[CH.009] Press Release

!! BREAKING NEWS !!

January 7, 2024

After 57 Long Years Of Controversy and Mystery Behind The S.S ALLURE Sinking, Sturgeon Bay Firm, Odyssey Marine, Releases Written Statement To Public Since Announcing Their Investigation Eight Months Ago. The Culprit Is Not What You Think!

Written By: Austin V.

Edited By: Alan D. | Published By: Justin Y.

September 4, 2023 - - On the 5th of May, 1967, an unexpected tragedy unfolded aboard the troubled ship, the S.S Allure. Onboard were over (750) passengers and (87) crew. On a routine weekend voyage nothing seemed out of the ordinary. One day into the voyage, the fated S.S Allure met her demise.

Around 8:00 PM, the ship encountered a rogue wave; its origin unknown. In their statement, although lengthy-worded, they concluded the following causes of the sinking:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ODYSSEY MARINE CO. | HAROLD PETERS PRESENTS S.S ALLURE SINKING (1967) FINDINGS

[STURGEON BAY, WI) - HAROLD PETERS Will present new findings on eight month investigation into the sinking of the S.S ALLURE, which foundered after encountering a rogue wave on 05 May, 1967 at 0800 hours and ended at 0841 hours

Fifty-seven years have elapsed since the tragic sinking of the vessel S.S ALLURE. The events of that night haven't been forgotten by family members of those who sadly perished. The total number of victims, which was originally reported to be 107, instead ended up being 134 lives lost [27 being crewmembers]. After extensive sonar mapping of the wreck site, Odyssey Marine can confidently confirm the exact cause to be shotty hull repairs, and solely place blame on the Waylen Bros. Shipbuilding Company; the builder of the S.S DAUNTLESS, S.S ALLURE, and the S.S PRESENCE.

After the 1966 collision with the freighter EDMUND FITZGERALD, the ALLURE suffered severe hull damage. Two of her six watertight compartments were flooded, but she was in no danger of sinking. Thus, she was towed back to Stratford and dry-docked, where visual damage inspections were carried out. For clarity, she could relatively stay afloat with any two compartments breached. That was the case in 1966, but when the 1967 summer season came around, the ship operated normally for the first few weeks of the season.

That brings us to the fateful night of 05 May, 1967, a rogue wave appeared off the Portside horizon. The Captain did what any Commander would have done. It was and still is common knowledge that the best action to take is to ride the wave head, or aft, on to ride over it. With the hull repairs not up to safety standards of the time, when the stern made contact with the water after riding over the wave, the weld lines keeping the hull watertight, failed.

Sonar Imaging confirmed this theory by revealing a crack that spanned 274.5FT long, or simply put the length of 2 ½ watertight compartments. The crack sealed the ship's fate. With water flooding into the damaged compartments, and pumps and watertight doors on the fritz, there was nothing that could've been done to save the dying ALLURE. Going down by the stern, the ALLURE had 37 minutes left to live. This time could have been extended if there was a sufficient supply of electricity to the watertight doors and the pump system.

Causes (recap):

(1) Poor and faulty repairs to damage sections of starboard side (aft) hull

(2) Failure of backup electrical system, which should've been operable even in stand-by. If operable, watertight doors could've sealed off undamaged compartments. Thus prolonging the duration of the sinking, and potentially saving every life aboard

(3) MSCG [Michigan State Coast Guard] slow response time

(4) Waylen Bros Shipbuilding Company lack of oversight and control of proper procedures for maintaining safety standards set forth by the state of Michigan

To conclude:

We, everyone at Odyssey Marine are deeply disturbed by these findings and we send our deepest condolences to the families of those lost. Our hope is that after 57 years, we've delivered some sense of closure to you and your loved ones. We will refrain from releasing names of those who lost their lives that night to respect the privacy of family members.

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One Month Later…

Stratford, Michigan

John had returned home a few days after the investigation was over and the findings were released to the public.

Russel and Dorothy have stuck around after finding out the truth about the Allure's demise. They both survived, due in part to John's caring, putting others first attitude on that night.

"Yeah know, you never figured out how you ended up traveling back in time. Did ya?" Dorothy asked John. He picked up his old fashioned drink and walked out from behind the bar counter. He took a sip of it right in front of Russ.

"That looks so refreshing," Russ said as he eyed the drink like a dog would with a treat. "If I wasn't dead, I'd ask for—"

"Well… you are dead," Dorothy reminded him as she closed his mouth for him. He was practically drooling over the drink.

"How's it smell?" Russ asked.

"Heavenly," John responded as he took another sip right in front of him. "Speaking of which, when are you guys going to—well—crossover?"

John shook his head and shooed John's question off. He turned around to look away.

"There's plenty more of these on the other side you know," John said, "wait. I don't know. You would if you'd—ya know."

"But we like haunting you," Dorothy argued, "Heaven isn't for everybody."

"Tell that to Harold. That fucker refuses to die. He has to be over 90 by now," Russ said with a serious, but not serious tone of voice. They all went silent for a moment before all sharing a much needed laugh.

"It's that damn Activia yogurt keeping the casket away," Dorothy joked.

"John, so you're not at all interested in finding out how you went back to that night?" Russ asked John again.

"Some questions are probably best left unanswered. The universe is expansive and full of mystery. Maybe someday I'll change my mind and go seeking answers. But for now, I'm going to sit and enjoy this—"

PLOOP!

BANG!

Russ and Dorothy jumped in suspense. One second John was there, walking over to the couch to sit and enjoy his drink, then the next—he's gone.

POOF!

"Did Thanos snap his fingers?" Russ asked Dorothy, "where'd he go?"

TO BE CONTINUED…