- No one believed it possible when word spread that
the Carl D. Bradley, a gigantic limestone carrier with a storied
history on the Great Lakes, had sunk in the teeth of a fierce
November storm in 1958. Once the flagship of it's fleet, the Bradley
had set numerous tonnage records, and for years had been the largest
ship working on the lakes. Furthermore, she was considered virtually
unsinkable.
- The story of the Bradley is a haunting one. Nearing
the end of a long journey that had seen her battling high winds and
heavy seas, the Bradley broke in two, sinking within a matter of
minutes--all within sight of a nearby ship that could only
helplessly watch as the Bradley plunged to the bottom of Lake
Michigan, claiming the lives of 33 of it's 35 crewmen, including
it's captain.
- This however, is only part of the story. In a truly
amazing turn of events, two men survived and were rescued, after a
night of clinging to a life raft pitched around in the stormy seas.
The account of their survival, and of the heroic efforts made in
bringing them to safety, is one of the most compelling stories in
recent Great Lakes history.
- In this, the tenth in its continuing series of
historical shipwrecks, Southport Video returns to that fateful
night, offering the most complete account to date of the grand
history and tragic demise of the Carl D. Bradley--all told and
enhanced by expert testimony, rare photographs and beautiful
artwork, and even a new song composed exclusively for this video
while moving eyewitness accounts recall the dramatic rescue of the
Bradley's two survivors.
- Essential viewing for any maritime enthusiast!
