[CH.001] Down She Went

Lake Michigan | 1967

11:48 p.m

The water splashed. The wind eerily blew amok amongst the dead silence. Debris like wood planks, suitcases, plastics, and orange life vests floated around the vicinity. Coast guard rescue boats circled around the area; their spot lights shining down at the water's surface. The reflecting lights revealed the real color of the water; a murky green.

"Keep looking," an officer driving the boat told his two men, "there's still eighty-four unaccounted for."

Michigan Coast Guard vessels were circling the area where a ship had gone down. Nothing but signs of what was once here remain. Bodies of the deceased were continuing to be collected and brought back to shore. Embalming the picked-up bodies had to be done by onboard morticians. Utmost respect was paid to those who perished. Men and women of all ethnicities, and some children too.

The only resource the state had to recover bodies was the ship's passenger manifest. Of the 855 passengers and 102 crew members onboard, 107 lost their lives. Either by drowning in the water or being pulled down with the ship. Those who went down with the Allure, some never came back up to the surface. Forever lost to the depths of Lake Michigan.

After going under sometime around 8:45 p.m, over 250 souls were left to fight the strong undertow currents. Without flotation assistance, many lost that battle. But those who were strong enough, managed to survive to take another breath.

Searching a wide area for hours, many still remained missing and unaccounted for. Was it time to give up? Should the cleanup process begin? When news breaks in the morning, families will be devastated and desperate. Full of despair, remorse, and empty, many families will forefront the battle of mourning.

"There. Right over there," the man said as he turned his spotlight to focus on an unconscious female. Floating facedown, her identity couldn't be confirmed yet.

The driver turned the wheel, which began turning the boat to the right. It heaved over slightly as it finished its turn. Now facing the direction of the body he straightened the wheel and slowed down.

Boats being used by the states' coast guards weren't as big as those seen sailing in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. No bigger than a fishing boat, the capacity for them cannot go over eight people. Round trips to shore and back were tiring and frustrating, sure. But it had to be done.

Cleanup crews would arrive in the morning to start removing debris from the water. What happened here tonight will no doubt sneak into history books around the country. As such, mankind is still learning from mistakes and flaws of their own creation. The sinking of the S.S Allure is only a part of something bigger. As the sun rose on the horizon, signifying the start of another day, news outlets nationwide and even worldwide would find out what happened here tonight. Many questions. No answers.

It would be 56 years later that the mystery would be solved. A team of two maritime investigators will step up to the plate to bring an end to this looming, ageless mystery. And this is where the journey to closing this case begins.

56 years later | May 05, 2023

Present Day

"Good morning, Detroit. I'm your host Weston Allis. I'm joined in the station by Melinda Parker. What a morning, huh? Sunny, blue skies."

"Good morning, Detroit. You're not wrong, West. Forecasts show blue skies and plenty of sunshine for the day. But not much can be said for the rest of the week. Rob, how's our weekly outlook forecast showing?" Melinda said.

"Not too good, Mel," Rob, the meteorologist for the radio station, responded with a sarcastic chuckle. "Not too good."

"Oh boy, should we be worried?" Weston joked with a laugh.

[Rob & Melinda laughing] "Well it's not sunscreen and bikini weather. That's for sure," Rob told them.

"Take it away buddy," Weston said to Rob.

"Well folks, I've got good news and bad news," he began to explain; meaning the forecast wasn't looking good.

Meet John Francis Daley. Age: 42, Born: August 03, 1981 in Richmond, CA. Moved to Detroit after graduating college to pursue a career of maritime exploration and diving. Brown hair and blue eyes, slim physique, slight masculinity. You could say he's "fit" for his age. To people twice his age, he was still deemed as still young.

He was sitting in his car in a parking lot near StratFord Pier & Marina. It was running. The time on his dashboard read: 07:43:00 A.M. With the sun still rising, there wasn't much sunlight just yet. Chilly and brisk, with light fog. The grass was wet from the low dew point.

Sitting on the passenger seat was a boutique of red roses and daisy flowers. Contemplating on if he should stay or leave. Paying his respects was something he's always done every year. Every year he acted the same way too: hesitant.

Tapping his lips with his finger, he continued to gaze like a cat ready to pounce on its prey. Another minute went by uninterrupted. That was, however, until his watch chimed with a notification.

"Ah, for pete's sake," he mumbled with an eye roll. He shut his car off, grabbed the boutique of flowers, and got out of the car. He adjusted his light black coat after he set the flowers down on the roof of the car.

Sigh. Crunch. Rustle. The plastic wrapped around the flowers crunched, and the flowers rustled. As he stepped up over the curb from the parking lot, he made his way across the lawn; going past a few scattered picnic tables.

The StratFord Pier & Marina was once the home to three of the biggest cruise ships to ever sail the Great Lakes. It would have been home to a fourth ship, but those plans were scrapped for (as of now) unknown reasons.

S.S Dauntless (1964)

Designation: StratFord Pier 004 | 1964 - 1978

Class: AAA Passenger | Type: Cruise Ship

G.R.T: 5,430T <Weight >

Service: April 04, 1964 - September 24, 1978

Length: 586FT | Width: 94.5FT | Height: 42.5FT

S.S Allure (1966)

Designation: StratFord Pier 005 | 1966-1967

Class: AAA Passenger | Type: Cruise Ship

G.R.T: 5,630T <Weight >

Service: April 19, 1966 - April 20, 1966

April 05, 1967 - May 05, 1967

Length: 596FT | Width: 94.7FT | Height: 45.5FT

S.S Presence (1967)

Designation (Old): StratFord Pier 004 | 1967-1983

Designation (New): Sturgeon Bay, WI | 1983-PRST

Class: AAA Passenger | Type: Museum / Hotel Ship

G.R.T: 6,332T <Weight >

Service: April 19, 1967 - September 3, 1983 [Active]

Service: March 03, 1984 - Present [Hotel Ship] Length: 619.2FT | Width: 99FT | Height: 47.9FT

Unnamed (1969)

Designation: Stratford Pier 005 | 1969

Class: AAA Passenger | Type: Passenger

G.R.T (PLAN'D): 8,576T <Weight >

Service: NO SERVICE [Scrapped]

Length: 625FT | Width: 108FT | Height: 51.5FT

People flocked to newspaper stands to read about the ambitious plans of the owning and operating company: MidWestern Cruises, LLC. Many wondered how cruising on such hostile lakes like Lake Michigan was even possible.

At that time, cruising on the Great Lakes was practically unheard of. It was more common, and still is, to see freight ships and ferries traversing the lakes; not cruise ships.

It was all made possible by one man. He's the reason these ships came to be what we know them as today. It was his ambitious mindset that kickstarted what would be known as "The Great Race."

As John walked up to the memorial, he stopped to look over at a propeller that was displayed in front of the plaque. It was 11.5FT high and 11FT wide. It was enormous; towering over him. Painted a bronze color, it stood out to those who'd never seen it before.

"I haven't forgotten," he said as he kneeled down. Putting the boutique of flowers down in front of the inscription plaque.

When he stood up, he set his hand down on the plaque. His other hand was in his pocket. Closing his eyes, he began paying his respects.

"It's now or never, Russ," John said to Russ, "now or never."

John was experiencing the horrid memories of that night; reliving that night over and over again, each and every day.

"We have to move quickly now, okay? I'm giving you my life jacket. I want you to put it on and come with me," John told Russ.

The snip-it memories continued to flood his mind as he stood by the plaque for another few seconds.

"I'm going to need you to swim back to the stairs over there. Walking back isn't going to get us out of here."

The ceiling of the boat deck above was coming down on top of them. If they don't move fast, it'll force them underwater. Won't be able to breathe or see. That means…well…they'd suffocate and drown.

When he opened his eyes and took his hand off the plaque, his mind went silent. The memories and flashbacks stopped abruptly.

It's been seven years since he mysteriously awoke in a cabin aboard the ship. Went to bed a night before in his house, in his bed. So how could it be he ended up on a ship that was doomed to sink one day into her final voyage? It's a head scratcher. It makes you wonder how and why.

Oddly enough, he returned to the present day by surfacing from the depths of Lake Michigan. The last memory he recollects of the phenomenon was being pulled under by the undertow.

Furthermore, after he'd returned he received a letter from a state owned maritime investigations firm in StratFord, Michigan. Short and straight to the point it read:

Dear Mr. Daley,

My name is Harold Peters. I am the Director of Odyssey Marine & Co; a privately-owned marine investigations firm based in Sturgeon Bay, WI. I'm writing to you today because your name came about in our investigation into the sinking of the S.S Allure (1966-1967).

We would like to speak with you more in regards to acquiring your testimony of events that unfolded that night. You, unlike many, are among the last survivors of the sinking.

We've been contracted by the Michigan State Government to shed more light on the mysteries surrounding the sinking.

We believe you hold valuable information that we can use to bring this investigation to a satisfying conclusion.

At your discretion, please contact our office at the number provided on the card with this letter. I look forward to talking soon.

Kind Regards,

Harold Peters

John put both hands in his pockets. But in his right pocket, he pulled out the business card given to him.

O.M.C LTD

Odyssey Marine Co. Ltd

Diligent. Profound. United.

Harold Peters; O.M.I Director

odysseymarineharold@outlook.com

t: (920) 050-3210

www.odysseymarine&co.com | 223 W. 11th St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Flipping it over to the backside, he examined the two contact methods on the card. Ever since he's received that letter, he's held onto the card. Hesitant to reach out at first, the thought nagged at him.

There's only one person who knows his story–himself. Never talked about it, never told anyone. But if his name came up like stated in the letter, then they must know something he doesn't.

Taking one last look at the inscription plaque of the memorial, specifically at the names of those lost, made him finally decide what to do. If he wants to move on with his life, then he has to tell his story. Not only to the firm, but to the World.

"These lakes are full of mysteries," he said to himself, "it's time I solve one of them!"

By taking his phone out of his pocket, he dialed the number on the back of the card. He held it up to his ear as it began ringing.

"Hello, Mr. Daley," Harold said as the call began. "I've been waiting for your call. How are you, my good man?"

"Never better," John replied, "now let's talk business, yeah?"

"Let's," Harold responded.