The Sad, Abandoned Remains of the MARY D. HUME (1881) - Arctic Whaler and Tugboat

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The Mary D Hume, discarded on the shore of the Rogue River at Gold Beach, Oregon, isn't a wreck per-se. She didn't crash here; she's simply been decaying where she was left. This understated ruin might not look like much, but she's incredibly old; over 140 years old, and hold the title of being the longest serving commercial vessel on the West Coast, having sailed the most lucrative whaling voyage in American history, and nearly having claimed the record for longest Arctic whaling voyage at 6 and a half years.
She was nearly a museum ship with the Curry County Historical Society putting a good effort into preserving her, but between faulty equipment and legal fees, the effort ran out of funds before the ship was even given a real chance.
There isn't much drama to this wreckage, but simply a story worth telling before it's forgotten completely.

[@lazypanda4921]

"...today, that's about 795,000 dollars, and next week it will be a lot more." This is the most amusing yet depressing phrase I have heard in quite a while.

[@Bonzi_Buddy]

FJB

[@larescats9228]

@@Bonzi_Buddy yes FJB

[@stormisuedonym4599]

@@Bonzi_Buddy But really, the important part is he doesn't tweet mean things, and aren't the fee-fees of overly sensitive middle-class children so much more important than *literally* everything else?

[@amosmayhugh9988]

Especially when you have to drive 2 hours to a job site because your Boss doesn't "need" you at the one 2 minutes up the street

[@grantmorris465]

That inflation reference made me check the date posted 🤣

[@Mart77]

"lawyers drained away all the money meant for her restoration" was the most heartbreaking part of the story of Mary Hume

[@tessaducek5601]

@Adrian Mannino Lawyers will drag out any type of litigation as long as they make money.. Once the funds are gone. The lawsuit is abandoned just like this poor ship. Now there is nothing left. Its a damn shame so many historic landmarks are often regarded as not worth the time or money.

[@MarkNOTW]

Scum sucking lawyers strike again.

[@honeybadger6275]

rootless cosmopolitans, every, single, time

[@leoborn6595]

@@tessaducek5601 To be honest, while this case is sad of course, it’s better than having the ship scrapped back then…

[@aerostrafe1075]

@@leoborn6595 The ship was going to be put in a museum in the town that built it. Better than if the people the lawyers were fighting for won it though since they would of scrapped it im sure.

[@bo7341]

We've officially reached "Tom made an inflation joke" levels of inflation.

[@Lucinda_Jackson]

“Today, that’s about $795,00. And next week it’ll be a lot more.” 😂😂😂

[@Addfrwn2]

I almost choked on my beer! Gallows humor.

[@sireldemar6004]

Well played, Tom!

[@stephenlee5338]

Official indicator of inflation, tom's called the top

[@creativian68]

I love these subtle jokes from a guy who seems so serious. He has got a sense of humour that hints that he is truly intelligent (in case we didn't already notice that ;) )

[@billbutler335]

It's a disgrace that such a historic vessel was just left to rot.

[@stevemuzak8526]

Most people don't care about the history.

[@billbutler335]

I know, I have been a history teacher and in today's schools you cannot even find a decent history class.

[@stevemuzak8526]

@@billbutler335 There is a reason for this. They want more stupid and easy to control mindless masses. Obedient slaves

[@rexluminus9867]

Curse of the whales!!!😮

[@rangerlicious2366]

Plenty of ships have been, unfortunately. Back then they would’ve been easier to save, but flukes in possible preservation/restoration seem common in these stories

[@DerpyPossum]

Incredible how so much of the vessel is still there after 140 years of existence, over 90 years of service and adventures, and around 40 years of rotting in the harbor. Bittersweet, in a way. 👍

[@mvd4436]

Now preserved in digital form

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

"I AM NOT IN DANGER, I A M THE DANGER"

[@Chord_]

What an ignoble ending for such a noble history. Glad you're able to put a spotlight on these forgotten little bits of history.

[@johnwright291]

This is really special for me. I owned a tug and barge operation out of tacoma for 30 years. I had three EX foss tugs that were wood as well as three steel tugs. I remember the Mary very well when she was still working. I'm 66 and retired now. She worked very steadily as I would hear her check into seattle traffic which is the vessel traffic control system operated by the coast guard for puget sound. This is quite a treat. Thanks.

[@stevenandbobthedog]

On a low tide you can still walk right up to her

[@ScuzzySculpin]

That's awesome

[@FJB8885]

👍

[@Unbreakify]

Such a shame an old ship has been neglected

[@sinisterisrandom8537]

I wouldnt say neglected. She retired from her Duties and is resting in peace. Basically a grandmother living the best it can for its final decades.

[@mattstorm6568]

That's certainly a way to see it.

[@Unbreakify]

@@sinisterisrandom8537 Theres still time to try and fix it.

[@averagejoe9040]

@@Unbreakify there really isnt. Once a ship like that gets in that sort of condition a "repair" would mean a completely new ship.

[@ryanjourney9607]

As a native Oregonian, I’d like to say thank you for telling her story. It’s been sad to watch her slowly decay into the river.

[@mattstorm6568]

I should come out there to see it.

[@pinkflamingo3979]

He's done videos where hundreds of people died, and yet, I found this to be the one that made me most sad. I think of a person buying a half million dollar CAR and what COULD be done with that money... like save this piece of amazing history.

[@VanessaScrillions]

I live in Brookings and when I saw the name of this video I was really excited. I'm so happy he did a video on her

[@jaydewitte2958]

As an Oregonian you have the ability to bring local contributions to restore her plus the amount of money the town will benefit from tourism will more than offset the cost. I am sure that steam engine can be restored. Don't let money stand in the way of an inspired thought thought ✨️ Rebuild it and they will come. To think people contribute much more to a mugshot of an American criminal is beyond comprehensive imagination 🤔

[@jaydewitte2958]

Do I need to come there to wake up your towns politicians 🤔 Right now she still can be saved. 5 years from now probably not.

[@BlairAir]

What a sad tale and sorrowful ending to a stalwart old vessel. The hardest, most ironic part was that the lawsuits/laywers drained the funds that were to preserve her, thus ensuring her demise.

[@ThePontiac98]

That's what lawyers do best

[@FrederickTheAnon14W]

What do you expect? Anything legal in general will do that, Some people have lost everything due to having to pay legal fees.

[@kittybitts567]

A great account of the noble history of this vessel. Thank you for saving her story and image, Tom. Blessings on you and Emma. I hope she's doing well.

[@PartTimeExplorer]

She is, thank you for asking!

[@gitfoad8032]

Now THIS is good yt content. Cheers. Shame it was an ownership lawsuit that sank her.

[@FrederickTheAnon14W]

Lawsuits and anything legal in general has become insanely costly (At least in the U.S), It is a cliché to say this but the legal system has become so broken, Some people have lost everything just paying legal fees.

[@offspringfan89]

This is so sad, she deserved a happier ending after nearly a century of hard service. Very heartbreaking to see her rotting away so close to shore. 💔 Thank you for telling her story.

[@averagejoe9040]

Everything ends this way. All we do is delay it.

[@dudlydjarbum2045]

Really enjoyed the salmon King photo nice touch.

[@ClDarrow]

Did Salmon King ever run for President or get imprisoned trying to take out his competition?

[@connorredshaw7994]

Truly heartbreaking to see these vessels abandoned and left to fall apart great video Tom Lynskey thank you.

[@tennisboatt]

just gonna be here if this gets popular

[@variovent]

Yeah, it's extremely heartbreaking to see a whaler, who killed and butchered hundreds whales, into decay. Burn to hell!

[@FrederickTheAnon14W]

@@variovent Don't blame the ship, Blame the crew and captain that steered her and actually did the work.

[@connorredshaw7994]

@@FrederickTheAnon14W exactly it wasn't the ship it was the crew I am completely against people killed wild animals like whales I went on a tour boat about two three miles of the coast of southern Tenerife we were in the middle of a pod of pilot whales about 30/40 of them it was amazing

[@greatbritannialine]

@@variovent you are a complete moronic idiot. How the hell is it the ships fault, it's not alive. It only did whaling for a relatively short amount of time. For 122 years it's not whaled. Honestly you children today have no idea about history do you?

[@skullsaintdead]

I love discovering these little known stories, it's like finding out the truth behind the ship wrecks you were told about as a kid. Something warm and nostalgic about it. Beautiful cinematography and voice over. As always, thank you!

[@Dr.K.Wette_BE]

That was a very long life for a "hand made" boat. Rest in Pieces !

[@stacyrussell460]

It's almost fitting she ended up close by to where the massive tree used to build her was taken down. Beautiful ship.

[@raerae6422]

I love how you even honoured the ancient Cedar tree that was cut down for the Mary!

[@Sithdude78]

Used to drive by her all the time going through gold beach and somehow never got her full story. Thanks for bringing it to light.

[@jasonscott6731]

It is a shame, also a shame that oil appears to still be leaking from it.

[@tjbarke6086]

She's been there all my life, slowly, but surely, withering away.

[@tomtexas4897]

3:50 "and next week it will be a lot more" Wow that caught me off guard!

[@sagecraneengel7374]

Yet another strangely beautiful old boat wreck...stirs up lots of nostalgia. Wish I could visit them all...Thanks for your good work.

[@dragonclaws9367]

It's so tiny and she kept her name the whole time! Please save this mighty mouse.. I am glad to see a happy story where it helped people. We should honor her.

[@BottleRocket11]

I can't believe I lived in Oregon for 7 years with no knowledge of this boat or her resting site. I do plan to visit the state again in the next couple of years, this is a must stop for me now. Thanks for uploading!

[@BTScriviner]

Imagine being crew on that vessel in her later years, knowing you're working and treading where men had worked and trod nearly a century before.

[@I_am_a_cat_]

I mean that can be said for almost any street you drive down, too. Not the same, but sometimes I think about what the main street in my town was like 150 years ago. We can still see the original brick in some places.

[@BTScriviner]

@@I_am_a_cat_ True, but we don't think of things like that, and unless you live in a city, it's quite possible where you live now was once farmland or forests. I think the sense of history is much more palpable when it's something like this or when you're in a home that's hundreds of years old or even a thousand-year-old castle.

[@BTScriviner]

@Egmont Yes, I understand that things in Europe are older, and when I visited Edinburgh Castle, the thought that I was walking where someone had walked nearly 1000 years before was thrilling. The Middle East and China have even older buildings. There's really no one alive today who was alive 100 years ago, so my point is still valid. We're walking with history.

[@BTScriviner]

@Egmont 97,000 out of 330,000,000 Americans is 0.03%, and 600,000 out of 7.95 billion is 0.008%, statistically insignificant. You've missed my point, perhaps deliberately so, so as to feel superior and combative. I decline to participate further. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

[@whyjnot420]

"... and next week it will be a lot more." The truth in that made me truly sigh.

[@therailfanman2078]

Great video! Sad to see this historical ship rotting away in a cove

[@jamesmccarthy5086]

This is sad to see. I hope one day they can salvage parts of the ship and put it in a museum so at least some of it stays. Or maybe find a way to raise her once more and try to keep it preserved throughout the years. I’ve got a good idea on videos u should do. Do videos on the whale backs ships. They are long forgotten and u tell your stories so well that these would be a perfect series to do as almost all of them have sank as I think only one remains today and only a couple never sank ever and the rest did. I love the story of one where it was a barge and it broke off and the crew was stranded at sea for days and managed to get on an island off of Canada and managed to get to Canada and got saved afterwards. Everyone back home had written them off as dead but they weren’t and it was considered a Christmas miracle.

[@pinkflamingo3979]

This is my favorite of your videos, and by far one of the saddest... oddly, since you've done some REALLY SAD videos. I was relieved to hear the towns folk at least TRIED to save it. If you ask me, which you didn't, the entire story from beginning to end is a big giant metaphor for America in general... once grand, amazing, and admired, now a heap of rotting mess, near dead from apathy, mis-use and neglect. 😢

[@VanessaScrillions]

Omg. I live here now!! You've made a video about the place I grew up (near telegraph city, CA) and now a video about the place I live now!!! Wow haha I love this channel :) it brings me so much joy

[@donaldanderson1340]

Wonderful to celebrate neglected history! Well done and really interesting.

[@scofab]

She doesn't deserve this... very sad indeed. Thanks for another great video.

[@MrOnyxWolf]

The fact this tugboat dated from the 1880's and was retired in 1977 is the most interesting thing to hear. You'd think she would've been retire sometime in the early 1900's or 1910's. 90 yrs of service from the time forward is pretty darn impressive to me. That said (and off-topic) I hope someone like you can cover the history of the Italian armored cruiser, Marco Polo, built in the 1890's. I don't see ANY history video's or documentaries on it.

[@marinaharmon5775]

Not American, but got married to one 7years ago. Thank you for going the extra mile with honoring the ones that got us here.

[@ACHistory]

Beautiful wreck. Was truly haunting when I visited a while back.

[@kampfgruppepeiper501]

As always A spectacular analysis on a hidden gem of a ship.. You guys have a channel that inspires wonder and excitement in all things nautical to me thank you I’ve even shared your channel with my father who greatly respect you and the way that you present thanks I’m excited to go forward with you as you create more videos

[@rlagerstrom]

Very well produced, shot and researched. Worthy of her proud heritage.

[@jimrichardson8852]

Good job on the video. I guess I must have led a very sheltered life because I have not heard of a vessel having a cedar keel. Workboats seem to have a longer life expectancy than some other classes of vessels, Mary D. Hume being a good example. There are working tugs on the East Coast and Great Lakes with 100 year-old hulls. I sailed for years on a tanker built in 1934 that was finally scrapped in 2015.

[@timothybelgard-wiley4823]

..you have the heart of a true sailor my friend, love your videos....

[@MatecaCorp]

I went to see Mary D. Hume earlier this year and even though I already knew it was there, it was surprising to see her just lying in an otherwise clean and empty inlet. I’d love to see a video about the Ship Ashore restaurant just south of Brookings, Oregon as well.

[@mrmoviemanic1]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in my eye despite her obvious age and wrecked, she is still beautiful.

[@ROCKOLA79]

I know someone (a friend of mine in the navy at the time) who was at the wreak site looking for survivors from the SS Marine Electric in 1983.They used grappling hooks to fish the body's out of the cold winter water in february i believe it took the navy ship 4hrs to reach the location of the Marine Electric Randy told me when they finely arrived at the ship wreck site they found the marine electric completely upside down floating in the water her crew with life jackets on floating in the ice cold water.

[@mrblond750]

I’m so happy you did an episode on her, I have been watching her for the last 10+ years.

[@therampanthamster]

Great video as always. It's odd...apart from a long lasting fascination with Titanic (i think this was how i found your content), i've never particularly been interested in ships per se, although i've always loved history. I have, however, watched the vast majority of this channel's content over the last couple of months since discovering it and been enthralled by it all. Thanks once again from London, England. Btw... 3:55 is on point (insert fun/sad emoji here i guess)

[@john-carlosynostroza]

you continue to make the best content in the shipp world by far! what a gift to historians and enthusiasts!

[@thomashart9304]

I live about 40 miles inland along the same river. Every time I visit Gold Beach I look to see how the wreck has changed. Such a shame she came to that end after a century long career

[@stevenandbobthedog]

Dude thanks for this! I live in the area and stop by the Hume constantly

[@Cyb3rst0rmIndustries]

"that's about 795,000 in todays money, and next week it will be a lot more" LMAO not gonna lie you were so smooth with that jokes integration I almost missed it.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

A little ship braving anything she was put up against. A sad end but no one can say she wasn't dependable. Thanks for the upload, Tom & Emma.

[@Maritime_History]

Congrats on reaching 100 k subscribers. It was nice seeing your channel grow. Keep uploading the great content.

[@Fvpigpen26]

Wow! I would have never thought Ellensburg with anything but cows. I drove through here many times in 1984, going back and forth from Moses Lake and Seattle. It is longer than the 80 years of the King & Winge's career.

[@scottmorse1798]

how sad a tale, thanks for sharing

[@auradelpotro5574]

I just found your channel, and have been binging your content. I have to say this is AMAZING and this is a super underrated channel. Catch me sharing it with every one of my friends. Thank you so much for all the stories and explorations!

[@3Firewoman]

Love this..very well done!

[@d993s]

Your videos are excellent. Thank you!

[@mnhoss2100]

Great video as always sir 👍

[@BRIDGETTWC]

Thanks for the lovely video:)

[@JoeRocket-sf6qs]

Informative and interesting,good job.

[@rasmus945]

Congratulations with the 100.000 subscribers!

[@madgary5827]

Very interesting and well done as usual. Thank you and like 🙂

[@karenfyhr2363]

You're such a great storyteller Tom, and thank you for telling us about the fantastic history of this vessel, which is very interesting

[@josephinemiller68]

Great video!

[@adrianscanlon75]

Fantastic video and very well documented. I have been following your channel for a short time now and I must admit you put amazing effort into your work and I am always delighted to see a new upload. Keep up the stellar work. Best of luck from Ireland.

[@JOEBlalock23]

Very well presented, she will live on in your documentary.

[@jarvis8635]

What a beautiful ship she was. What a pity that it is rotting away.

[@NauticalFish]

Fascinating video, amazing work documenting this incredible machine's legacy. I hope to visit her before she rots, thank you for sharing the history of this impressive ship. I would have never known about this without your video.

[@charlescanby4641]

As usual, excellent. Charlie and Claudia, Avalon, CA

[@josephisyeet7686]

great video so interesting

[@creativian68]

This is so fascinating that I have to watch it again. What brought me to your channel and made me subscribe immediately was the video about a train accident and you tracing the now abanoned route. It was fascinating to try to find traces of the route on Google Maps. I appreciate the way you explain everything in a way that is easily comprehensible to us on the other side of the globe :)

[@tdecker2937]

Wonderful story

[@gunnertlc7728]

Bro. How does your channel go so hard? Like its awesome. And you should be proud.

[@thestrangechannelofjeff7426]

Your video about the ss artic was really really good .

[@dannydillon997]

Great video here

[@kevingoeminne5922]

Keep on the good work

[@Kae6502]

So sad. :( Thank you for telling her story.

[@davidbones8947]

My wife and i were just there two days ago stopped and admired the ship

[@uncleericrocks]

Well done 👍

[@RGB56]

Thank you for this video. Growing up I remember seeing this ship a few times whenever we visited the coast. I remember hearing this was a significant ship but no seemed to be able to tell me anything about it.

[@bobsbasementhotrains3020]

Really like the video. Would like to see some similar great lakes videos.

[@ryanchastainmaxey]

Love your vids

[@debbienye6002]

I live in Brookings, about 27 miles south of Gold Beach. Over the years, I have taken photos of the Mary D, and each time, it's worse and worse. I had high hopes in 1985 that a better cradle would hold her, but alas, it never happened.

[@Amory98]

Painfully beautiful.💚

[@christianfayb4]

Wow I love this channel

[@spiderreed350]

Very cool,that ship lived a good life,she shouldn't hold any regrets...👍

[@CatarineausArmory]

"...today, that's about 795,000 dollars, and next week it will be a lot more." I see what you did there and I like it.

[@user-gg7ky4xn4e]

I loved the ones about ship wrecks

[@n2da9]

W new video, it’s crazy how popular you are now!!

[@G.Lollie]

what an amazing story sad in the end but she had a beautiful life.

[@AMPROEngineering]

Beautiful video. I was heartbroken to see what happened at the end. As someone who works quite heavily with lawyers, I can see exactly how and why that happened. Total tragedy.

[@dogfart2485]

Yay new upload!

[@LadyCatFelineTheSeventh]

Nice video. I've seen that ship many times when visiting and always wondered why it was there.

[@brandon7482]

So sad, ive driven through Gold Beach many time and never even knew this was there.

[@greycreature_8077]

Haven't finished the video, (Literally just clicked on it) but I think it's going to be good like any other one of your videos! Edit: Very good video, as always!

[@earlvincetinaja2243]

Congratulations tom on a hundred thousand subscribers.

[@rynngrey3722]

I really hope you got a chance to tour the beaches around this area! I got glimpses of the Hume slowly deteriorate while growing up, and even thought I was remembering the wreck wrong when I saw it recently - that's how bad she's been doing. Hope you got some fresh crab and fish while you were over here!

[@dn744]

Thanks 😊

[@ih302]

You should come to Newfoundland and cover some of the shipwrecks here. The HMS Calypso which was the first Royal Navy ship with electric lighting. The SS Kyle & SS Ethie which were part of the Alphabet Fleet. The SS Empire Energy which escaped attack by u-boat only to run aground in doing so., HMS Raleigh, one the Royal Navy's biggest embarrassments. The USS Truxtun and USS Pollux which went hard ashore in a gale on the south coast.. The ore carriers SS Saganaga, SS Lord Strathcona, SS Rose Castle and PLM 27 which were torpedoed by u-boats plus many, many more.

[@B_eatngu]

I live about 20 minutes from the Hume, see it all the time, kinda sad hearing the past of it now.