There's Nothing You Can Do-Sinking of the Carl D. Bradley

[@edkiely2712]

I'm reading Schumacher's book 'Mighty Fitz' currently, and in the beginning, he presents a brief history of Great Lakes shipping disasters, which obviously includes the unfortunate story of the Carl D. Bradley. I've always been fascinated by the sea and the men who have steadily worked on it over the years. It takes on a completely different life of it's own when you become welded to it day-after-day, month-after-month, and year-after-year. You come to feel and respect its ancient beginnings and tremendous immensity and power. Nobody communicated its awe and mystery better than Herman Melville! After reading 'Moby Dick,' I've always sought excellent books, both fiction and non-fiction, about human journeys and encounters with the great Poseidon. Schumacher's allusion to the wreck of the Carl D. Bradley brought me to this recent lecture. Well done! Thanks!👍

[@brt-jn7kg]

On February 26,1986 my father, brother in law and i were out fishing. It was 17°f with 35mph northwest winds when the boat we were on sank. The pain grom going into that water was the most absolute ive ever felt and as a police officer, I've been shot three times ,stabbed once, and broke my neck and back in a patrol car accident. The helpless feeling of being all alone in the water unable to save yourself was horrible and still haunts me. I remeber watching a 96 QT cooler racing toward the bank thinking that if somehow I could make it to land I could not light a fire if there was a 55-gallon drum full of Aviation gas and a lit road flare when I got there. If it hadn't been for some teenagers literally out messing around in Daddy's cabin and boat on a day none of us should have been on the water all three of us would have died that day and I have nothing but the upmost respect for them.

[@mariebelladonna437]

I'm glad you and your family were rescued. And thank you, Officer, for your service and sacrifice to your community. Merry Chrtistmas.

[@raycom4t]

......but for the grace of God.

[@stevenadams8640]

Very good presentation. This doesn't have enough views!

[@as48507]

Completely agree.. I’ve actually been binge watching the channel today, just found it today as well.. great info!

[@armynurseshark]

The KZbin almighty algorithm blessed me with this and I am subscribed!

[@jerryforeman4543]

Great story! It honors those men of the Carl B Bradley. Thanks for sharing!

[@drumdad54sdl47]

Very well presented & narrated. Top notch. Thank you, Sir!

[@northerncaptain855]

Great presentation, as a young man my first commercial ship was the Laker “Harry Colby” built in 1927 also in Lorain Ohio. After which I had a long successful nearly fifty year deep sea career sailing many years as Captain on a variety of commercial and government vessels. I was glad to have had the opportunity to observe the Laker Captain’s superb ship handling.

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

Rest in peace to all those who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes. I just want to share some perspective on the Great Lakes and why people should visit Michigan if only to see the Lakes. I went to Lake Superior and saw Whitefish Bay, an old coast guard station. I felt the chill of that water. It must've been 60 degrees because it was summer. Still, you know that water will take you quickly. I toured a ship that used to steam across Superior. A huge ship. It's hard to imagine something that size could be in any danger - especially when you see the beauty around you. It's a place I think more people should see. Took a tour with a glass-bottom boat. It's haunting to see those ships down there, so close to safety. Sometimes just a few hundred feet from shore. Some wooden, some steel. You could see some of them broken, missing parts of their ship. That doesn't happen from just taking on water, especially if you can see it on the bottom. It's close to shore. Thinking about it, those ships probably went down in conditions where the visibility made it impossible to see the shore. It's hard to imagine how violent the Lakes can be when you're on Lake Superior and literally looking at the beauty of the land and water. But even during a "warm storm", you can see huge waves breaking on shore. That's when you get an idea of the power of those storms and how quickly conditions change. Seeing the boat at an early 1900s USCG station was really humbling too. I wouldn't volunteer to get on that thing in clear skies and calm waters. Those guys surely mustered during the worst of times. I couldn't do it. Most people couldn't. "The Lake it is said never gives up her dead." Rest in peace to all of them.

[@Chasred-ml4hm]

Thank you for taking us on the tour (yours), That can only be imagined a hunting scene to watch the lights go out.

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

@@Chasred-ml4hm The Lake it is said never gives up her dead. That tour haunted me. It was a pleasant day. We made Whitefish Bay and saw the beauty of Michigan. And youre talking to someone who cheers for Scarlet and Grey. Show the SEC what B1G football is about. You see the dilemma? Having loved ones in two states. I saw breaking waves in St. Joseph on vacation. Even on shore you get a sense for the power. It takes bravery. I love Michigan despite being your rival. But beyond that we are all humbled by the Lakes. They are so powerful. Ive seen the Gulf of Mexico during a hurricane and I would choose the Gulf if my family depended on it. Something about the Lakes. Maybe it's the frigid waters or the sudden extremes. Unlike any place on Earth. But I still think Michigan should be seen. Especially Northeast and Northwest and the UP. The air feels so clear and the sights of your state are beautiful. Ohio is my love but we don't have the same beauty. You can quote me. We love your state even though we are losers. Fairly. And Jim is a good man. Again, good luck in the playoffs and we will (reluctantly) cheer for the Wolverines.

[@walasiewicz]

Holy shit man!?

[@adriannegrillo8394]

That's a beautiful sentiment. I couldn't have said it any better. Beautiful. Thank you!!

[@seamusburke9101]

And all that remains are the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

[@leftseat30]

Jeff Thomas...Great presentation; Knowledge and presenting skills. Thank you! I'm glad that through the internet modern wrecks like the Morrell, Cedarville, and Carl D aren't totally overshadowed by the Fitzgerald (without obvious and all due respect to the crew and family of the Edmund Fitzgerald).

[@marktiitto7616]

Have uncles n grandpas that sailed the lakes I'm old now they were my work ethic

[@NickFortier]

I'm 39. My parents worked on the boats out of high school. (Different ships after they got married) in, 77 or so. My grandpa worked on the boats till he retired as 2nd mate. My uncle also worked in the boats. I thought about it, but, guess I'm a land lover lol

[@maxenielsen]

This is different from what I was expecting a cell-phone loader to look like. Thanks for the very interesting and informative presentation.

[@maxenielsen]

I’m a ham radio operator, and one night I couldn’t reach another operator only about 5 miles away. That the Sartori didn’t hear them is like what happens sometimes with radio waves. And the relative orientation of the antennas can also affect the signal propagation. This is very sad.

[@lalaacosta4818]

You really did a great job on this. And I hope to get to see the movie sometime. I know it's been some time passing, but my heart does go out to all those families and that community. I'm from the Lorain area, so a lot of these shipwreck stories really do hit me pretty hard, but this one is always close to home. Just heartbreaking. I love being on the lake, but you always keep it in the back of your mind, how dangerous those waters can get.

[@chadtheartist3424]

Of all the presentations about Great Lakes shipwrecks, I look forward to Jeff Thomas.

[@richardnelson317]

This was a truly amazing film. I enjoyed it 'til the end

[@janie88ful]

AMAZING TALENT TO TELL THE STORIES , PHOTOS OF THE WRECKAGE FROM THE GREAT LAKES. THANK YOU 😮

[@bernieyorke6356]

Talking about the rivets.....my first husband sailed the Bradley Fleet. In bad weather rivets would pop and they would drive wooden broom handles into the holes and saw them off. The water would swell

[@lisaeccles8036]

From what I hear, people from Roger City have not forgotten.

[@stynger007]

Wow what a story! Amazing finding the swimmer! Thank you for your tenacity!

[@twrecks4598]

I have a Robert McGreevy limited print of the Bradley... its one of my all time favorites. Beautiful ship with classic lines...

[@Tipp_Of_The_Mitt]

Growing up in Cheboygan right on the Straights of Mackinaw (was able to see from the Poe reef Lighthouse to the Mackinaw bridge) I always find any documentary concerning the Bradley Fleet very interesting. Thanks for posting.

[@williamgreene4834]

It's Sheboygan. :) Edit: sorry wrong state. I was in Wisconsin. Ya that Sheboygan. Have a good evening.

[@steveriley7331]

Great work keep em coming!

[@JoeBowman69]

Out of all the information out there and all this is by far the best historical information I have found and really enjoyed watching on the Bradley

[@BillAlexander-cv6oj]

Good presentation, have followed this Ship for quite a While, my Fathers Family were all Skippers and seamen on the Lakes,I was envolved in Scuba diving when I was Younger and dove many Great Lake ship wrecks, one being the Cederville, its always facinating to see these large ships on the Bottom,Being from Port Huron, As a Ten year Old I recall This Ship and A few Others Crossing Under the Blue Water Bridge, and the Ships off Loading at the Cement Plant , when it was beneath the Bridge...

[@justonsullivan3807]

R.I.P to all the Men that went down with there Bradley. I'm from Lansing Michigan and the Lakes are very Ugly and very Beautiful, that's what makes the Lakes Great. 🙏🇺🇲🗽🇺🇲🙏

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

Seems like a great many of these stories start with an unscheduled additional run at the end of the season when there is a major storm in the weather forecast.

[@gcrauwels941]

🙏Prayers for the lost and their families.

[@chrisromero5302]

The worse thing that a sailor fears the most. The sinking of a ship.

[@chuckg6039]

A great presentation..

[@smokejaguarsix7757]

The mayday not being picked up during a major storm by ships nearby but being revieved far away is quite common. Storms with heavy atmospheric static and thick cloud cover can do that. But the troposphere can often bounce that signal many miles away. Its called tropospheric scatter.

[@JohnnyLaps]

That's interesting,thank you

[@paulgrimm]

They run them till they break them! Often overloaded and maintenance overlooked .The Edmond Fitz was worn out too.Typical management.

[@stevekirksey9293]

I was born one day before this happened this is going on 65 years ago

[@ugiboxing]

Dennis Meredith is a relative. Paid my respects at his grave. His grave marker shows the Bradley "cracked like and egg". I've spent many summers as a child in Rogers City with my grandparents and never realized how this tragedy impacted this small northern Michigan town. Wish I knew then what I know now. Thank you the historians. Lest we forget.

[@stevenadams8640]

So sorry for the families. Those poor kids losing their fathers. Awful

[@RomeroTV]

Good job,sir

[@stephenhenion8304]

Liability under these conditions is difficult to determine. Thoughts go out to all the families. I was 2 years old when this happened.

[@notright7]

The company is to blame. They knew this ship had to be repaired and was in bad need of it. They are the one that sent this ship on that run, not the captin. They are also the ones that said they had video evidence that this ship did not break in 2 and they said they lost it. They should be out of busness because of it and the owners at the time should have been put in federal prison for life for what they did. This was not the Edmund FItzgerald that sunk. This sunk because it needed repairs and this company desided to ignor that for money.

[@larrychalcraft7334]

I was stationed on the Sundew and was on it when the Cedarville sunk up in the straight of Mackinac .

[@STHFGDBY]

The suggestion that the Captain shouldn't have sailed in that storm is understandable, but if anyone has ever seen the tv reality show '' The deadliest catch'' could ask the same question about the Captain ,crab fishing in stormy weather, and not just sailing, having men risking their lives on the deck fishing, with monster waves washing over them on deck. Does anybody ever question the Captain on that. ? And there has been many of those crab boats that have sunk in stormy weather with the loss of lives, sometimes the whole crew losing their lives.

[@rickponsetto3443]

We took a 16ft Hobie out on an inland MI lake on an 80 deg, windy March day for the first run of the summer and dumped it. Long story short, we let the wind blow us to shore sitting on the bottom of the trapeze instead of getting back into the water to right the boat ...... we later found out the water was 36 deg at 6ft, and there is no way of describing how cold that was.

[@58nunzi]

When I was in the Navy we called them ships. Boats are what you row.

[@dennishayes65]

I was in the U S Navy in the early 1970’s and we called them boats. ADJ-3, A-6 Intruder plane captain in VA-42 NAS Oceana.

[@MikeHunt-fo3ow]

you could row a ship lwith really long oars and some vikings

[@coldspring624]

As I look at the faces of those lost I cannot help but wonder of those that might have been.

[@warlord8954]

Anytime a ship designer or shipbuilder says "That can't happen", know that it will happen and it must be accounted for and all back-up, redundant, and duplicate safety measures and precautions must be taken to protect the crew. There should be radios forward, and aft, as well as life boats, and anything else necessary to save the lives of the crew.

[@dknowles60]

there are to day

[@rexfrommn3316]

The moral of this story is the need for regular complete overhauls with rigorous hull inspections of large ore carriers. At a specific interval of time ships on the Great Lakes need a total refit from top to bottom. I won't say the interval of time. However, the engineers know the specific interval time. The most important thing is regular overhauls should have been conducted on the hulls of all large Great Lakes ships.

[@JohnnyLaps]

Hard to believe this kept happening over and over.

[@legionx4046]

That 79 year old os a fucking legend

[@stevewhite3424]

Now that is the understatement of the year! A total bad ass legend! His name should be far better known and there should always be a ship on the Great Lakes named after him.

[@derekhieb7458]

Distance the wind has too blow is called fetch.

[@jerodrobinson4040]

I Agree, it's on the Captain. He did know that Ship was in Rough Shape. He Complained about it in the Public News Paper. Plus the Company had warned Him to take it easy.

[@susiepittman601]

What a story.

[@thatdave86]

Sad that profits before people was a factor ,the old push on regardless also plays a part , Captains should have the right to say "No" to companies

[@stevewhite3424]

They absolutely do, and always have. They may put They're jobs at risk but better that than 33 shipmates dead.

[@maxnikolenko2302]

Always unfortunate when you have a "know it all" in the crowd who always has to put in his 5 cents

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

From the sounds of it, the "know it all" had worked on the ship.

[@conrad4667]

I thought it only a bonus.

[@maxnikolenko2302]

@Ravenbar's Repairs its rude to interrupt. If you have something to say, save it for the Questions and answers time at the end of the presentation. It's called "Manners" and "Common decency "

[@maxnikolenko2302]

@Conrad would you not agree that you would be slightly annoyed if you prepared a presentation and someone in the crowd kept adding something to your research making you look as if you don't know everything? This "Know It All" could have come up to you at the end, or at least at the end of your presentation and shared with you his experiences?

[@conrad4667]

@@maxnikolenko2302 Without watching again, from what I remembered, the audience member did not contradict anything the speaker said, but only added detail. I did not think any less of the speaker because of what was said. I did notice that maybe one time, the speaker was interrupted in his train of thought or waited a second before returning to his own speech because he thought the audience member might not have been finished with one of the statements he made. If you based your first comment on reading the speaker’s body language, something at which I am poor, then we have different perspectives. After the first “interruption”, the speaker might have said ok and encouraged it.

[@walasiewicz]

I can't believe that old fart kept interrupting but man you did such an awesome job telling that story

[@scottnelson2384]

ya that dude was annoying and rude

[@MikeHunt-fo3ow]

old people lose all their fucks lol

[@williesnyder2899]

I wasn’t at this presentation. I’m merely listening and watching here. While interruptions at speaking engagements can be irritating, there are occasions - not necessarily this one - where a speaker is misinformed, lacking vital details, or erroneously opinionated. A couple years ago a fellow wrote a book on the patients of facilities such as the one I’ve been employed at these 40+ years. Also in the audience, previously unknown to me, was an octogenarian former long term manager that I well recall. Lastly, unknown to me were two former employees from before my time or that of the former manager! As well, if I recall correctly, there was an offspring or two of former patients. The author/presenter was basically accurate in his assessments of research, his conjectures and his opinions. Unfortunately, he made a couple glaring errors which required audience members to raise our hands and add information or correct assumptions. The author/presenter didn’t appreciate every comment, but it seemed that the audience liked hearing from older people who WERE THERE when the speaker was still in school. Respect and decorum are important. Historical accuracy and presenter humility serves us well.

[@hambam7533]

Had a college roommate from Rogers City

[@kylebroflovsky6015]

Such irony, a former U-Boat captain coming to the rescue of a stricken American merchant man.

[@Brunzy1970]

Seems like another bean counter getting fine men killed because they really don't understand what they are asking for the equipment and men to be able to accomplish. I believe it is still how things are done. What a shame. Great show by the way!

[@thomasfarrow7053]

R.I.P.

[@nw8000]

Where do I see that film!!!

[@jeffreymcneal1507]

Always amazing how old junk is put out to sail, the Great Lakes being particularly savage on devil-may-care attitudes.

[@joeanderson9852]

👍👍

[@janicehill5605]

Oh yes there is!

[@Brunzy1970]

By the way what is the ship that has its stern still sticking above the water just outside the island in Thunder Bay ???

[@maxmacdonald7174]

I am sure a coast guard chopper was nothing like the one in the picture.

[@edwardbenkert6394]

20,000 ain't enough

[@yuriwalczak6354]

Did Frank continue to sail after the sinking?

[@richardjackson1397]

I thought it was the Carl D Bradley

[@associationoflifelonglearn3593]

Correction made. Thanks

[@Confusediam2]

Where do get the film

[@mattbrown9484]

How to view the movie?

[@theraptorsnest5891]

How rude is it to interrupt the presenter because you happen to know something this isn't quite right? The proper thing to do is wait until the presentation is over and then inform the presenter what you have to say. It's just a practice of building ones own ego to make an interruption. RIP to the sailors lost to lake Michigan.

[@tellyrojo2513]

Absolutely!! I’m watching and I keep yelling “SHUT UP!!!”

[@wgdavidson9669]

This was a great presentation except for the know-it-all who keeps interrupting and won't shut up.

[@johncurcio3621]

Athough with channel it must be legit. I just can't get used to calling ships boats.

[@associationoflifelonglearn3593]

It's a Great Lakes thing, that's all I can see

[@johncurcio3621]

@@associationoflifelonglearn3593 I did a little research, I think your exactly right on it being a Great Lakes thing.

[@brushbros]

A "boat" is what the crew boards when the "ship" sinks however. Great vid.

[@tomlindelow7984]

I have often heard Great Lakes freighters refered to as lake boats.

[@qadgopthemercotan]

Not on the Great Lakes. They sail ore boats there. Tradition

[@jaysonlima7196]

There are only 2 types of "ships" properly titled boats, submarines and Lakers

[@ModMokkaMatti]

If this vessel was so great, why didn't Gordon Lightfoot write a song about it?

[@steveib724]

You a comic

[@zachhoward9099]

@@steveib724 nope just one of millions of internet trolls

[@imvandenh]

An unbelievably silly question whether it's sincere or not. My answer is this....Who cares? Let the grown ups talk, kid.

[@amyhaynes6323]

That guy keeps interrupting his presentation. I swear.

[@MrJohnnybe123]

They all had wife’s no, husbands

[@constitutionalUSA]

Very well done but learn the difference between a boat and a ship

[@thegreatlakeshistoryguy9906]

I'm the presenter and also a sailor. On the Lakes we refer to them as "boats". It's a local slang that goes back generations so given the context of my presentation "boat" is the correct term to use.

[@NorthernKitty]

I've lived on the Great Lakes for over 5 decades. Lake freighters are regionally called "boats". You will rarely hear the term "ship"used and almost always it's from a non-resident.

[@BigLisaFan]

Great lakes vessels are called boats or lakers. Ocean going vessels are called salties.

[@AG-iu9lv]

I grew up in Chicagoland. Every vessel on the lakes is colloquially a boat, I had to work to unlearn that habit after moving away.

[@anthonytripp2251]

Bad luck to rename a ship or use another ship's name.

[@joecomton6722]

Video would have been a lot better if he wasn't gulping water. So annoying.

[@johnbruce6182]

It’s a ship not a boat And it’s a she but other then that good video

[@BigLisaFan]

Lake freighters are referred to as boats or lakers, believe it or not. Ocean going freighters are "salties".

[@kelcritcarroll]

Its a boat…..they call a great lakes freighter a boat….a big boat yes, but its a boat. My husband always would say boat…as he was a sailer for twenty two years for Columbia transportation…til his retirement…(it’s actually twenty years and out for full retirement in his day but he sailed an extra two years…)and id asked him about this very issue ! HE sailed on many different boats but mostly on the SS RESERVE or SS ARMCO…sister ships to the SS EDMOND FITZGERALD. All boats! Haha! I thought it was odd they called them boats in the start, I must say! He was an officer in the engine room…went to the great lakes maritime accademy to get his sailing degree and went in as an officer in the engine room..he loved his job…he was never home though..maybe three or four months a year is all.

[@robertkreamer7522]

Don’t call ships boats and what new tech ? You start this off as sequel I guess .

[@jaysonlima7196]

On the lakes they're all boats, regardless of size. Its tradition and the crews of lake boats don't actually like their vessels called ships , their boats, always have been

[@jadesluv]

@@jaysonlima7196 so its a boat, until this fuking SHIP is sinking