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09 Oct 04 - 05:15 PM (#1293341) Subject: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman Does anyone remember a fishing boat tragedy that occurred about 1952-1953, on the Washington Coast, USA.? It happened at Westport, on the Grays Harbor bar. There were about a dozen of us small fishing boats that left the docks before dawn. We headed for the fishing grounds about 20 miles out. As we set up to fish, a storm hit us. This was before the days of much weather information and our radios were very crude. The Coast Guard station at Westport sent out the 85' cutter "McClenden" (sp?) and ordered us to stay outside, as the bar was too rough for any of us to make it in. After three days, we began to run out of fuel. Things were getting tense when the Westport station sent out two "crash boats" to escort us in. We had no knowledge of the new crash boats, and we had no communication about them. They organized us into 5 boat lines and escourted us in, over 45' waves on the bar. One crash boat led and the final boat in the procession was another crash boat. The sixth boat in line, was a 56' trawler. I don't remember the name. The skipper looked over his back and saw that the last boat, a CG "Crash Boat" had turned around to head back out. As he broadsided, a huge wave caught him and he rolled three times before he righted himself and headed back out. The skipper of the last boat did not know that the self bailing scuppers on the "crash boat" would keep it safe. The skipper of boat five also turned around, to save the guardsmen. He also broached. He sank and five men drowned. The next morning, after we were all home, all the Finnish fisherman of Westport (Westhaven, in those days) surrounded the Coast Guard Station at Westport with rifles. They orderd the C.G. commander out so they could shoot him. He didn't come out. The then Governer (Rossilini?) called out the state militia and the war ended. I've researched the places I know how, and I can't find this incident in print. I know it happened, I was there. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone, especially around these parts, could give me a clue. CHEERS, Bob (ain't MUDCAT great!!) |
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09 Oct 04 - 05:35 PM (#1293351) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Peace bucctours@techline.com The above e-mail addy may be a place to start asking questions, Bob. |
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09 Oct 04 - 05:41 PM (#1293353) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Peace www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/STATIONS/Grays_Harbor.html No mention of the incident, but some names that may provide a trail. |
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09 Oct 04 - 07:00 PM (#1293407) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: dianavan That is so sad and so indicative of bureacracy. Up here they are getting rid of lighthouses because the big boats don't need them anymore. What about the rest of us? d |
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09 Oct 04 - 07:10 PM (#1293418) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Ebbie dianavan, I don't understand the relevance of 'bureaocracy"? Deckman, could you access the archives of the Seattle newspaper? |
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09 Oct 04 - 07:55 PM (#1293447) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman I have searched, to the best of my ability, all the local newspapers of that time. I just got a family lead to a local (Westport) paper that might be able to help. But, as I recall, in the early fifties, the local paper was printed in Finn and only came out when it felt like it ... just like most Finns I know today! Thanks for all you help and advice. Bob |
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10 Oct 04 - 08:48 AM (#1293737) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman brucie, I just sent you a PM. Thanks again, Bob |
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10 Oct 04 - 12:11 PM (#1293822) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: MZ Drifter Speaking of Lighthouses, they are nice to look at but a GPS device is the item to have. Wouldn't leave shore without it. |
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10 Oct 04 - 01:31 PM (#1293859) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Jack the Sailor Bob that's a very dramatic story. Are you writing a song? |
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10 Oct 04 - 01:46 PM (#1293869) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: dianavan Ebbie - Communication was a problem but it to me that can also be termed a bureaucratic bungle. "We had no knowledge of the new crash boats, and we had no communication about them." and "The skipper of the last boat did not know that the self bailing scuppers on the "crash boat" would keep it safe." MZ Drifter - Not everyone has GPS, especially the locals. Thats fine for commercial boats but what about you average Joe? d |
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10 Oct 04 - 01:56 PM (#1293877) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman Am I writing a song? Good question. I 'dunno. Everytime I try to write a song, my wife leaves me, the cats find other homes, the fish quit biting and my neighbor starts to tell me just how much he loves me ... again. But, based on my memory, I know there's one hell of a story there. But first I have to check my memory against the facts. I just e-mailed the local Westport historians regarding this incident. Brucie listed a VERY good contact for this story. I hope to learn something. Thanks for all your interest. Oh ... and as to the "GP" things. I'm no longer a boater, but ALL of my friends up here who do have boats have them. I guess they're better than sliced bread!! Bob |
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10 Oct 04 - 02:40 PM (#1293897) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Jack the Sailor A song could be based on your memory I guess If you don't name places or names. You're wife and pets leave you? You must have been writing country songs. ;-) |
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10 Oct 04 - 02:54 PM (#1293903) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: GUEST,Lyle This site: http://www.pacificcohistory.org/columbia.htm has a lot about that area. There is nothing about 1952, but the timeline history lists the following for 1953. I thought the references listed might be of some help. Jan. 8, 9, 1953 -- Astoria area cut off from rest of Oregon in storm. Wind gust 95 mph at Clatsop County airport, heavy rain (Astoria Budget, Jan. 9, 1953, p. 1) Jan. 31, 1953 -- January rainfall in Grays Harbor beats 1914 record (Workman, p. 112) Feb. 2, 1953 -- -- Seaside rainfall beats record for January, at 30.03 inches; Astoria 3rd wettest January at 26.35 inches (Astoria Budget, Feb. 2, 1953, p. 1) Feb. 9, 1953 -- 32 day rain spell ends in Clatsop County (Astoria Budget, Feb. 9, 1953, p. 1) Mar. 2, 1953 -- snowstorm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 112) Sept. 28, 1953 -- gale, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 113) Dec. 10, 1953 -- heavy rain, 55 mph gale, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 113) Dec. 21, 1953 -- heavy rain, 60 mph gale (Workman, p. 113) Good luck! Lyle |
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10 Oct 04 - 03:50 PM (#1293928) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Peace Bob, Thanks for starting this thread. The foolin' around on the political threads does not compare to the pleasure I take in finding real-life stuff. I can't always, but it gives me a sense of tremendous satisfaction when I can do something to help. The last 'maritimer' I met was from Burin, Newfoundland. He took me out into a very heavy fog and taught me how to jig for cod. We couldn't see the shore (I had no idea where it was or where we were) but he took the boat--I call them all boats--to a jigging place and I had a fish on the fifth or sixth jig. His name to me was Uncle Bill; that was Uncle Bill's name to everyone except his kids. His family told me stories of stuff that man had done, and it was mind-boggling. I don't know where the courage of these people comes from, but my gawd they have lots of it. That man and two of his nephews had gone out to rescue an overdue neighbour. Wouldn't have been a big deal except there was a gale blowing and it was as dark as the earl of hell's waistcoat. Found them and brought the fellow, his son and his boat back. It wasn't until I left Newfoundland that a friend of the family told me Uncle Bill had saved over a dozen lives at various times, and always in very hairy, dangerous circumstances. The motto of the American Coast Guard: "You have to go out. You don't have to come back" seems to be a creed maritimers live by. Makes one proud to be human. I am very comfortable in the bush--can't get lost and can get along very well. However, when it comes to the ocean, I may as well be in diapers for all I know. I wish you success with your search, Bob. Any story of courage and sacrifice deserves to be remembered, and I really hope you get the facts put together. Please let us know the results, OK? Thanks, Bob. Bruce |
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10 Oct 04 - 03:59 PM (#1293932) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman CHEERS brucie. Bob |
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10 Oct 04 - 09:02 PM (#1294045) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: mg off the subject but when I was looking for somehting else on internet, I found a site listing the causes of death for Finns in Aberdeen, WA. Fascinating. It was around 1915-1920. Needless to say, they were mostly from getting hit in the head from logs. Some drownings..some stomach diseases. You could tell when the flu started to hit. I'll post the URL soon. mg |
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11 Oct 04 - 05:48 PM (#1294619) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman |
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11 Oct 04 - 08:46 PM (#1294769) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Burke Deckman, I have access to a newspaper archive from work. I found a really short article about a boat named Victoria sinking with the rescue cutter named McClean. It was in Tri City Herald - 12/30/1957 Pasco, Washington Monday, December 30, 1957. The sinking seems to have been Dec. 29. I know the dates are off, but Rossellini only became govenor in 1957 & date memories can be really bad. Send me a PM with your e-mail address & I can send it to you. I will be away for a week, though so it won't be quick. |
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11 Oct 04 - 11:52 PM (#1294870) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman Burke ... I just P.M'd you. Bob |
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12 Oct 04 - 01:40 AM (#1294922) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: dianavan Deckman - My uncle used to pilot boats across the bar. He was with the coast guard but has since died. I'll contact my cousins to see if they remember this. d |
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12 Oct 04 - 01:44 AM (#1294925) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: open mike i have a membership in ancestry and can search for newspapaer archives...it would especially help ifyou have any NAMES to look for...i wil see hwat i can find...Laurel |
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12 Oct 04 - 01:51 AM (#1294929) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: open mike esp. if you know names of anyone who drowned there... i can look up obit.. |
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12 Oct 04 - 02:05 AM (#1294935) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Ellenpoly I agree that a song may be in order, Deckman Bob. Judy and cat will remain I bet, though their howling in the backround might need some explaination to that neighbor of yours. ..xx..e |
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12 Oct 04 - 01:48 PM (#1295358) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman Burke. Thanks muchly for sending me that story. That was NOT the event. But thanks to help from this thread, I think I'm getting close. I've been able to locate and contact several historical organizations that are looking for the facts. It's rare that my memory fails me regarding the time frame of events that happened years ago, but in this case it has. Part of my problem was that in those years (I was a teenager) I fell madly in love with a Finn girl and various events are scrambled in my memory. Isn't that always the way that first loves effect you! So ... time will tell. CHEERS, Bob |
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12 Oct 04 - 02:31 PM (#1295390) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: open mike maybe that is the event you should write a song about... if the cat and the wife are o.k. with it, that is. (perhaps the wife IS that finn girl?) |
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12 Oct 04 - 02:52 PM (#1295406) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: mg South Bend museum has some great historians and a wonderful publication..maybe give them a call. mg |
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12 Oct 04 - 02:56 PM (#1295411) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: mg http://www.genealogia.fi/emi/emi3d20q1e.htm Causes of death in Aberdeen WA. mg |
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12 Oct 04 - 03:40 PM (#1295447) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman Mary .... I'll check that out also. I hear from Miken that you hosted a very good festival. You are to be congradulated! Laurel ... No, I lost track of her years ago. Isn't that way it goes. But I recently have some leads on her and I fully intend to have a "kavi kuppa" (cup of coffee) with her and introduce her to "bride Judy." In researching for this story, I'm reminded of just what horrors those early seafarers survived. This was NOT the only tale I well remember. Thanks for all you interest! CHEERS, Bob |
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12 Oct 04 - 05:44 PM (#1295553) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: mg tele for pacifi ounty historical society and museum is 360 875 5224. Address 1008 W. Robert Bush Dr., South Bend, WA..don't have zip code. They do know their shipwrecks there. mg |
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12 Oct 04 - 05:54 PM (#1295563) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Bassic Have followed this thread with great interest Bob. Good luck with your research. Here are a couple of songs inspired by the life of fishermen in Hull, both are relatively contemporary. Hope they inspire you! THE LUCKIEST SAILOR (c)Linda Kelly, Oct 1999, Whitby I've been fishing the seas since a lad of fifteen There's not a stretch of the ocean where I haven't been And I've seen northern lights and the whale fish at play And I've slept through the dog watch, been fined half me pay And I've prayed long and hard in a westerly storm And I've dreamed of the young girls who had helped keep me warm And I've sat with the old jacks and listened in glee To the tales of the women, the drink and the sea CHORUS: I'm the luckiest sailor that I ever knew When the Kingston ship sank with the loss of her crew And I prayed for their lives and their sons and their wives On the day that the Peridot perished I was a young sailor with settle in hand From trawling in Iceland with white fish to land And I'm dressed to the nines in me "Ruckerback" tails And I'm off down the "Stricky" to sink a few ales Well I'll tell you a tale of the tax man and me He's been robbing me blind since I first went to sea And I says to the skipper I'll spend time ashore 'Cos I'm damned if the tax man will have anymore Then a whisper was heard that a Hull ship was down With no chance of a rescue her men had all drowned And I supped up me ale and I knew in me head That the Hull ship was my ship and me mates were all dead And the coins in me pocket weighed heavy that day And it took little courage to give them away And me mind took me back to me long days at sea And I asked the good lord, why me mates and not me? Three day Millionaire Mike Waterson 1975 Why, I left school Friday And I started work on Saturday To catch the early tide And be a galley boy's me plan On the fishin' grounds to roam Eighteen hundred mile from home I couldn't give a bugger, I'm a man I shall get to deck a-learnin' It's the bonus I'll be earnin' And the money comes in handy For the old ran tan Brylcreme in me hair Three day millionaire I couldn't give a bugger, I'm a man I sh'll get meself a suit made To show I'm in the fishin' trade I'll put me brothel-creepers* on And swagger when I can All me pots are pint-sized Watch me gettin paralysed To show the younger buggers who's a man And when I get to skipper I'll get married, have a nipper I s'll take the lad to sea wi' me And teach him all I can I'll be a different sort of fella Have a house out in Kirk Ella** And I'll show the bleedin' neighbours who's a man I'll be a different sort of fellow Have a house out in Kirk Ellow And I'll show the bleedin' neighbours who's a man Greer Gilman's notes: *suede shoes with crepe soles--Fifties swagger! **posh suburb of Hull |
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12 Oct 04 - 08:51 PM (#1295707) Subject: RE: BS: Boat Tragedy?? From: Deckman Those are both very good songs, much in the tradition. Thanks for posting them. I did hear today from another source. Looks like I've got a LOT of sleuthing to do. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised just how quickly this thread came together. A tip here and a tip there, a little research, and I'm off and running. All this speaks very to what a great resource MC is. Bob |