As a kid growing up in the 70’s, there was this one mournful song that always stuck in my head, one of those story-telling songs lamenting an untimely demise. In this case, the untimely demise was that of the bulk ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald, lost with all 29 hands in a storm 34 years ago tonight on Lake Superior.
I was six years old at the time of the sinking, and seven when Gordon Lightfoot’s song about the ship became popular the following November of 1976. It was probably another 3 or 4 years before I realized that the song was about a real ship and a real tragedy. Twenty-nine men went to sea and never came home, men with lives and families. The youngest among them would be 56 now…
Captain Ernest M. McSorley, 63
First Mate John H. McCarthy, 62
Second Mate James A. Pratt, 44
Third Mate Michael E. Armagost, 37
Wheelsman John D. Simmons, 60
Wheelsman Eugene O'Brien, 50
Wheelsman John J. Poviach, 59
Watchman Ransom E. Cundy, 53
Watchman William J. Spengler, 59
Watchman Karl A. Peckol, 55
Chief Engineer George J. Holl, 60
First Assistant Edward E. Bindon, 47
Second Assistant Thomas E. Edwards, 50
Second Assistant Russell G. Haskell, 40
Third Assistant Oliver "Buck" J. Champeau, 41
Oiler Blaine H. Wilhelm, 52
Oiler Ralph G. Walton, 58
Oiler Thomas Bentsen, 23
Wiper Gordon MacLellan, 30
Special Maintenance Man Joseph W. Mazes, 59
AB Maintenance Thomas D. Borgeson, 41
Deck Maintenance Mark A. Thomas, 21
Deck Maintenance Paul M. Riipa, 22
Deck Maintenance Bruce L. Hudson, 22
Steward Robert C. Rafferty, 62
Second Cook Allen G. Kalmon, 43
Porter Frederick J. Beetcher, 56
Porter Nolan F. Church, 55
Cadet David E. Weiss, 22
Rest in peace, boys.
