A 1992 trip across the Great Lakes with a near disaster aboard the J L Mauthe it is Trip 29

W. Wes Oleszewski
W. Wes Oleszewski
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Published 2021-08-26
A lot of viewers have seen the short video of the near collision on Lake Erie while I was aboard the J.L. MAUTHE back in 1992. Many have asked to see the WHOLE video and have asked about what was said between the two boats. This video is the trip as a whole and includes the un-edited radio conversation between the captain of the MUTHE and the CASON J. CALLAWAY after our close call. They conversation, I warn you, is NOT what many would expect. You'll also witness some life aboard the boat and see her hull as it flexed in 54 mile per hour wind gusts on Lake Huron. You see grain unloading and loading as well as the general stuff aboard the boat. The only down side is that we did the Soo locks both ways at night and the Detroit River downbound at night.

I've done my best to remove all of the F-bombs from the soundtrack but there are a few minor saucy words to be heard..

This is a LONG video folks, so have your popcorn ready.

Later I will be breaking this into smaller "chapters" for better YouTube enjoyment. Meanwhile- here is the whole shooting match.

Keep in mind that this was videoed with a top end Sony Handycam of the time, but it IS pre-digital and shot before steady-cam was in wide use, so the quality is not even close to today's HD.
All Comments (21)
  • @stevenavarre3501
    Nice video. My dad was captain of the Mauthe in the 70s and I took a trip on that ship ( my only vacations as a kid were ship trips).
  • @louisjohnston9095
    Wes! I can't believe you have this great video! Thanks for sharing. I spent three months aboard the Mauthe in 1983 as an engine cadet from the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. I absolutely loved that ship and the people on her. It was one of the great experiences of my life. Your video brings back many memories, and when I get a chance I am going to study it better.
  • @leehanna4929
    Dang! I haven't seen two ships that close since my early navy days doing underway replenishment! Really enjoying the video, Wes.
  • @luketdrifter2100
    Love your channel. And tho my sailing career was quite short, this video made me feel like I was back on the Lee A again.
  • @tfoxsail
    Great video! My dad has stoked my love for all things Great Lakes shipping, and he introduced me to your books as well.
  • @Lynchfan88
    What an interesting vid showing your trip. I've seen vids of Great Lakes ore boats but never a 90 minute adventure taken from onboard like this. I'm in Cleveland, Ohio and a few years ago my family and I toured the nearly 100 year old William G. Mather that's been docked here for tours for decades. That was a cool experience and your vid of and on the Mauthe reminded me of the Mather. Glad you kept it nearly 30 years and posted it.
  • @sam60727
    Just discovered you and am loving your vids!! Connie Frances playing in the background, and a fella singing along....this has my heart! Lol. Love love love this.
  • @kellybreen5526
    In the 50s my dad was a fireman on the Yankcanuck. It had been brought back into service during the war after having been sitting sunk and rotting in Midland for most of the depression. The timbers were too rotten to accept nails so holes were patched with concrete. Not many safety precautions taken in those days it would seem. My uncles fired steamers in the 30s. One was the Starbuck, which was made of iron. He was killed in the Battle of the Atlantic. We bought many of your books for my father. I am glad to have stumbled onto your channel. Subscribed!
  • @jamesbell8749
    The "Aquararma", really. Thanks for sharing this excellent video with us. Fan of US Subs. Of course, fan of lake boats, even more. Dad's was built out East, though. "USS Grouper", 214.
  • @chipc4936
    Thank you so much for posting this very interesting and fascinating footage. Simply excellent!
  • @johnking1381
    Looking forward to this, saving it till I've no interruptions. Callaways captain was lucky and reckless in equal measure. The money he saved the company is not worth the lives of his and the Mauthes' crew. Top shelf Wes👌
  • @danzmitrovich6250
    That ship is so close you can resupply him with a beer and extra breakfast sandwiches from cooks after season food
  • @eliotheasman5378
    Very interesting video I was merchant navy but this is brilliant many thanks
  • @yah5690
    Man oh man, I've been looking foward ti this!
  • @alaricdogface
    Amazing video - 30 years in the making! I wonder if that is the same Mary the cook that spent winter layups in Superior. Either way I will be craving blueberry pancakes until I get some.
  • @1111111idiot
    That ranks up towards one of the best movies (let alone videos) I have ever seen. Keep them coming like this, if you have more. All the best to you and yours Wes.
  • @johnmanthey2683
    I believe this was long after my brother done sailing. He sailed in her in the fifties and sixties I do believe. He was an engineer. My dad was fleet chief when she was built. Still don't know why they gutted the Mauthe and turn a great boat into a barge.
  • @vincentm3302
    Wow! such and amazing video, thanks so much for posting this!
  • @roflcookies
    This video is cool, this is one of the only videos I've found of the grain scoopers working the ropes and pulleys etc. The only other video I've seen of them is a 1983 video of the Merle M. McCurdy but this one is much higher quality