The Carl D. Bradley Shipwreck: She Broke In Two

On November 18, 1958, the Great Lakes freighter Carl D. Bradley broke in two during a violent Lake Michigan storm and sank within minutes, devastating Rogers City, Michigan, where much of the crew lived, worked, and raised their families. The Carl D. Bradley was once known as the Queen of the Lakes, famous for her size, power, and place in Great Lakes history. But by 1958, the aging freighter had a reputation among some sailors for being under strain. Some spoke of rivets popping in heavy weather. Others worried she was being pushed too hard. Then came one final run. In this episode of Lake Effect, we tell the haunting story of the Carl D. Bradley shipwreck: the final voyage, the Lake Michigan storm, the sudden breakup, the desperate Mayday, the life raft, the failed flare, the rescue of the only two survivors, and the heartbreak that followed in Rogers City. This is the story of a Great Lakes ship that went down in minutes — and a town that never fully recovered. Topics covered: Carl D. Bradley shipwreck, Lake Michigan disaster, Great Lakes freighter, Rogers City Michigan, Queen of the Lakes, Great Lakes storm, Beaver Island shipwreck, Great Lakes maritime history, Lake Effect documentary. #CarlDBradley #GreatLakesShipwrecks #LakeMichigan #Shipwreck #RogersCity #GreatLakesHistory #LakeEffect #MichiganHistory #QueenOfTheLakes #GreatLakesStorms Music: “Storm Warnings (Mariner’s Mix)” by Gary Aho    • Storm Warnings (Wreck of the Edmund Fitzge...   Jeff Lindsay Photos https://www.jefflindsay.ca/carlbradley