Through the eyes of Capt. Cooper: The night the Edmund Fitzgerald went down

This is the last interview of Capt. Bernie Cooper of the Arthur M. Anderson conducted by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society before he passed in 1993. The Anderson was 10 miles behind the Fitzgerald in the teeth of Lake Superior during that fateful night of November 10th, 1975 when all 29 men went down. Hear a first hand account of what it was like that night and Capt. Coopers theories on what may have happened to the Fitz.

[@robertbowles5156]

I don't care what any investigation says or whatever conclusion they give, this is the man I believe most. He sailed these lakes and was there that night, his word is golden

[@johnr033]

100%

[@kevinwilliams3442]

Absolutely, when he says I don't care what any investigation says. That got my attention

[@SpiderFromMars81]

Nope that’s silly

[@russgrunert4730]

The Coast Guard officers on that panel most likely never sailed in their lives

[@josephevans7641]

I'm a an experienced Mariner of 25 years on the great lakes .I've been in some serious gales on lake superior and lake Michigan respectively .the worst was in 2011 .I've met Capt.Cooper years ago in Ashtabula when imwas a teenager since my late Father was also a career mariner . He was a sailor on the S.S.Charles M.Beeghley back then..and I agree Capt .Cooper was right .I sailed with a Chief steward also who was on the Anderson that night.everybtime we sailed into a rough sea and gale he would go below in the engine room to sleep in a recliner .rough weather since that night scared the hell out of him

[@mizzyroro]

Did Cpt Cooper ever receive any kind of recognition for his bravery? I mean going back into that storm to search for the Fitzgerald was to me an exceptional act of bravery.

[@johnnersinger9771]

Yes,both him and don Erickson did from the coast guard

[@claire33ist]

We always will remember Captain Cooper, he’s a hero and his story and the fitz memory will never be forgotten

[@forgetfulpriestiv14]

The last words of "we are holding our own" is as courageous and dignified as it gets. The story of the Fitz always gives me chills

[@lonewolf9390]

The exact transmission was 'We are holding our own, going along like an old shoe.'

[@forgetfulpriestiv14]

@@lonewolf9390 I have never heard that last part about the old shoe. Interesting

[@brentrussell780]

Mcsorley knew it was over. Thats what everyone seems to miss here. His hubris got everyone killed and he knew it... going along like an old shoe. Water logged and about to sink any moment.

[@claire33ist]

I never heard that either it was “we’re holding our own”

[@RHTeebs]

RIP Captain Cooper. The bravery of you and your crew will never be forgotten. If they make a new great lake freighter, I hope they name it after this brave captain.

[@smc1942]

Agreed, and one for MacSorley (sp?) As well. They deserve it.

[@kdyooper28]

Agree

[@billb1316]

No 1

[@DonIsadick-mf3gv]

@smc1942 well cooper yes. I dunno about mcsorely. Would you want to work on a ship named after a captain who sank? I'm not saying he was the reason it sank, I'm just saying would make me nervous,lol.

[@drumdad54sdl47]

Excellent idea.

[@dianelindberg7649]

2 years ago, on the 45th anniversary of the wreck, the Arthur Andersen went thru the Duluth canal, it was snowing & kind of eerie out. They did a horn salute to the Fitzgerald and it gave me the chills. I imagined them sailing back into the storm, blowing the horn and just hoping & praying the Fitzgerald would return with their horn. Whatever happened, they were brave men to even sail Superior in a cold November storm. RIP

[@projektkobra2247]

WHEN I GET BACK UP TO THE SOO, I WILL CHECK OUT WERE THE ANDERSON IS..CUZ ITS STILL WORKING!! oh sorry caps lock...anyway, you can track the ship online and see when its passing by!

[@dianelindberg7649]

@@projektkobra2247 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHWkaaF8ZZeLr5I

[@claire33ist]

I’m from superior, Anderson is always coming up. No matter how many times I see her (it’s normal obviously for me) I always think of her and Captain coopers heroism. The fitz memory will never be forgotten

[@2199SPUDMAN]

Captain Cooper was a hero for turning around and heading back into that terrible storm to search for the Fitz. Him and the skipper of the William Clay Ford. They don't make men like them anymore. Rest in Peace skippers.

[@doughesson]

"There could be two if I go back out.." That's a hard call to make. Your crew's just gotten you anchored, now they got to go back out again.

[@stevenvarga4157]

Used to see WCF and Arthur m come through the Great Cleveland chancel and wonder about the Fitz

[@LittleJoeTheMoonlightCat]

This Video was the 36th Anniversary of the Sinking, the Song was written the year I was Born, My Dad was Still in the Navy, a crew of 29 went down on the Edmund Fitzgerald, they don't write songs like that Anymore, may the Crew Be Remembered.

[@williamrogers9004]

Greedy companies are not allowed to make "men like them anymore" Everybody loves bitching about govt. Oversight, but it was put in place bc if left to business owners to just "ethically" make safe decisions (not financial) they would've put any cogs ie. Sailors at risk to increase profit. Which is a whole nother catch 22 debate. Bottom line. In thae storm in Nov. '75. The Fiyz and Anderson should not have been out there. The Company has to eat that financial loss and be late on delivery

[@moviesforrandy]

lucky he even got turned around.

[@lesbrown7009]

How can anyone doubt this captain's testimony? He has it dead on.

[@Cummings7]

Les Brown He has what dead on? He named three different scenarios.

[@carlpanizzi3435]

Interesting

[@dwissba68]

Greg Cummings if the Fitzgerald ran aground like Bernie Cooper believes than the ultimate reason the Fitzgerald sank was human error. The families don’t want to believe that their loved ones were responsible for their own demise. Or at least some of them were.

[@Cummings7]

Darin Wissbaum I don’t think that you can say human error on a night like that.

[@dwissba68]

Greg Cummings perhaps not but a lot of other ships survived the same storm, And I’ve read several books on the Fitzgerald and former crew members who testified that the Fitzgerald was poorly maintained over the years. Plus she was overloaded. If the hatch covers were not properly fastened that was human error. if the ship got too close to Caribou island and ran aground that was also human error.

[@tayninh69]

Capt. Cooper is a very brave man to go back out and do a search for survivors during that weather. The brave men and women who sail on these ships in the Great Lakes are all a tough breed of people.

[@singleT04]

Edmond Fitzgerald

[@fallguye6011]

Cooper was something else.

[@kam0406]

I can't imagine how terrifying it would have been to be out there that night. Captain Cooper had nerves of steel. A lot of men decided it was too rough to go try and rescue anyone, and rightfully so, as it was clear it was extremely dangerous that night. Rest in peace, Captain Cooper.

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

@@kam0406 Captain Cooper didn't die that night. Captain McSorely did on the Edmund Fitzgerald...along with 28 other men..

[@CarolAnn-gh9fl]

A real sailor, experienced calm cautious

[@dougfox6167]

I did a report on the Edmund Fitzgerald In elementary school and I still tune in on November 10th each year. Incredible ship, incredible crew, may God be with them.

[@linferguson8702]

Captain Bernie Cooper is a legend and deserves so much respect and he and his crew deserve so much more respect than I felt they’ve got

[@jasonduke3608]

I had the honor of meeting captain Cooper in 1990. I was a cadet in the U.S. Navel sea cadet Corp, Great Lakes division. Wow, I'll never forget that day. Very humble gentlemen. He was'nt there to just talk about the fitz, he was trying to wet our appetite's for the great lakes. Most questions were about the Fitz, he said the exact same thing as he did in the video to us. I believe him 100% man was that awesome to talk to the msn.

[@fallguye6011]

Different kind of bravery in him.

[@hansgruber6455]

If I'm not mistaken Captain Cooper was a WWII USN vet as well. Always wondered about his WWII service and or what campaigns he served in. RIP Skipper!

[@trog69]

Wow. I've never heard this from Captain Cooper. I think he's the most credible person to talk about that evening. Very grateful to have this from Captain Cooper. RIP

[@bav854]

captain cooper passed away in spring of 1993 after retiring in florida. the arthur m anderson is still sailing today.

[@danbasta3677]

Thought he lived in North Carolina. This is what I had read.

[@sumbeech1484]

Stood @ 20' feet from the Anderson when it was docked here in Lorain, Ohio--- All I could think about is 35' waves crashing over the deck !!!

[@terimiller1813]

Had the chance to see the Anderson up close several times while she was layed up at Fraser Shipyards in Superior, WI and once during an entry to Duluth Harbor. A majestic vessel but it's impossible not to think about the Fitzgerald while gazing at her. Makes it a bittersweet thing.

[@aerofiles5044]

when was he born?

[@danalarose846]

@@sumbeech1484 my sister lives in Lorain and has no interest. I'd be taking a peek whenever possible.

[@1220sassy]

I thought the same thing. Captain Cooper was beyond brave to do what he did. Thank God that he and his crew returned safely.

[@scott1914]

I read an article about the sinking of the Fitz in the Minneapolis newspaper. A vessel was heading into the storm, and a man other than the captain was in the wheelhouse. I'm an hour they hadn't moved a foot. The man told the captain "I'd be afraid to turn around now" and head back to Whitefish Bay. When Captain Cooper turned around, he said his entire deck was under water at one point. He was a HERO.

[@matthewmosier8439]

@@scott1914 Yep, I've visited a bridge while a ship was underway in fairly high seas, at night. The choice to simply "turn around" in that kind of storm is incredibly heroic. I'm actually a little suprised they managed it without a disaster.

[@dennisb-trains23]

Pure courage by this captain to go back to try and help knowing full well, like he said, "there could be two". Very chilling listening to the captain speak.

[@Imissthepostoffice]

Captain Cooper is the truest one to tell the story. So sorry for the ones who didn't take the time to run across this.

[@lemonhead162]

I can't believe people are smug enough to have argued with this man. He was there, talking to the captain. He knew those lakes like the back of his hand!

[@frankprio4490]

A very intelligent interview, by the man who was out there, in that weather, right behind the Fitz.

[@pootdaggy2657]

I agree Mr. Prio. This man isn't playing any games. He knows what he's talking about and explains what he thinks happened in a way that certainly makes me take stock in his opinion. I cant believe this November 2019, will be 44 years since it happened. I'm growing old.

[@ernstvanstangl1048]

Captain Cooper RIP.

[@georgesabol459]

@@pootdaggy2657 y

[@TravisLoneWolfWalsh]

he knew what he was talking about he just was so full of experience

[@stephanieplatt6138]

Captain cannot show signs of panic or he panic's his crew . his strength courage and verousity transmits to his crew when they looked up to him on trouble. Brave soul good man

[@Supertramp1966]

Captain Cooper nailed it. I imagine what he said is exactly what happened to her...

[@davidcoblentz7468]

I believe this man's account because of his experience. It was a true tragedy. God bless all 29 men rest in peace.

[@michaelbyrne8860]

Captain Cooper gave a great interview! A brave Captain and crew to go back out and search for survivors! Only the people the work on and live around the Great Lakes can understand the power of the storms on those Lakes!

[@lhaviland8602]

Best and clearest explanation I've seen. This guy definitely knows what's up.

[@alexlindsey6446]

really? explain his theory to me. i heard several

[@about2mount]

Cooper was right in stating she probably went under and the added tons of water on her deck and the she was overloaded above 24,000 tons at 26,000 did not help any. Then too a 45 degree angle would have drove her into the ground fairly easily considering the depth she sank was only 530 ft and her loaded hull already 33 ft deep into the water and her length was 729 ft. Would be logical that 45 to 55 degrees in a wave-under or dip would have bottomed her bow first. And giving no time for a distress call. The key here is understanding the wreck site in two pieces with a center section entirely accordioned into scrap piles. Yes the weight from the Iron Ore pellets pushing forward and upwards from the pressure of driving into the ground blowing the hatch covers off everywhere too. The real smoking gun is the trench where her bow hit bottom digging into the seafloor is over 25 ft deep. Qutote from New York Times: At some point in its final torment, experts say, the Fitzgerald must have been struck by a large wave that drove down the bow and sent the thousands of tons of ore and water in the holds rushing forward. The ship dove, but it was so long -- nearly 200 feet longer than this part of Lake Superior is deep(530 ft) -- that its bow would have plowed into the bottom while its stern jutted above the surface, the propeller still turning. And the math: Fitz Length 729 ft,,,,,, half @ 364 ft Sea Depth 530 ft Difference of 199 ft Hull depth from sea level 33 ft Waves @ 35 ft dipping @ 35 ft Vertical lift of 70 ft at 90 degrees, 60 ft @ 55 degrees, 50 ft @ 45 degrees roughly. Wave dip and hull depth 33+50= 83 ft Now calculate the wave DIP ship depth at half length 729/2=364 as sea level placed her at the bottom of the waves threshold at 45 degrees=364-83=281 ft 281-364= -83 ft minus the -83 ft ,, She Bottomed Out ! And 45 degrees being minimal and reasonable and could have been a greater angle as much as 55 degrees. But in being in the least possible scenario the proof she bottomed in a wave is there. |

[@simonriddick]

Maybe the one crewman they found next to her bow is the person that opened that door. Probably just before impact perhaps or something like that.

[@drby0788]

Water wouldve came through the windows due to pressure from being so deep. They were dead before they hit bottom. Picture the scene in titanic when captain Smith is in the wheelhouse right before he died.. I believe she dipped, and never came back up. For the crew in the pilot house it would've been an elevator ride down to the bottom. I also agree on your theory about the pilot house door. It was either knocked open by the impact, or from the wall of water coming into the pilot house

[@captainmorgan757]

Very good, sir. Your information is vast and well calculated. May I add one key factor that I have yet *anyone* mention (amateur or professional). The cargo. Although the cargo was taconite pellets it was subject to move about within the haul. Taking in account of what the waves were doing to the outside of the ship, don't neglect how that would factor into the displacement of a once "level" cargo, inside of the ship. Was the starboard list evidence of water entering the haul or more so that enough taconite pellets had shifted to create the starboard list. Now enter the "three sisters". The three abnormal size waves that, presumably, struck the ship from the stern, on the starboard side, moving forward towards the bow, port side. In that scenario, the huge waves would lift the stern, forcing the bow lower into the water, while the whole time shifting those 26,000 *tons* of taconite pellets forward, if even a few feet. That would rapidly set in motion a chain event of more and more taconite pellets moving forward. Image just how fast that chain reaction would play out! Slowly at first (a slight, but noticeable starboard list) then accelerating to a breakneck speed. She (the Fitzgerald) would have went from the surface of the water to 340 feet below to the bottom in all but 17 seconds (estimated). That would also account for the substantial damage to the bow, upon hitting the lake floor. What say you?

[@about2mount]

@@captainmorgan757 Yes,, Cooper being told by her Captain that she had her fence down, was missing two vent covers, was taking on water and had a lists is beyond doubt. Even to have asked Mc-Sorely if his pumps were running to remove that water also. As far as forward movement of the pellet loads, the truth is these ships had an engine compartment, three cargo compartments and the cabin-front compartment all of which were similar in length likewise with the nose section being slightly shorter. With the railing fence down behind the cabin was most likely where the water was leaking into the third compartment and what caused her lists and ultimately her more forward heavy bow. The wave could still have been an expected normal height of 30 ft rear wave and recovering from a dip from a previous wave in those conditions and with the lists to starboard, nosed her down. Also from her nose fence damage and front damage she had to have been nearly in an aggravated upright position also. Almost as if the wave carried her stern(rear) above her before she broke in two after hitting bottom then after breaking in two falling down again flat.

[@captainmorgan757]

@@about2mount thank you, for your information! My background is in aviation and not in sailing; however, the same laws of physics still apply across the board. My meaning is this: The ship was built to flex without compromising the integrity of the soundness of the vessel. But how much force, on the steel and such, would it take to brake the fence railing? Enough force to where it would cause a hairline fracture in the hull of the ship, but undetectable by the naked eye but obviously enough to cause the ship to take on water? Everyone is looking for the "gapping hole" (e.g. "she broke apart, after hitting the shoal", "she broke apart before sinking", "she broke apart after sinking", "she broke apart after hitting bottom", etc.) all of which are the effect; not the cause. But need there be a "gapping hole"? And is that why Capt. McSorely had "no panic, in his voice", for the simple fact the he was unaware of the damage already sustained? Some have argued that missing two vent covers is not enough of the ship to be exposed to the elements, in order to founder it, which would lead me to think that water was coming in some other place of the ship in addition to the vent covers. It's just when events started to happen, they really started to happen. The ship was documented to having keel abnormalities, it was scheduled for maintenance, it was well over stressed by carrying 3,000 tons more for than it was designed, and sailing in heavy seas. None of this adds up to a favorable outcome.

[@knightlife98]

Captain Cooper may have regretted not going back out his whole life, if he had chosen not to.

[@SJM6791]

Absolutely!! Some things are worse than death.

[@alexanderpatrick4866]

No doubt about that

[@bigmonmagoomba9634]

I think I’ve heard every theory out there at least twice but this one keeps making the most sense. Coming from the man most qualified to speak on the subject.

[@fallguye6011]

Interesting story about the song ran in the newspaper a number of years of ago when Gordon Lightfoot was in concert near my hometown. The song says "the old cook came on deck saying fellas it's too rough to feed you". That "old cook's" daughter happened to be in attendance at the concert and got to meet Lightfoot. The article talked about her dad, the wreck, and Gordon talked quite a bit to the lady and gave her a flower. I guess she lives not too far from where he gave his concert.

[@loisjohnson7272]

wow! thank you for sharing your story, sorry for your loss,

[@1220sassy]

RIP, Captain Cooper. Your bravery was remarkable. May the Arthur M. Anderson & ALL of it's crew members have MANY safe voyages. God Bless ALL of you.

[@RFKFANTS67]

44 years last night. Gone but never forgotten rip fellas

[@ihus9950]

I'll never forget the day this happened, I was a 19 year old on my way home after work and heard the news on the radio. God bless them brave man.🙏

[@4leafclover3333]

Capt Cooper knows best he was there knows the ship and more experience than any of us. RIP crew and thx Capt cooper for your excellent opinion RIP.

[@alexlindsey6446]

which only means he has a slightly elevated educated guess like many others. he wasn't there. all 29 dead. he's got the best chance of guessing correctly i suppose. but he says in this video there are a few theories and he doensnt rule any of them out.

[@LegoKingdomHearts278]

This is one of my three personal favorite historical shipwreck stories. Not many people know about this tragedy, but I will never be able to forget what it was like for me to visit the museum at the Whitefish Point Lighthouse where the ship's bell is at. Hearing this account just makes me feel like giving a moment of silence to those who lost their lives in such a tragic event. --Gives Several Minutes of Silence-- ='(

[@ANonymous-mo6xp]

Well, at least it was immortalized by the greatest folk-rock song of all time.

[@louisharris4243]

Amazing Story ! - The Fitz's She was holding her own and fought till the very end - Capt.Cooper told his side of the story and i think he's Right - remember he was there the night she went down sometime after 7pm - dark and cold and not knowing if he would ever make it back home he went out to see if he could help the Fit's and her crew of 29 men with winds at times of up to 86 miles per-hour Capt.Cooper went out to help -- My hat is off to you Captain and it is so sad we lost 29 men and a great Ship

[@MrDan708]

Fascinating interview. Since both captains are now with the Lord, it would be riveting to hear both men discuss that awful night.

[@rodneycaupp5962]

I was aboard the USS Harwood (DD 861 ), in an F5 Hurricane in the summer of 1970.The wind gusts were as high as 235 ( before ripping our anemometer off the yard arm) ... with sustained winds of 175 MPH, for three days straight. A massive rogue wave slammed our ship over onto her port side. I was up forward in the Chiefs quarters, mess cooking. There were 18 of us just sitting down to a cold cut lunch. All were seated when the roll began. I was sitting next to a column about 10 inches in diameter when Chief Petty Officers started flying past me on there way down to the port bow. Two men grabbed me as they fell toward a pile of sailors shouting and cussing. ( one at a time) I didn't try to shake them off..., I didn't want them to slam into that pile of men. The first man grabbed my right shoulder and hung on for a few seconds. I watched over my left shoulder as he hit the heap of sailors. The second man fell from the starboard side of the compartment striking my column, which slowed him down enough that he was able to grab a hold of me. Again I didn't try to shake him off, for fear he would be injured or injure men in the pile. I could see the skin of the ship buckling ( there were pictures taken after the storm of the wrinkled steel hull ) We slowly righted and got back onto our fractured keel..., 6 compartments flooded. Our Captain tied himself into his chair for the ride to the bottom, as the ships bridge went dark green , when we failed to crest, wave, after wave. The Bridge was coming apart and had a couple of feet of water in it. Our Captain, "Robert Marshall" was a God. His calm voice told us that there was no chance of rescue, and that the fleet had to leave us to maintain speed and headway. Captain Marshall explained that saving the ship was in our hands, and the work completed in the most insane seas, taking 50 plus degree rolls constantly, stopped the below deck flooding. Two men were tied to the ships wheel falling down, alternating steering when they could briefly stand. It took a couple of very long days to penetrate the eye wall of this massive storm. Inside the eye of the Hurricane , at noon you could look up at the sun beating down on the Sahara Desert, just to our south. One more detail..., The Captain, in our darkest moments, asked the crew to say a prayer. The immediate result was a palpable calm throughout the ship. All these years later, I can't tell this story without tears filling my eyes. Captain Marshall, thank You ! As the Sea continues to take ships and their crews, i am spiritually with them. God bless all you sailors.

[@suzannetaylor5374]

Hey Rodney,I'm a bit confused when you say you could see the Sahara Desert.What sea were you in?

[@rodneycaupp5962]

@@suzannetaylor5374 That would have been the Mediterranean Sea, and still is. Geologically it is the oldest Sea on earth. On my second Ship we got into a sand storm about 200 miles off North Africa, and they had to break out the snow shovels to keep from getting to top heavy . That was a very tall ship, the USS Peugeot Sound, AD38. The Navy is a whole lot of adventure. Some of it scarier than anything Hollywood can create. Check out the Ships Log Books, for both ships. They are decommissioned and logs have been redacted, thus declassified.

[@MrRobjs83]

wow ! Crazy story! I'm just wondering what a Cat 5 hurricane was doing in the Mediterranean, haven't heard of any out there and thats nuts that you guys went threw that but that was before they had the technology they have now for tracking weather and storms. I'm thinking I would have rather been on a submarine in that scenario than a battleship had I been in the Navy. Glad you guys made it though!

[@rodneycaupp5962]

@@MrRobjs83 I took a meteorology class at OSU, and this hurricane at that time (1970) was the most powerful ever recorded. You are so keen to note that F5s just don't happen in the Mediterranean. When we got into the eye, and were able to go out onto the 02 deck, the heat and humidity (..both smothering), were like that of any tropical hurricane. Most Mediterranean Hurricanes are "Cold Core" hurricanes. I need to get off my lazy butt and get Log Book entries, concerning the storm, from Navy Records.

[@MrRobjs83]

@@rodneycaupp5962 yeah thats pretty crazy, i never heard of hurricanes happening out there, especially not Catigory 5 ones. And I don't imagine Navy ships would purposely go into them anymore, maybe submarines.

[@lesbrown7009]

What a brave and thoughtful man.

[@fast03vette4me]

This is one of the most moving and historical and highly credible Testimony I ever heard.

[@cheefadareafer]

47 years ago rip to the 29 sailors of the Edmund Fitzgerald and thank you Cooper for your bravery and honest opinion even if it went against the investigation reports he stuck with what he saw and I believe him those 2 rogue waves combined with being bottom heavy from either a leak or just rough seas brought her down. Keep the story alive and remember the 10th of November when 29 average Joe's lost their lives just trying to make a living and get home. 😞🙏

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

I've followed this ever since the song came out. BUT - even as someone from the UK (and who used to work on VERY heavy seas on Offshore Radio Caroline in the southern North Sea) - my whole heart goes out to ALL hands lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald. I reckon this guy is in the vid' is correct: they went down VERY quickly. No May Day; nothing. God Bless you all, victims, family & friends & fellow seafarers. R.I P to those gone. I'm shedding a tear (literally).

[@jeffkersting8278]

The years of knowledge, and experience this man has. Great interview

[@lyndenmcdonald4285]

Spent the summer on the decks of the fitz in 1963..i was 8 and dad was 1st mate..mom and sis were there too..loved the fitz..many photos and happy days .

[@LUVITALL9]

Sir, thank you for going back out and searching -that took a tremendous amount of courage. As a kid growing up Northwest of Chicago, I remember watching the news with my parents of this sad event.

[@shariys1]

RIP, Captain. You were a hero.

[@timw5108]

I worked with a guy from Sandusky Ohio who knew a lot about the Great Lakes shipping, it's history, and could barely talk about this ship & what happened to it without getting emotional. I saw all the lakes except Huron about a year ago for the 1st time ever and they are an amazing unbelievable sight. Giant inland oceans.

[@neuralmute]

I've lived on the Great Lakes all my life, and I always find it kind of funny that they're called lakes, when they're actually some of the world's biggest inland seas. They are truly majestic and beautiful. People underestimate them because of the "lake" label, and there are hundreds of ships on the bottom of each because of that. A serious storm on the lakes can be every bit as violent and dangerous as a storm on the North Atlantic, with winds that can reach hurricane force, and rogue waves as tall as those on the ocean. Lake Superior is particularly notorious for them. That said, I love the Lakes, and couldn't imagine ever living away from some large body of water thanks to them. Even those vicious killer storms have a sort of beauty, in their sheer power. Just as long as you're on land, indoors, and a safe distance from the shore!

[@cynnaratregarth2009]

neuralmute I grew up in Chicago and spent many summers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I agree about the lakes being inland seas. People who've never been on them, have no real idea. In some ways, they are still very unusual weatherwise unlike the oceans.

[@beanvillen24]

I live in Huron Ohio and my dad’s buddy worked at the oar docks in town back in the 60’s and 70’s and he took a picture of the ship which he has framed and hanging in his house, i have a copy of the picture too!

[@goop9624]

Was that man Ronald Widman by any chance? Because he worked at the Huron Docks and would get emotional while talking about it too.

[@thomasbeaudry8730]

They were classified as freshwater seas due to the facts that: a) the opposite shore is beyond the horizon and b) they have a very noticeable tide. Then several years ago some international group of oceanographers with nothing better to do with their time declared that a sea, in addition to a) and b), must c) contain salt water...

[@dive4fr]

My 17 yr. old son wants to work on Lake Freighters, I hope there are still Capt. Coopers out there!

[@The1saturn]

there is the recordings from that night when this captain was asked by the coast guard to turn around and go back to see if he could help, the fear in his voice was unreal, he even told the coast gurd he would rather not, its on youtube

[@phyllisdale5579]

You might have also hear capt. Cooper say as caprain you can't panic the crew. He communicated that he was fully aware of the risk in turning back to search. He had his own crew to consider. Very corageous man!

[@bigmonmagoomba9634]

There’s no courage without fear. Capt Cooper and his crew were truly courageous men.”Everyone had their life vests on & expected the worst. Veterans. But they went back out”.

[@KL-fs1tv]

That was a great video, this subject has been an interest too me my whole life, have seen many documentaries on the Fitz. hearing Captain Coopers account of that night is the most decisive as well as logical, as Cooper was a fantastic captain tons of experience as captain of massive ore carriers. think he pretty much summed it up for a common person like myself, nice Doc. great 411. it was also cool how you showed pictures that I havent seen yet of the crew of the Fitz.

[@Imissthepostoffice]

Thanks so much coming from someone who was there and really knew what happened.

[@terribarrett9381]

"I think they were going under...and they thought it was a big wave"- Captain Bernie Cooper. I think Captain Cooper was right.

[@Donna.V]

I think Captain Cooper was right about this as well. It's so horrible. By the time they realized they were sinking, it was too late to try for the lifeboats or flotation devices. Too late to call for help. That explains how the ship went down without a cry. It hurts the heart.

[@machbaby]

I've seen the Anderson a few times on Lake Superior- the last time taking on taconite at Two Harbors, MN. I was standing on the pier that night as she came slowly by me, less than 200 ft. away. Eerie and beautiful, all at the same time.

[@Imissthepostoffice]

Yes, they ARE majestic ships indeed !

[@regettinill]

I'm from Duluth and remember my dad waking me up giving me the news, sad sad day. As someone who grew up on Lake Superior to see her spit venom in November is scary as hell, can't imagine what that crew went through

[@neuralmute]

The November storms here on Lake Ontario are plenty scary; I can imagine what the scaled-up Superior version must be like... Even down here I have great respect for the Witch of November.

[@craigbathurst8797]

My uncle Boyd “Buck” Griffith was an engineer in the Anderson when the Fitz went down.

[@davidpallin772]

Is Uncle Buck still alive? Has anyone ever got Uncle Buck’s story for posterities sake?

[@craigbathurst8797]

@@davidpallin772 He is gone.

[@LtHades]

@@craigbathurst8797 Sorry for your loss. How did you know he was on the Anderson when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank?

[@bryanjeske6856]

Excellent info thanks to the most knowledgeable person Capt. Bernie Cooper !!!

[@tprdfh51]

Saw the Arthur M. Anderson downbound at Windsor, ON couple of weeks ago...beautiful vessel!

[@brettfavreify]

I would love to see the complete unedited version of this interview.

[@brandonhurd7256]

God bless Captain Cooper. Man did an incredibly brave thing going back out into that storm. It has to be haunting knowing you were the last person to speak to a doomed ship's Captain though...

[@simflyr1957]

Thank you Captain & Great Lake Shipwreck Society from a former Advanced Trimix diver of the Morrell.

[@johnkleist2719]

Such a shame. I remember I was 8 years old when this happened and it was all over the news. Sailors are such brave soles and take their life into their own hands every time they step on a boat. God Bless all 29 crew members and God Bless those who still go out everyday.

[@aliyeberzati2287]

I was 7 years old but I didn't watch the news but I did read the newspaper 🗞️

[@aliyeberzati2287]

I remembered watching the Fitz fill up with the iron ore that was truly amazing to watch

[@mikeavery997]

Of all the theories I've heard on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald this one makes the most sense and is the most logical It is the most believable because it is coming from the man who sailing out there with the Fitzgerald the night she sank

[@tomcloss2506]

I agree!

[@j.whiteoak6408]

This is the man whose opinion I value, trust, and listen to. Captain Cooper WAS THERE. And his years of experience and knowledge of The Lakes and the ore carriers is more valuable than anyone else's twaddle. In his own words, "I don't care what anybody says". And then to go back out with the William Clay Ford, when they had both just found safe harbor ... I don't know how those two Captains and their crews managed to walk with balls that big clanging around. THANK YOU, and God Bless each and every man on all 3 ships!

[@charliejdk]

Thank you for this well-presented explanation. Very helpful for understanding this tragic shipwreck.

[@Christian_Girl120]

This was so sad. My heart breaks for the families of those who were lost, and for those who died. What a horrible thing to happen. 😥

[@Betsy440]

Fascinating... Thank you for the upload.

[@myzticvizionary]

I would like to thank everyone affected by the tragedy for sharing their stories and I extend my deepest condolences; I am deeply sorry for your loss. I was born in 1977 and therefore have no personal recollection of the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy. However, I do recall hearing the tribute by Gordon Lightfoot for the first time; I was only eight, but wept quietly and uncontrollably; tears streaked down my face. Deeply respectful, poignant and indelible sum up that great, timeless ballad. R.I.P.

[@WillieWonka928D]

I personally agree with most of Captain Cooper's theory. Though the shoaling part I'm not 100% on, I'm almost convinced those 2 waves Cooper mentioned is what sunk the Fitzgerald. Like he said, it was sudden and catastrophic. If she had broke apart on the surface like the Bradley and Morrell she would've sunk slower and the crew would've had time to send a distress call. Plus bodies would've been recovered and maybe there would've been survivors since the men would've abandoned ship (all of these things were the case with the Bradley and Morrell). So I think everything we know about the Fitzgerald points to her sinking being extremely sudden such with a giant wave or waves.

[@thomasbeaudry8730]

Yes though I favor a rogue wave but same end. The engines would have been maxed out in order to make way in such a storm. If the bow had been pushed under without lifting the stern, the 'Fitz would have been driven into the bottom in less than a minute. No time for anybody to react, indicated by the captain's final transmission when he indicated no serious problem... (BTW, I was 16 at the time and still remember the storm 'til this day.)

[@railsofthenorthland1181]

The Anderson crew said those rogue waves were about 70 feet high as they swept over the whole bridge of the Anderson and put it about 10 feet under.

[@mulvey0731]

I agree with you on the waves and the bow crash landing to the bottom, but I do believe she shoaled. First, she was way closer than Cooper thought was safe (and the 6 fathom shoal went out farther than either knew). Secondly, how do we explain the starboard list? There were ballast pumps but only one drain in the middle of the keel. There was water forward of amidships, probably under the wheelhouse. With summer loading, a leak and a 70’ wave coming from behind raising the stern….they were doomed to a fast trip to the bottom. Then she broke off with the propeller turning and flipped the stern over.

[@scott1914]

I read an interview in the Minneapolis newspaper in 1985 that Captain Cooper gave. One of the causes of the sinking of the Fitz was hatch covers coming off, and the shop taking on water because of that. The NTSB stated that not all of the hatch cover clamps were tightened, inferring carelessness and/or apathy by the captain and crew. I hate when people think that " nobody wants to work." Or, "they just don't care." Captain Cooper immediately dismissed that as a possible cause. Thank you sir.

[@redduty]

this is one of my perennial favorite videos on youtube.

[@sevenstarsword9014]

I still see the Arthur M Anderson sailing the Great Lakes being a seafarer mainly on the Great Lakes myself. That ship will forever go down in history for being so close to the Edmund Fitzgerald during her final voyage.

[@Originaluncleagent]

I believe the last radar hit was approx. 7:15PM. When the snow cleared, Captain Cooper and his crew could no longer see the lights of the "Big Fitz."

[@BigSwitz98]

The force of that water in those conditions is strong enough to tear most anything apart.

[@arav4573]

my grandmother was caring for a crew member of the FITZ that did not make that trip due to an emergency appendectomy at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth

[@cowboyn12]

What's the crew members name? If ur still with us

[@vicmclaglen1631]

3:23 The condition of that bridge confirms it in my mind. The descent was a short one, and for that amount of damage to have occurred...that's nothing short of a massive headlong plunge downward into a very large wave. Just like he said; they probably at first believed they were riding through it but the bow just went down and kept going. Lights out.

[@MidnightVisions]

My theory is its a combination of factors. Yes the ship had structural problems, a poor hull repair, but the combination of weather and waves and ocean currents from the uncharted sea floor broke the ship up. The weather guard over the pilothouse windows are 1/4" steel, and they have been thrust down flat against the windows, but the windows themselves are still intact. Only a huge sustained straight downwards force could have bent that metal to have done that. Any other version of the ship sinking rapidly would have bent the weather deflectors upwards. The theory that the ship got caught between two rogue waves would have caused the middle of the ship to fracture, the front then dives into the ocean floor hitting hard, the ship breaks in half and the ocean then come down full force onto the ship twisting the rear completely off. There was an animation of this somewhere on yt.

[@kingbee48185]

Captain Cooper was right, she did bottom out and was sinking from that point onwards. But if you look at the damage to the bow, she nosed dived and hit the lake bottom at a 90 degree angle because she broke apart on the surface and the severed bow went down separately. Straight down at an estimated speed of 40 mph. The length of the Fitzgerald was a few hundred feet more than the 530 feet of water she rests in, so the screw didn't drive her down. I believe the theory that she bottomed out at Superior shoal, took on a starboard list and took in water as fast or faster than she could pump it out. The middle section was never designed to take on the extra weight so the bottom simply fell out of the middle, hence the disintegrated middle section. When that broke apart on the surface, it acted like an anchor and they crew were thrown forward with the same inertia that the ship was travelling The middle gone, the severed bow, already barely buoyant, filled rapidly with water and once it then bow went down, the tons of taconite pellets rushed towards the bow and caused her to go down fast at a 90 degree angle. They may have had 10 seconds or less to react if they weren't badly hurt from being thrown forward. The rudder was in the stop position, and the side door to the pilot house open, and the body they found in front of the bow of had a life jacket that was hastily applied (inside our or backwards, I can't remember). The bow went down so fast that nobody escaped and no time for a distress call was capable. The stern probably floated around for a minute or two, rapidly filling up with water, and getting pummeled by 30-50 seas that cause it to capsize on the surface.

[@drby0788]

The bow cut a 25 ft deep trench into the bottom where she lies..that point to her most likely being pushed down by a wave literally driving herself into the mud scrpaing along for a distance until the middle section broke apart, I believe due to the shift in Taconic and the screw driving her down. This would explain why the two section are so close together and why the stern is upside down from thw screw still turning after she broke up. Had she broke up on the surface the two sections would be farther apart, as would the field of Taconite pellets she carried. I believe she was sinking from bottoming out, and eventually she lost buyoncy and a big wave drove her down. The crew thinking it was just a wave like Cooper stated, only realizing at the very last second that they were in trouble. First sign of trouble wouldve been a wall of water bursting through the pilothouse windows due to pressure from the depth. They either had no time to react or just a couple seconds. As far as the body being found..They're not 100% sure if it's a crew member from the Fitz, or another wreck..because they stated the lifevest on the body looked to be older than 1975. Unfortunately we'll probably never know what happened. But it's extremely fascinating isn't it?!

[@416mcp]

courgeous man and crew of the Arthur Anderson. I went to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum about 10 yrs ago. I remember being told Coast Guard if any ships would go out and look for Fitzgerald and the Arthur Anderson is the only ones that went back out after making it into port. I remember thinking how brave they were to go back out and look for their brothers

[@ALCANDO1]

p.s there was no neglagence on behalf of the crew of the Fitzgerald!

[@stevencurtis3693]

SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC. THANKU CAPT. COOPER YOUR WORDS OF TRUTH SAY IT ALL. R.I.P. 29 MEN ON THE EDMUND FITZGERALD, AND ALL THE MARINERS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE YOU.

[@michaelcuff5780]

This guy knows his stuff about those ships! I think hes right. His theory is the best one yet!

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

So haunting and chilling. May the 29 men who lost their lives R.I.P.

[@jordanhiltys7078]

Imagine how scared they were it’s so depressing

[@kammers1053]

Nice to see pics of crew.

[@nickpavlovich2312]

SO SAD, STILL FEEL THE PERIL OF THIS CREW EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME. GOD REST THE 29 SOULS. NOV. 2023

[@candaceheinemann4574]

i grew up on lake Michigan -- it was my first little ocean -- my friends were amazed this happened in 1975 we all thought it was an old sailors song

[@dive4fr]

God Bless you Bernie Cooper and your crew

[@stevefowler2112]

Awesome interview...I bet this Captain is spot on.

[@davidr.massey419]

Done some really nasty storms while salvaging the structual steel cargo of the "Monrovia" 26 miles out of Apena,Michigan(lake Huron) First my dad Captain Bob Massey had given high praise to Captain Cooper for having the balls to make a full turn in that kind of storm and waves. Half of his crew were probably thinking mutany or heros. Second i sat 40ft. above water line in the crane on our 135ft'er as our divers made their dives in #2 hold. 80 degree day not acloud in the sky. We missed the Mayfore coast gards weather code report(new one ever 4 hours). I saw a wall of white clean across the entire line of site. In minutes everyone ran for winter jackets as one of our divers was being pulled rite thru rigging of Monrovias super structure. Amost immediately waves just pulled up 3ft'ers as what what would be a 4 hour jorney back turned into an eight hour teeth gritting ,TACKING back and forth a few degrees at a time. Eventually waves built to 15ft or higher by next day. When winds pass 100mph you could if you planted you feet stand at a 45 degree angle into the wind an not fall face down,but of course you can't keep you feet planted.

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

To all the men who sailed and lost of life, may God grant everlasting life. Amen ⚓

[@Sifo_Dyas]

Not unless they accept it.

[@rjwalker6677]

I live in Minnesota and visited Lake Superior just once, in the summer of 1975, when I was 17. The odd thing is that even though I was at the lake just a few months before the tragedy, I don't recall hearing the news when it happened. I was a teenager then and just did not listen to or read the news much ! I only became aware of it from the Gordon Lightfoot song, as I did listen to music. I suspect many people became aware of it from that song as well.

[@samowens5329]

I was living in Marquette Michigan at that time and that day some of us went to Presque Isle to watch the waves and weather. I had never seen waves of such magnitude.

[@chellem4567]

My Gma was one of the persons that called the "powers of be" in MI and tell them that The Fitzgerald was in trouble once she heard the MAYDAY, MAYDAY signal!! She had been listening to the Radio transmissions and caught what was going on! She died at 94yrs old and remembered the night that this ship went down in great detail! She couldn't remember me at times, her 1st Gbaby, but, REMEMBERED this!

[@timothymercer3526]

The one person who actually was close enough to the Fitzgerald to give an accurate explanation of what more than likely Happened I think he pegged it exactly She was damaged by bottoming out and had too much water inside to overcome when a gigantic wave drove her to the Bottom Rest in Peace the 29 soul's that went down with the Fitzgerald.

[@jajanesaddictions]

We now know that the crew of the Edmund Fitz was NOT at fault. Science has proven without a doubt. Rest in Peace, you brave men.

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

+ja jane No one ever said it WAS the crews fault.

[@wendygoerl9162]

No, we don't. Capt. Dudley Paquette was rather critical of decisions Capt. McSorley made that day. Apparently McSorley was such a tightwad, he wouldn't let the crew sweep the loose taconite off the deck if it would lead to overtime pay.

[@wendygoerl9162]

Several fingers were pointed at the crew for not properly securing the hatches. As with all the major theories, nothing could ever be proven--or disproven.

[@bernardbroussard20]

Wendy Goerl q

[@Imissthepostoffice]

After the ship sank they tried to blame the wreck on the crew (less law suit money paid out this way). They lost. Even our beloved gordon lightfoot changed a phrase in his song regarding the main hatchways. If at all interested, one can always google it.

[@michaelojeda8338]

I concur with Bernie Coopers theory of the fitzerald sinking. based on the physical evidence from dives on the wreck and the correspondence between Cooper and McSorley, when the Fitzgerald was passing Six Fathom Shoal she must have impacted the bottom which ruptured the hull of the ship. Even a small graze would have been enough to mortally wound the ship. As the two ore carriers sailed on towards Whitefish Point, water continued to enter the Fitzgerald's cargo hold and weight the ship down. Large vessels tend to dip in and out of the water due to the waves in violent storms, and with the Fitzgerald swallowing thousand of litres of it which every plunge, all it took was one final nose dive to send her to the bottom. The entire crew, especially those on the bridge would not have seen it coming until after the final decent, when the windows of the bridge suddenly and violently burst open, rapidly filling the inside with water and over taking them. The force of the impact head first would have been enough to break the ship in two where it now rests in an awkward position today.

[@jimwiskus8862]

Agreed, it seems the most plausible reason. Given all of the flat expanse between the bow section and stern it was probably pressed so incredibly hard from the waves that it went under and could not recover. One other video stated the same theory. They thought as the bow was continually swamped, when it went under the taconite continued to shift forward until the bow could no longer recover. The cargo was reportedly separated by nets as there were no water tight compartments. This the bow to be driven faster to the bottom in an almost vertical position. Since the EF was longer in length than the water it sank in was deep, when the bow hit bottom, it may have buckled and snapped of the exposed stern from the rest of the ship due to the added force of all the combined mass of the stern, engine fuel tanks etc pushing against the bow already grounded on the bottom of the lake. A real mystery and great tragedy for sure. I remember reading about it as a teen. There was as I recall a picture of the storm from a radar screen over the great lakes area. It was a behemoth storm. They were literally like a tooth pick in the ocean. Here is a snippet of a quote by a written long ago that said, ......"is to reckon the power of the ocean by the frailty of it's foam". Water is so incredibly powerful. Look at the weight of just 1 gallon of water, times how many millions upon millions of gallons that hit the ship that fateful day. It's really amazing it stayed afloat as long as it did. May God rest the souls of all who sailed that last day.

[@fallguye6011]

Right there to counter the theory is the Fitz was sailing at 75-85 percent in a mighty powerful storm. How'd the Anderson make it through, twice? The one book I have says they ran the hell out of the Fitz trying to set records and such. Instead of getting sufficient repairs that may have been able to withstand the witch of November come stealing, they did a half assed job and set her back out. My guess is she was on her way down as soon as she set out, and the storm, combined with vicious seas, were too much for an injured ship to withstand. It's anybody's guess and a mystery that's unlikely to ever be solved.

[@Tina06019]

I think Captain Cooper’s theory makes more sense than anyone else’s conclusions.

[@Imissthepostoffice]

I think you have it figured out. According to Cooper, I mean WHO ELSE would you trust to tell the story !! Goddamit and the young men whose lives were lost and McSorley's wife was ill and so he was soon to be retired. Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours ?

[@ThatNickYouKnow4010]

I think rogue wave.

[@scottgorham3809]

This man, knows what he's talkin about.. If anyone with that much experience, as captain of a ship for so many years, on those waters, this man should know.. Straight up !

[@myzticvizionary]

@arav4573 - That is amazing. Talk about providence and serendipity. Life seems so random and chaotic at times. But when something like the story you shared here happens, it makes a person stop and think, "Is life simply chaos or is there some sort of set of checks and balances in place?" At any rate, I hope that the crewman who missed the trip and survived did something worthwhile with his life. Even if "all" he ever became was a good husband and father, he honored the sacrifices of his mates.

[@Imissthepostoffice]

Life is difficult. Anyone who expects it not to be will be very disappointed.

[@willielam2189]

I know that it is a old comment but it is the best one on here!!!!

[@whereismyxanax]

I live in the twin Ports now. Come here and visit Canal park in November. It's insane. The boardwalk was completely destroyed last year, I can't imagine being on a ship in it.

[@railsofthenorthland1181]

Georgie in November 2002 I’m pretty sure I was in a hotel at canal park and the waves were about 30 feet high and were sweeping over the lift bridge. I remember the John G Munson departed and about an hour or two later they came back in.

[@1220sassy]

I agree. Slowly drowning in ice-cold water must be one of the worst ways to go.

[@ivandamico93]

Such a sad story thx for posting

[@9090Glenn]

I agree - it hit ground and damaged the hull - took on water and was washed over and sunk all at once - the route followed was too close to Caribou Island but without navigation and in that storm the Captain could not avoid it - all around a tragedy for sure

[@6mm250]

I wish that someone would post the entirety of this interview to youtube , certainly there is more but I can't find it.