Sunk by Cheryl Poch

Cheryl has been at it again, looking for books and stories that will intrigue you, interest you, and help you learn more about Michigan's history. Check this out -- no, literally -- check it out of the library!

Here is an interesting book entitled WRECK OF THE CARL D. A TRUE STORY OF LOSS, SURVIVAL, AND RESCUE AT SEA by Michael Schumacher.

By the way – this book was donated in memory of Jim Tinsley this year.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. on November 18, 1958, the Carl D. Bradley, a 623-foot lime-stone carrier caught in one of the most violent storms in Michigan history, snapped in two, and sank in less than five minutes. Four of the 35 man crew escaped to a small raft, where they hung on in total darkness braving 30-foot high waves and frigid temperatures. As the storm raged on, a search-and-rescue mission hunted for survivors, while the frantic citizens of Rogers City, Michigan, the hardscrabble town that was home to 26 members of the Bradley’s crews, anxiously awaited word of their loved ones’ fates.

If you are interested in finding out more about the book, click on the book cover shown in this article and it will take you to the Amazon site. Following is a portion of the Booklist review:

This chronicle of the November 1958 sinking of the limestone carrier Carl D. Bradley in Lake Michigan is sure to appeal to the many fans of Junger’s The Perfect Storm (1997). Almost the entire crew of 35 died when the ship was literally torn in half during a fierce storm; the book recounts the incident and its tragic aftermath, including a dramatic search-and-rescue effort. It’s a poignant story, made even more poignant by the fact that most of the crew’s families lived in the same small town, Rogers City. This isn’t just a story about a tragedy on the water, but about an entire town coming to terms with the sudden loss of so many of its friends and family.