Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The first day reporting to the Mckee Sons in Detroit as a AB position, I was put in charge of unloading the boat by the current Mate. I had no idea how to unload the boat but the Mate said "just watch these gauges and make sure they don't go over the prescribed amounts". I had always worked on tugs so when reported to this job I was pretty surprised. "This is a steamboat, not a tug and barge". But, really it was. Anyways, a young OS decided to surf the hatch covers shut. ( The McKee sons is a hatch farm with 28" walk ways if memory serves me correctly. Telescoping hatches opened and closed with snatch blocks and cables. Then come winter, tarps, batting and strong backs.) Naturally, the hatch snags and there goes the OS into a empty hatch. I immediately shut down all the conveyors and belts, run to my room for rubber surgical gloves (yes I carry them) and then climb down the ladder into the cargo hold to give a quick once over of said OS. He was breathing and some what coherent but really hurt badly. Not really any blood but I could tell he was in dire straights. He was pulled out on a litter but started to aspirate. We turned him on his side o let it flow out then he was transported to EMS. The boat was stopped and investigated.....I then had to ask myself why did I take this job in the first place? I was the only AB onboard. Probably just to save his life I suppose.

Do not feel bad, my age has already crept up on me !

My mistake Captain, didn't realize it was two different people.
Guess age is creeping up on me

Old Sparky. The man who fell into the cargo hold when waving to his Mom & Dad and died from his injuries. The young Lad who fell into the cargo hold was not hurt and continued to sail the rest of the year.

As crappy as it is not having your stories for months if your heading to the cabin soon it means spring and summer are rite around the corner and after this winter it can't happen soon enough, so take care of yourself and look forward to your stories next fall.

Thanks Capt Metz!!

Am I reading this wrong or did he finish the Welland transit as well as the trip up Lake Erie without being missed?

The Soo River Company paid payed for everything. I was so surprise that the young lad was not hurt, not even a scratch. He was more interested in the Helicopter ride than anything.


I would like to thank every one for reading my stories and for all of your questions that is what keeps me going. One more story then back to my cabin on the shore of Lake Superior and I will be back in the fall with more stories. Until then smooth sailing ....
Capt. Metz

Glad he was all rite a question cap who pays for the coast guard and the hospital?

Brilliant Capt. Metz i'm saving this story for tonight after dinner with a nice hot cup of tea.

Please keep your great Sea Stories coming until you go back to you're cabin very much appreciated many thanks Cap.

That gentleman was lucky ! Good story, thanks Captain !

Cargo Hold

It was a beautiful day while we were sailing at the west end of Lake Erie. We had all the hatch covers off to wash down the cargo holds I was on the bridge when the phone rang so I answered it. The voice on the other end was talking excitedly and I said, ‘Calm down and say again.’ Then the voice blurted into the phone, ‘A man fell into the cargo hold!’ I could not believe what I was hearing. I said, ‘I will be right down; send someone to get blankets and a stretcher.’ I told the mate on watch what had happened and said, ‘Call the USCG and ask them to stand by, that a man fell into the cargo hold. I will take my walkie-talkie with me to keep you informed.’ ‘OK,’ was his answer.

I quickly ran down to the deck and down the cargo hold ladder and over to the deckhand. He seemed all right, just dazed, but he was sitting up. I asked him where he hurt and he replied, ‘Nowhere, just my pride.’ I felt his legs, arms, back and asked him, ‘Does this hurt?’ He kept saying, ‘I do not hurt and I want to get up.’ The boys had lowered the stretcher and I said, ‘Do not get up.’ We got the stretcher next to him and with help, we moved him onto the stretcher. All the time he kept on saying, ‘Cap, I am not hurt.’ I called the wheelhouse and told the mate to give the USCG our position and tell them the man seems to be OK and we’ve got him on a stretcher. The mate relayed this to the USCG hearing they were on their way to the ship. I told the guys I have to be in the wheelhouse to meet with the coast guard.

The chopper called as I reach the bridge and requested something is placed next to the hatch so they can drop a basket into the cargo hold. A red flag was used to mark the cargo hold. I then asked the pilot if I should reduce the speed of the ship but he said not to. The chopper hovered over the hatch and a stretcher was lowered into the hold and the boys put the deckhand into their stretcher and up he came. They got him in the chopper and flew to the hospital.

I thanked the pilot and asked, ‘What hospital is the deckhand being flown to?’ He reported back to me, ‘Detroit Hospital’.

When we got into the Detroit River, the mail boat called and said they had a passenger that would like to join the ship. I asked his name. To my surprise, the deckhand who had fallen into the cargo hold! He was all right but very lucky because when he fell, he hit the side tank and slid down the side tank onto the tank top. We were in the Welland Canal and a few hatch covers were open for drying out. As we were approaching the wall there were people standing watching the ship come up close to the wall. One of our seamen saw his relation waving and he ran across the deck to wave back but he did not see the open hatch and fell through. It was sad for everyone to see this happen. New rules say all hatches must be closed during transit through the canal unless there is a net over the open hatch and a sign ‘Open Hatch’ displayed. I have been retired for 20 years so there might be other changes of rules regarding open hatches