Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (eBook)

Thomas Moorhead (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
212 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-9084-3 (ISBN)

Infos

'The Wreck of the 'Edmund Fitzgerald' is a historical fiction novel recounts the tragic sinking of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald during a fierce storm on Lake Superior in 1975. Through shifting narratives, it captures the crew's final hours and their life stories, offering a poignant exploration of resilience, camaraderie, and fate in the face of impending disaster.

omas Moorhead and his wife have two adult children and live in Owosso, Michigan. This is the second edition of this historical novel. He is the author of the 'Owner's Manual for Landlords and Property Managers', a non-fiction guide to landlord and tenant law.

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On November 10, 1975, the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald met its tragic end during a violent storm on Lake Superior, becoming the most infamous modern-day Great Lakes shipwreck. This gripping historical fiction novel vividly portrays the ship's final voyage, weaving together the dramatic last hours aboard with the poignant backstories of the crew members. Through expertly crafted shifting narratives, readers are drawn into the lives of the men moments of joy, struggle, and determination that shaped who they were. From early life experiences and challenges to pivotal moments like meeting their future wives, the novel paints a rich tapestry of humanity. As the storm rages and fate looms, the story underscores the unyielding resilience and camaraderie of the crew, balancing personal triumphs and tragedies against the backdrop of one of the Great Lakes' most haunting maritime disasters. A compelling tribute to lives lived and lost at sea.

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Chapter 3

“Damn, I would rather battle weather like this out on the open waters where I have room to maneuver. This is a real challenge. It’s like I don’t have control over my own ship!” yelled the captain.

Sitting at the map table located to the rear of the steering helm was the assistant captain,4 Jim Malley. He had been the assistant captain for the past six years, exceeding his captain’s time at the helm. He knew better than to respond. The captain was just letting off steam. If Jim had answered, then it would have started the captain yelling about the weather.

“Jim, what do you think about shipping out? There’s a hell of a wind blowing.”

“Yeah, I see that. The U.S. Coast Guard posted its own gale warnings as of 8:00 a.m. yesterday,” replied Jim.

“Sure as hell is bad weather for early November. If it keeps up, it will cut down our shipping season. Damn it! I need a minimum of two more trips to complete the tonnage contract,” said the captain.

“We’re darned if we do and darned if we don’t,” responded Jim. “I just don’t know,” Jim added.

“I don’t know either. I’ll think about it. Go down and check on the loading. We do not seem to be making much headway.”

“Right away, Captain,” said Jim.

Jim made his way down the metal ladder leading to the main deck. He stopped as he hit the main deck. The distance between Jim and the men working the loading chutes was over 400 feet. It was difficult for a person with normal vision to see that far. Jim squinted to make out the figures. He hadn’t worn his glasses for two months. The water had sprayed his glasses once too often. His glasses had ended up in his dresser drawer since that time. He would still put his index finger to the bridge of his nose, a reminder of the glasses he had discarded but still needed.

As he walked down the main deck, he was careful to keep a grip on the safety cable. He finally recognized Walt Stuart holding the lower part of the loading chute. A gust of wind kicked up and tossed the chute to the left, pushing Walt to his knees. Jim hurried over to the chute and pushed it back into the cargo opening. He helped Walt to his feet. Walt dusted off the back of his work pants and swore to himself.

“Are you okay, Walt?” asked Jim.

“That is the third time the wind has screwed up my chute. One of these times I’m gonna get buried up to my ass in that ore. We ain’t shipping out, are we? Why don’t I just quit for a while? We really should stop trying to get loaded in this weather.”

“You know better than that. I don’t know if we will ship out. It’s up to the captain. It’s his call,” said Jim.

“It will be a God-awful rough trip if we don’t wait ‘til this wind at least calms down. Now it looks like it’s starting to snow. The weather seems to get worse every year,” said Walt.

“Just keep working on the loading. I’ll get someone to help you by battening the hatches,” said Jim. “That way we will keep the ore as dry as possible.”

“Oh, yeah? Who’s gonna get that duty?”

“Peter Waters hasn’t done it before. So he’s elected,” smiled Jim. “I’ll check on you later.”

“He’s the one they call lawyer. Damn Jim, you know how I feel about lawyers. He’s only here short-term, so why not get a rookie who’s going to stay on with us?”

“You go ask the captain. But he ordered me to assign Peter. You know he’s only had one year of law school. So not to worry,” said Jim.

“Not to worry. Hell, damn, not to worry.”

“Walt, work with me here. Don’t make things any more difficult just because of your divorce,” said Jim. “Don’t get me wrong: your ex and her attorney played you. But try not to let this rub off on how you treat Peter.”

“Yeah right. Just give me a few more years, and I’ll get over it if I’m still alive,” said Walt.

“I’m on my way to the Galley to let Cooky know that his assistant cook has a new assignment,” said Jim.

Walt L. Wilson felt he had been the victim of a very cruel legal system. The pain of his, now, ex-wife telling him she wasn’t happy and wanted a divorce was only the beginning of a long, cruel journey that almost destroyed him.

The question he asked over and over was: “Why in the hell did the system automatically conclude that the mother was always awarded custody of the children and ends up with the marital home and almost everything else?”

Walt knew he had been a great father and loved his boys very much. He didn’t ’cause the breakdown of the marriage relationship. He deserved at least fair consideration that he should have custody of his two sons. However, being on board for months at a time made joint custody impossible. But he could have total custody when he was laid off over the winter. He seriously considered getting a “normal” 40-hour-week job so he could file in an attempt to get full-time joint custody.

When it all began, his friends told him that his wife, Marcie, must have a boyfriend. But he didn’t believe them. He did everything to save his marriage. Whatever she wanted he gave her. He didn’t object when she took all of her clothing and half the furniture and moved out of their home with their sons.

“No boyfriend? Right. Then where’s she going?” they asked.

“She needs time alone,” was his answer.

“And now she’s moved back in,” he further answered his friends with a smile.

“Easier to rip you off and keep the house,” was their reply.

He continued to give her money, took the boys whenever she wanted, went to counseling, sent her flowers, vowed to change anything and everything she wanted. This went on for weeks. Walt was doing everything he could. But the tension was taking a toll on everyone, especially their two sons.

“Walt, this isn’t how I want to live. It really isn’t good on our sons. They’re not stupid. They know what’s going on,” said Marcie. “I want you to know I’ve made an appointment with a divorce attorney. Unless the attorney says otherwise, I’m going forward.”

“Looks like that settles it. The attorney will never try to talk you out of not filing when there is a fat retainer and a good fee involved,” said Walt. “And where’s the money coming from?”

“Listen, Walt, I’m not having this argument with you. You’ll learn soon enough,” said Marcie. “Now leave me alone or you can just get out now.”

Walt stormed out of the house and drove away to nowhere in particular.

Marcie called the attorney’s office and moved up her appointment. She wanted to go forward as soon as possible. She told the office she was ready to file.

Marcie retained the attorney. She returned to sign the Complaint for Divorce, which included a Request for Alimony as well as a Petition for Temporary Custody, Child Support, and exclusive use of the marital home.

Her attorney told her that her husband had to be personally served with the Summons, Complaint, and all the other papers. It would be easier and cost less if Walt agreed to accept service by signing that he had been served with all the legal documents. Marcie said she would talk to him.

When Walt came to get his boys to go out for pizza, Marcie said she wanted to talk to him after they got back. Walt hoped that she had changed her mind about the divorce. He could hardly wait to finish pizza and get back to talk to Marcie.

Marcie offered him coffee when they returned. He declined.

“Walt, I’m sorry but my attorney prepared and filed all the paperwork to start the divorce proceedings.”

“Marcie, I thought you were going to say we could try to work it out. You know I’ve tried to change. It just doesn’t seem to be enough,” said Walt with tears in his eyes.

“I’m sorry. The attorney said if we reconciled, then the divorce could be stopped. But I felt that this step was necessary,” said Marcie. “So please don’t make this more difficult. Please just sign that you’ve received the Summons, Complaint, and Petition. You aren’t agreeing to anything, and the attorney said to tell you that you aren’t waiving any of your rights. This just means that a court officer won’t have to personally serve you, which could be embarrassing and cost more money,” said Marcie.

Walt didn’t want to hire a lawyer. He delayed and delayed. But hearings were being scheduled, and he certainly didn’t know how to represent himself or appear in court without a lawyer.

Walter asked his friends about lawyers. They told him to get a real street fighter and go for it. They told him to have the lawyer file a counter-complaint for custody and not agree to anything.

Not only did this sound cruel and expensive, but Walt also felt he still had a chance to reconcile.

Walt found a lawyer that had a general...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.3.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Historische Romane
• ISBN-13: 979-8-3509-9084-3 / 9798350990843