to (female) ships? Is this ever considered unlucky?

[@charlesclager6808]

Incredible story of survival. We lived in Cleveland when the Edmund Fitzgerald went down. It was a sad time. Thank you for posting this exciting and tragic tale. Loved your narration.

[@chrisp.6256]

Just started watching your videos and I’m really enjoying them! As someone who is not informed about sailing I appreciate the explanations you provide.

[@Nexus-ub4hs]

I did watch another channel cover this, it was factual but I want to thank you so much for particularly focusing on the human side, on the story of those men and Dennis, the reality of his survival and aftermath. Big thank you 🙏🏼

[@TheOceanChannel2]

Wow I was here when he had 50 subscribers, you have done such a good job!

[@DaltonUber]

Great work dude! Don't worry about always uploading. I hope you just enjoy your hobby and make content you are happy to share with us! :)

[@ImpendingJoker]

These things all have one thing in common: "Yep, we can do it." When clearly they should have told the powers that be, "We can't do it."

[@greatbrandini3967]

I'm a pilot, and this reminds me of a saying I learned regarding pilots for hire. "We aren't paid to say yes when someone asks us to go fly, anyone can say yes. We are paid to say no"

[@adellajones9887]

Hello. This was so heartfelt. I am usually a stoic person but I was almost crying. Mr. Hale was so brave. These men who work on lakes and other waterways are incredible....as are their families♥♥

[@HiVizCamo]

These slide shows are interesting and informative, to a point. Interspersing these with maps or diagrams of the routes timed to the narrative would be helpful to most viewers, whether they know the area in question or not. Great series, have watched a bunch of these.

[@FUNGUSMAN920]

Ahh yes. It’s a great feeling to have our favorite person who can somehow turn a story about a vessel sinking into downright scarier than a horror movie…. JEEZ MAN. I get scared WAAAY too easily. Anyway though, good yo have you back man!

[@pantherplatform]

Never get undressed in rough seas. You might be sleeping when suddenly you have to abandon ship as fast as you can and you don't want to be only wearing boxies

[@Momo_Kawashima]

>be from the great lakes >design a ship to sail through violent winds and waves >make it stretched and thin instead of short and chonky >"omg it snapped in half and all the crew died, what a tragedy how could that happen?" Basically every Great Lakes ship sinking in a nutshell

[@superdave577]

Sometime back my wife and I decided to take a trip up to Michigan. It had been recommended that we visit the shipwreck museum at Whitefish point ( highly recommend ) because I was interested in the Edmund Fitzgerald and it has lots of information on it. It also had lots of information about other wrecks on Superior and the Great Lakes in general. When we walked into the gift shop there was an older man with white hair, glasses and what appeared to be two club feed talking with one of the workers behind the counter. He introduced to himself as Dennis Hale and said he had written a book about a ship he was on that had sunk on Lake Huron. We had a very nice conversation with him and I vividly remember him saying the one thing he always struggled with was not understanding why he didn't die with the rest of his ship mates. I did purchase the book and did read it and feel sorry for him and all the struggles he had after this. Going through something like would surely rattle you and stay with you for the rest of your life. I had heard he had passed away and I truly hope he is at peace now.

[@69johndz]

I really like your videos, but could you include more maps showing locations relative to each other and routes? I am a big fan of the "geography of a scene" and knowing how everyone's position relates to everyone else and the land. Also, diagrams of the ships and the different nautical terms would be great too! Sometimes I get confused as to what is going on and where things are happening on the ship. Thanks!

[@grapeshot]

Yeah like the Genie said on Aladdin you'd be surprised what you can live through.

[@andyprocter4680]

I met Dennis at one of his book signings! Unbelievably gracious gentleman! Fair winds and following seas, Big D!

[@szenz640]

Props for the shoutout to Wendigoon - He's the main reason I know this channel exists. Since then, I think I've watched everyone of your videos from start to finish at least twice. Much love to you both!

[@erwinderdoofe]

Your timing is great with this one :)

[@Kaidhicksii]

Well I showed up instantly. XD The third big shipwreck of the three most legendary shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. I watched the interview of Mr. Hale. Will be back later.

[@chriscook8773]

Love your work, it's absolutely fantastic.

[@SatyreIkon]

I came to your channel through Wendigoon, and even though I'm not at all into seamanship the content you do is absolutely fascinating! Thank you for telling those stories in so engaging a manner! 👍

[@kieran2221]

I love these - real stories of horror where the details are the true horror. No monsters here, just the darkness of the uncaring sea and the people that take the risk of travelling upon it.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

I don't mind you uploading with lengthy pauses - quality of quantity! As always this documentary was great and chilling at the same time. You strike a good balance between factual and emotional representation without overdramatization.

[@imxploring]

Incredible job! No problem on the wait! Quality is always worth waiting for!

[@kalebdavis7245]

I know you’ve been busy but man I can not wait for another video. I literally live on the Gulf and spend much of my free time on the water and ship wrecks are just so fascinating to me. Where I’m at we have the U.S.S Massachusetts that was scuttled in 1921, a civil war steam cargo ship off of Fort Morgan, and another battle ship in Pensacola Bay. I’d love to hear you do a ship that’s really close to here. The before mentioned ones aren’t too cool of stories but I’m positive you’ll bring something interesting regardless of around here or not. Thank you so much and keep up the amazing work!

[@CSltz]

I just can’t imagine how much time and research you have to put into these. I appreciate the work and effort. I would like to see what “The Witch of November” look’s like from inside. Along with the bridge and outside from the bow. Not that I’m that brave. But to just understand what this part of Michigan history is like. Hope that makes sense.

[@ninjaswordtothehead]

Even with all the modern advances, you still have to have a lot of sand to be a sailor. The balls it must have taken to go to sea before all the modern safety equipment, I don't understand how anything stayed afloat.

[@maasicas]

These videos are calming and good. Thank you.

[@Cobalt360Degrees]

Not gunna lie, even before I hit play on the video, just looking at the profile of the ship in your thumbnail makes me go 'yeah that doesn't even look like that should work as a boat of course it sunk'.