WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:04.080 Hello friends, Steve Stockton here with you. Welcome to our 2 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:07.879 latest video. In this episode, we take a look at 3 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:12.279 the history, legends, and disappearances in Everglades National Park. 4 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:16.160 Join US now. 5 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:20.320 Everyglades National Park is located just outside Miami, Florida, and 6 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:23.839 is home to the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. 7 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:27.320 The park covers about one point five million acres of 8 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:30.559 land and hosts one of the most diverse ecosystems currently 9 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:34.479 found nowhere else in the world. It's home to an 10 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:38.920 abundance of wildlife, including rare and endangered species like manatees, 11 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:44.200 the American alligator, and the elusive Florida panther. The scenery 12 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:49.240 is striking, with thousands of miles of sawgrass, intermittent Cyprus domes, 13 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:53.240 and countless water sluice. The park offers a variety of 14 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:58.960 outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing and photography, 15 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:02.560 guided tours the area, and even gambling in the Native 16 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:06.920 American casinos. The Everglades tropical climate means there are two 17 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:11.359 primary seasons, wet and dry between December and April. The 18 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:14.680 dry season provides low humidity and mild temperatures that range 19 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:17.640 from the low fifties to the high seventies and fahrenheit. 20 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:21.200 The dry season is the peak for tourism, when water 21 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:25.319 levels are low and the wildlife congregate in central water locations. 22 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.400 The wet season from May to December, however, brings about 23 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:33.239 harsher conditions. Temperatures can reach the high nineties with high 24 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:37.599 humidity and near constant rain. This makes for dangerous environment 25 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:41.799 for those who go unprepared. To many people, the Everglades 26 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:43.920 are a reminder of the beauty and wonder of nature, 27 00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:47.680 but there is a sinister site to these wondrous marshes. 28 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:50.319 We're going to look at the history of the Everglades, 29 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.840 as well as local legends, mysteries, strange disappearances, and one 30 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:56.000 survivor's account. 31 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:58.120 A little bit of history. 32 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:01.799 First humans inhabited the Everglades area as early as fifteen 33 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:05.040 thousand years ago, well before South Florida turned into the 34 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:08.719 present wetlands. They would have found an arid landscape that 35 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:13.479 supported plants and animals adapted for desert conditions. However, sixty 36 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:17.479 five hundred years ago, climate changes brought a wetter landscape. 37 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:21.439 Large animals became extinct in Florida and the Paleo Indians 38 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:25.919 slowly adapted and became the archaic peoples. They conformed of 39 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:28.960 the environmental changes and created many tools with the various 40 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:33.479 resources available. Florida Native Americans developed into three distinct and 41 00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:36.159 similar cultures that were named for the bodies of water 42 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:41.879 near where they were located Okechobee, Calusa, Hatchie, and Glades. 43 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:46.319 From the Glades people, two major nations emerged in the area, 44 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:51.120 the Calusa and the Tequesta. With Spanish colonization, both tribes 45 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:56.400 gradually declined during the next two centuries. Then the Seminole tribe, 46 00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:58.639 mostly formed of Greek people who had been warning to 47 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:01.919 the north, assimilar did other peoples and created an entirely 48 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:05.159 new culture after being forced from northern Florida into the 49 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:09.199 Everglades region during the Seminole Wars of the early nineteenth century. 50 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:12.960 After adapting to the region, the Seminole people were able 51 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:16.400 to resist removal by the United States Army. The Seminole 52 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:21.120 called the area Pahokee, meaning grassy water. They learned to 53 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.840 survive in marsh wetlands, behinding the local game, fishing the waters, 54 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:30.159 and eventually cultivating select crops. In eighteen ninety seven, Andrew 55 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:33.319 Jackson invaded Florida to hasten its annexation to the United 56 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:36.439 States in what became known as the First Seminole War. 57 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:40.400 After Florida became a US territory in eighteen twenty one, 58 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:45.199 conflicts between the settlers and the Seminoles increased. The Second 59 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:49.080 Seminole War lasted from eighteen thirty five to eighteen forty two, 60 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:53.000 and afterward the US forcibly removed about three thousand Seminole 61 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:56.400 an eight hundred black Seminole to Indian Territory, which is 62 00:03:56.439 --> 00:04:00.319 now Oklahoma west of the Mississippi River many others in 63 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:04.080 the war. Conflict broke out again in the Third Seminole 64 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:07.120 War from eighteen fifty five to eighteen fifty nine, when 65 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:09.840 a few hundred Seminole fought off US forces from the 66 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:13.199 swamps of the Everglades. The US finally decided to leave 67 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:17.680 them alone after failing to dislodge them. By nineteen thirteen, 68 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:20.720 the Seminole people left in the Everglades numbered no more 69 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:21.720 than three hundred. 70 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:22.079 And twenty five. 71 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:26.399 The construction of the Tamiami Trail, beginning in nineteen twenty 72 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:29.560 eight and spanning the region from Tampa to Miami altered 73 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:33.839 their ways of life. Some began to work in local farms, ranches, 74 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:37.240 and souvenir stands. Some of the people who interacted more 75 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:40.000 with the European Americans began to move to reservations in 76 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:44.480 the nineteen forties. These were their bases for reorganizing their government, 77 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:48.720 and they became federally recognized in nineteen fifty seven as 78 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:50.279 the Seminole Tribe of Florida. 79 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:52.319 People who kept more. 80 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:56.000 Traditional ways had settlements along the Tamiami Trail and usually 81 00:04:56.120 --> 00:05:01.079 spoke the Makasuki language. They were federally recognized in nineteen 82 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.199 sixty two as the Mikosuki Tribe of Indians of Florida. 83 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:08.399 As metropolitan areas in South Florida began to grow, the 84 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:12.560 two groups were closely associated with the Everglades. They struggled 85 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:16.439 to maintain privacy while serving as tourist attractions. They earned 86 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:19.600 money by such diverse ways as wrestling alligators and selling 87 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:23.959 handmade crafts. As of two thousand and eight, Seminole Tribe 88 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.959 of Florida had five reservations, and the lands of the 89 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:30.639 Mikosuki Tribe of Indians were collectively considered a sixth reservation. 90 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:34.319 The two tribes have each developed casino gaming on some 91 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:37.759 of their properties to generate revenue for support services and 92 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:41.600 economic development. The idea of a national park for the 93 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:44.519 Everglades was first pitched in nineteen twenty eight when a 94 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:48.360 Miami land developer named Ernest f. Coe established the Everglades 95 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:52.720 Tropical National Park Association. It had enough support to be 96 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:55.639 declared a National park by Congress in nineteen thirty four. 97 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:59.439 It took another thirteen years for to become a dedicated 98 00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:02.519 national park, work which happened on December sixth. 99 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:05.800 Nineteen forty seven. In nineteen forty eight. 100 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:08.800 Congress approved the Central and Southern Florida Project for Flood 101 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:12.680 Control and other purposes, which divided the Everglades into basins. 102 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:17.399 In the northern Everglades were water conservation areas and the 103 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:21.160 Everglades Agricultural Area. Bording to the south of Lake Okachobee. 104 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.959 In the southern Everglades was Everglades National Park. Levees and 105 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.199 pumping stations released water in drier times or removed it 106 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.680 and pumped it out to the ocean during times of flooding. 107 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:37.279 The water conservation areas took up approximately thirty seven percent 108 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:42.279 of the original Everglades. During the nineteen fifties and nineteen sixties, 109 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.319 the Miami metropolitan area grew four times as fast as 110 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:49.120 the rest of the nation. Between nineteen forty and nineteen 111 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:52.959 sixty five, six million people moved to South Florida, with 112 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:57.879 one thousand people moving to Miami every week. This population 113 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.279 and economic boom wasn't without constant quints, however, With the 114 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:06.240 production of more agriculture came an ever changing Everglades environment. Specifically, 115 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.680 the production of sugarcane nearly destroyed the water quality due 116 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.279 to phosphorus runoff. In two thousand and eight, the state 117 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:15.600 of Florida agreed to buy US Sugar and all of 118 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:19.480 its manufacturing and production facilities for an estimated one point 119 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:23.879 seven billion dollars. Florida officials intended to allow US Sugar 120 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:26.959 to process for six more years before dismissing its employees 121 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:31.199 and dismantling the plant. This area, which includes one hundred 122 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.720 and eighty seven thousand acres of land, would then be 123 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:37.639 rehabilitated and water flow from Lake Okachovie would be restored. 124 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:41.879 In November two thousand and eight, the agreement was revised 125 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:45.360 to offer one point three four billion dollars allowing sugar 126 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:49.199 mills in Cluiston to remain in production. Further research is 127 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:52.959 being done to address the problem of the runoff. Everglades' 128 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:56.399 restoration received ninety six million dollars of the American Recovery 129 00:07:56.439 --> 00:08:00.519 and Reinvestment Act of two thousand and nine. A result, 130 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:03.839 A mile long bridge to replace the Tamiami Trail, a 131 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.800 road that borders Everglades National Park to the north and 132 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:10.439 has locked water for reaching the southern Everglades, was begun 133 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:12.959 by the Army Corps of Engineers in December two thousand 134 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:16.439 and nine. Governor Charlie crist announced around that time that 135 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:19.360 fifty million dollars of state funds would be designated for 136 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:24.000 Everglades restoration. In May twenty ten, five and a half 137 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:26.279 miles of bridges were proposed to be added to the 138 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.639 Tamiami Trail. These protection measures have been imperative to the 139 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:33.399 survival of the Everglades and the people who live in 140 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:37.120 the area. Today, most of South Florida relies on the 141 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:40.919 Everglades for their drinking water. Multiple agencies are still working 142 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:44.480 towards complete restoration of the Everglades, and the national Park 143 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:47.360 is an important part of our country and its history. 144 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:49.639 And we should continue to do all we can to 145 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:53.600 protect it. Now, let's look at some of the legends 146 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:58.080 and mysteries in the Everglades. Probably the most well known 147 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:01.840 and most discussed is a creature as the skunk Cape. 148 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.120 While many people don't even believe in its existence, tales 149 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:08.159 and reports of this cryptid called the skunk cape, also 150 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:11.399 known as the swamp ape or Florida's Bigfoot, have been 151 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.840 around for centuries. This ape like creature is said to 152 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:18.799 inhabit the swamps of the southeastern United States, most notably Florida. 153 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:22.639 The skunk cape is generally described as being a bipedal 154 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:25.639 ape like creature, standing five to seven feet tall and 155 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:29.399 covered in blotchy reddish brown hair. The skun cape has 156 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:32.879 been part of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama's folklore since the 157 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:36.960 European settler period, at least. Even the Seminole culture going 158 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:40.279 far back includes stories that have been passed down about a 159 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:44.559 foul smelling, powerful, and secretive creature they call st. Kupkake, 160 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:49.559 which roughly translates the cannibal giant. There have been over 161 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:52.519 three hundred and thirty three sidings in Florida archived by 162 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:57.240 the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization or the BFRO, as well 163 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:59.279 as one hundred and thirty seven from Georgia and one 164 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:03.000 hundred from Alibis. Most of these reported sightings ranged from 165 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.960 the nineteen sixties all the way to today's time, though 166 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:08.720 legends of the ape like creature's existence have been around 167 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:12.360 much longer. Reports of the Skun Cape were had logged 168 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:15.559 in newspapers as early as eighteen eighteen, in a report 169 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:19.240 from what is now known as Appalachicola, Florida, which spoke 170 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:22.519 of a man sized monkey raiding food stores and even 171 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:24.440 stalking fishermen along the shore. 172 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:26.720 In nineteen forty. 173 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:29.360 Two, there was a man in Sawanna County, Florida, who 174 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:31.879 reported a similar creature had rushed out from the brush 175 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:35.159 line while he was driving down an isolated road. The 176 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:38.240 creature allegedly grabbed his vehicle and began beating on his 177 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:41.240 door and running board, continuing the salt for half a 178 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:44.519 mile before finally letting go and falling off and then 179 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:49.440 running into the woods. During the nineteen seventies, there were 180 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:52.039 more than a dozen reported sightings of the Skun Cape 181 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:56.120 in Palm Beach County alone. Eyewitnesses claimed the creature was 182 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:59.360 up to eight feet tall and weighed five hundred pound more, 183 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:03.240 and that it could rapidly when frightened or pursued. The 184 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:05.919 most notable and agreed upon feature of the skunk ape 185 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.240 is its smell, with a stinge described as a cross between. 186 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:10.840 A skunk and aged roadkill. 187 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:15.559 In June of nineteen seventy four, a farmer named Buddy 188 00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:18.039 Sterrett reported that a skunk ape had picked up and 189 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.279 attacked one of his dogs that weigh one hundred and 190 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:24.039 ten pounds. Buddy is quoted as saying it had the 191 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:25.840 smell that would make the hair on the back of 192 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:29.759 your head stand up. Reports continued in the nineteen eighties, 193 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:33.320 including one from a college psychology professor who encountered an 194 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:37.399 upright ape like animal reported as having quote, non human 195 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:42.320 body language and movements unquote. This was in Ilachua County, Florida, 196 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:47.440 and sightings have happened into our current years. In twenty fifteen, 197 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:50.440 a video was taken by a kayaker named Matthew mccameey 198 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.320 had to let Us Like Park in Hillsborough County, Florida. 199 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:57.279 The video shows a bipedal ape like creature wading through 200 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:01.320 a cypress marsh reports like this still come in, though 201 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:04.639 the creature has managed to elude capture for further study. 202 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:09.360 Next up, let's have a look at the Lost Patrol. 203 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:14.000 Flight nineteen, which has been mistakenly called the Lost Patrol 204 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:17.600 wasn't really a patrol at all, but a naval training flight. 205 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:21.960 It was December fifth, nineteen forty five, several months after 206 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:24.960 the end of World War Two. The weather was warm 207 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:28.519 sixty seven degrees with billowing clouds in a southwest wind. 208 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:33.519 These were considered average conditions for training flights. This endeavor 209 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:36.559 was supposed to be a routine navigation exercise as well 210 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:40.399 as a mock bombing run. A squadron of five TBM 211 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:44.399 Avenger torpedo bombers carrying a total of fourteen men, were 212 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:47.039 to fly to the Hen and Chicken Shoals in the Bahamas, 213 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:50.519 where they would practice dropping their torpedoes and then return 214 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:54.279 to the Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station. The flight was 215 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:57.360 to be their last practice run before graduation, and these 216 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:01.759 guys had done this before. Took off without incident and 217 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:05.159 made their way to the Bahamas. Those aboard Flight nineteen 218 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.919 completed their exercise and were heading back to base. Then 219 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:13.799 about ninety minutes after takeoff, Lieutenant Charles C. Taylor reported 220 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:16.440 that he was somehow lost, and the weather and sea 221 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:20.399 conditions were worsening over the next several hours. It is 222 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:24.200 believed that Lieutenant Taylor mistakenly led Flight nineteen further out 223 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:27.080 the sea, and that the planes eventually ran out of 224 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:31.080 fuel and crashed. A massive and extensive search and rescue 225 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:34.039 effort was launched for the five lost planes, with units 226 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:37.200 from the Navy, Army, and Coastguard sent out the search 227 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:40.960 for the lost aircraft. The disappearance of the five bombers 228 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:43.519 parked one of the largest air and sea searches in history. 229 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:48.639 The last location given was seventy five miles northeast of Cocoa, Florida. 230 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:51.480 There was little more than one hour's worth of fuel left. 231 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:54.200 It's believed the group may have actually been as far 232 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.840 as two hundred miles out at sea. Weather and sea 233 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:01.000 conditions were steadily worsening as the evening war on, and 234 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:04.320 what began as decent conditions for their training flight soon 235 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.840 turned out to be dangerous. 236 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.879 For Flight nineteen. It was reported by. 237 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:11.399 The Airport Weather Station in Miami that a large area 238 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:13.679 of turbulence rolled out of a storm that was centered 239 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:17.679 over Georgia, sweeping over Jacksonville, Florida around noon and reaching 240 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:21.720 Miami by nightfall. There were squalls on the surface forty 241 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.200 miles per hour winds at one thousand feet, and a 242 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:27.159 full hurricane reaching seventy five miles an hour at eight 243 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:31.360 thousand feet, all recorded at four PM. There was a 244 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:34.320 radio conversation between the flight leader, Taylor and a fellow 245 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:38.279 Navy pilot, Lieutenant Robert F. Cox, a senior flight instructor 246 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:40.679 who was also in the air but not a part 247 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:44.840 of the planes in Flight nineteen. This conversation was uncovered 248 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:48.519 in the Board of Investigation records. The last transmission from 249 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:51.720 Flight nineteen took place at seven oh four PM, when 250 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:55.320 Lieutenant Cox was on air communicating with Flight nineteen until 251 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:58.960 their signal got weaker. Lieutenant Cox wanted to search for 252 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.480 the squadron at that point, but was told not to 253 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:08.039 by NASFL officials who feared losing another pilot. However, within 254 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:11.919 minutes of learning a Flight nineteen's predicament, two PBM marin 255 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:16.039 Or flying boats were dispatched from nas Banana River in Melbourne, Florida, 256 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:19.960 which is now Patrick Air Force Base. Both planes were 257 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:23.120 carrying rescue equipment and planned to render aid to Flight nineteen. 258 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:27.000 Less than an hour after takeoff, at approximately seven to 259 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:30.879 twenty seven PM, one of the PBMs called Trainer forty nine, 260 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:33.840 radioed back that they were nearing the last assumed position 261 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:37.559 of Flight nineteen. There were thirteen crew members on board 262 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:42.159 Trainer forty nine. After that last radio call, the thirteen 263 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:45.200 men on Trainer forty nine were never heard from again. 264 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:48.960 The search for all these missing aircraft involved hundreds of 265 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:52.120 ships and planes. The Navy ordered two hundred and forty 266 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:55.480 eight planes into the air, eighteen surface craft, including the 267 00:15:55.519 --> 00:16:00.639 Baby flat top USS, Solomon's, and numerous merchant ships. At 268 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:03.039 that time, it was the biggest rescue effort to ever 269 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:06.919 take place in times of peace. Search and rescued crews 270 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:09.320 covered more than two hundred thousand square miles of the 271 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:13.000 Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. While on land, 272 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:17.320 they combed to Florida's interior, searching virtually every mile of 273 00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:17.879 open water. 274 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:18.600 Off the coast. 275 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:21.559 Were six planes from the Third Air Force, one hundred 276 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:24.600 and twenty planes from the Navy Air Advanced Training Command, 277 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:28.840 and several aircraft from the Air Transport Command. The Bocareton 278 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:32.679 Army Airfield, the Coast Guard, and the RAF and Nassau 279 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:37.440 all participated. Additionally, dozens of Navy and Coast Guard surface 280 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:41.039 craft joined in the search. The efforts were directed from 281 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:44.080 the Coast Guard headquarters of the seventh Naval District in Miami. 282 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:49.080 Many naval officers also participated in the massive search. Frank 283 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:53.080 Daily from Alfaretta, Georgia, a Naval Reserve captain, flew in 284 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:56.759 a pby seaplane to look for the missing aircraft. He 285 00:16:56.840 --> 00:17:00.320 recalls that for three days, six hours a day, they 286 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.639 plowed up and down the whole coast of Florida looking 287 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:08.079 for wreckage, but never saw a thing and loving memory 288 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:10.480 of the Flight nineteen crew, as well as pb M 289 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:14.119 five Mariners rescue crew who will now read the names 290 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:18.039 of those we lost in this tragedy from Flight nineteen. 291 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:26.960 Ballock B E. Junior, Buzzy, J. T. Devlin, GF Gallovan, 292 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:36.319 R F Gerber, F J. Gruble, RP Lightfoot, W E. Valanessa, 293 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:44.400 g R, Parpark W R Powers, E J. Stivers, G W. Taylor, 294 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:50.720 Charles C. Squadron Leader felnder A H. And Thompson H. O. 295 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:56.359 From the NA S Banana River PBM five Mariner, Allen 296 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:05.119 Roger m Arsenal, Charles D. Cameron, Robert C. Cargill, Wiley D. Cohen, 297 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:11.200 Harry G. Eliason, Lloyd Day, Jeffrey Walter G. Commanding pilot 298 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:17.960 of PBM five Mariner, Jordan James F. Menindez, John T. Niemann, 299 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:24.240 Philip b Oster Held, James F. Peterson, Donald E. Suwicki, 300 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:30.359 Alfred J. May all these men rest in peace. We 301 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:35.240 thank you for your service. The mystery and intrigue over 302 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:37.799 what really happened has kept interest high. In this case, 303 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:41.119 the mystery of Flight nineteen help spread awareness of the 304 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:44.319 legend of the Bermuda Triangle, which is the area between 305 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:48.680 Fort Lauderdale, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico where dozens of airplanes 306 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:51.920 and boats have disappeared over the years. How could an 307 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:55.400 entire group have experienced airmen disappear without a shred of evidence? 308 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:56.720 Then? 309 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.000 How did one of the rescue planes, upon nearing Flight 310 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:04.359 nineteen's last known location, also seemingly disappeared in the thin air. 311 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:07.680 No trace of any of these planes was ever found. 312 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:12.119 Some theorized strong electromagnetic currents in the Bermuda Triangle area 313 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:16.000 may be to blame. Others think perhaps it was extraterrestrials. 314 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:18.960 What do you think happened to Flight nineteen in the 315 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:26.799 rescue plane that disappeared? Next up, another strange tale from 316 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:30.279 the Everglades, the story of the Red Eyed ghost Boy. 317 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.000 The story of the Red eyed ghost Boy in the 318 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:36.839 Everglades dates back to the early eighteen hundreds, although there 319 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:39.599 is some discrepancy as to where the ghost boy originated 320 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.880 his most distinguishing feature. 321 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:43.240 Or his blowing red eyes. 322 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.400 One version of the ghost Boy's origin states that he 323 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.400 was a ten year old settler in the Native American 324 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:51.720 territory who was cursed by one of the indigenous people 325 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:54.319 because of how the settlers were wreaking havoc on the 326 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:57.559 land and treating the natives. Another theory is that he 327 00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:59.880 was a kid who accidentally drowned while participating in his 328 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:03.400 swimming race with one of his friends. Regardless of where 329 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.160 the spirit came from, his glowing red eyes give him 330 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:09.759 away whenever he's near. There have been many stories told 331 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:13.400 over the years about encounters with this spirit. One story 332 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:16.079 on your ghost stories dot com, written by a user 333 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:18.519 whose name on the side is Jones Blue, tells him 334 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:21.079 he encountered with the boy while canoeing in the Everglades 335 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:24.640 with his mom, dad, sister, aunt, and cousin. It was 336 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:27.240 a breezy, cold day and user Jones Blue and their 337 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:29.440 family got to the canoe rental place and waited a 338 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:32.680 few minutes for their aunt and cousin to arrive. After 339 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:35.519 getting things settled for the canoe rental, Jones Blue and 340 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:38.440 their aunt and cousin took one canoe, while the mom, dad, 341 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:41.960 and sister took another. They paddled for about fifteen minutes, 342 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:45.720 just enjoying the scenery and chatting. Jones Blue states, then 343 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:48.519 he looked down into the water and saw a human 344 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:52.160 figure swimming beneath the group. The water was shallow, but 345 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.960 the figure was moving like it had all the room 346 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.599 in the world. It seemed to be passing through everything 347 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:59.799 in the water that should have halted it. Upon closer inspection, 348 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:02.559 they could see that it was a young boy, possibly 349 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:07.119 thirteen fourteen years old, with beautiful blonde hair. They gasped 350 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:09.000 and the boy looked up with dark red eyes and 351 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:12.200 rings of black around him. Jones Blue says in their 352 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.759 story that they sensed evil, sadness, and cruelty from the 353 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:19.319 boy after seeing he was noticed the boy swam deeper 354 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:23.359 into the water, fading away. The user's family was alerted 355 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:25.880 by that point, and the mom began asking, what's wrong. 356 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:30.400 Are you okay? Jones Blue replied, bibbing a little. Yeah, yeah, 357 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:32.519 I'm just fine. I thought I saw something in the 358 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:36.079 water and it scared me. It was nothing, though, Jones 359 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:39.279 Blue's mom said okay, and the family continued on. But 360 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:42.240 not even five minutes had passed when something else happened. 361 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:45.440 Jones Blue was looking all around and enjoying the scenery 362 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:49.440 when they saw the boy again. Focusing through the layers 363 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:52.240 of thick mangrove trees, they could see the boy staring 364 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:55.480 back with an angry face, but this time was completely 365 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:59.519 full and bright red eyes. The storyteller thought the family 366 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:02.519 needed to get out of there immediately. Their canoes went 367 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:04.599 into an open air of the river, but Jones Blue 368 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:07.920 was still focused on the boy. The wind picked up 369 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:11.599 suddenly and the air grew colder. The cousin was standing 370 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:14.960 up at that moment taking a video. The aunt barely 371 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:18.480 had hold of her legs for support as Jones Blue 372 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:22.200 continued staring at the boy. The wind worsened. The canoe 373 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:25.480 then tipped, causing the cousin to lose balance and fall overboard. 374 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:29.160 After quickly looking away from the boy and to their cousin, 375 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:31.480 Jones Blue stood and reached for the cousin who had 376 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:34.440 fallen into the water. They looked back towards the boy, 377 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:37.680 but he was gone. Jones Blue panicked and yelled, take 378 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:40.720 my hand, take my hand, get back on the boat. 379 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:43.880 Cousin did so and swam quickly, reaching for their hand 380 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:46.920 with both arms. Jones Blue quickly pulled her back onto 381 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:50.079 the boat, and she seemed fine. Jon's Blue, states said, 382 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.480 he worried. The rest of the time they were in 383 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:55.000 the water, they spotted the boy again. He gave an 384 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:59.839 evil wink and rolled his eyes back, then faded away. Ouch, 385 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:02.480 my back hurts all of a sudden, the cousin exclaimed. 386 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:05.880 The user lifted her shirt up, and, to everyone's surprise, 387 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:08.480 her whole back was a big black and blue bruise, 388 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:11.960 one that had been there before and shouldn't have been 389 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:15.160 so far progressed if it had just happened. Everywhere they 390 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:18.000 looked on her back had a bruise. I don't even 391 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:21.680 remember getting hurt, she said, who knows, Jones Blue said, back, 392 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:25.920 fainting indifference. But knowing internally that the boy had something 393 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:29.440 to do with it. The family left after that. Jones 394 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:31.200 Blue goes on to say that they went back a 395 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:33.160 few years later and asked one of the workers there 396 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:37.119 about the area's history and explained their experience. The worker 397 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:39.279 told them that many years ago, a boy in his 398 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:41.319 teens was playing around with his friends in the water. 399 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:43.559 One of his friends placed a bet with him to 400 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:45.960 see who could hold their breath the longest. The boy 401 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:48.640