David Elliott "Cowboy" Weiss , 1953-1975 Edmund Fitzgerald Letters and Memorabilia from the Edmund Fitzgerald 1975, Size at 13 PCS
A set of four letters from David "Cowboy" Weiss while a cadet on the Edmund Fitzgerald to his classmate at the U.S. Maritime Administration Training Program, and personal friend, David James. These letters were sent from Weiss to James with the return address listed at the E. Fitzgerald and bear the postage marks from 1975. Also included is a letter from Selma Nadell Weiss, his mother, which included a photo of David "Cowboy" Weiss taken on Christmas Day 1974.
Included in this lot: Typewritten copy of the David Weiss Memorial Service that took place on November 19, 1976 and given by Reverend Donald C. Noel on the Great Lakes Maritime Academy Dock, Northwestern Michigan College. Given to David Allen by O Praem, Assistant Librarian after the service.
We have an interview with David James posted online. Please copy and follow this link to view: https://youtu.be/txJaG6fDqk8
Provenance:
Property from the collection of David Allen James. David James was a friend of David "Cowboy" Weiss since they were classmates at the U.S. Maritime Administration Training Program and was on Lake Superior aboard the Walter A. Sterling when it met the Edmund Fitzgerald the night it was lost.
Dimensions:
13 PCS
Exhibition History:
This collection has never been exhibited and have remained in the possession of David James since 1975
Lot Essay:
When David James first contacted me and shared stories of his friendship with David "Cowboy" Weiss, I quickly realized this was a side of Weiss that had never appeared in scholarly works, media, or documentaries. Reading Weiss’s previously undocumented letters, I understood that his story still had more to tell—and that for the last fifty years, David James has carried a silent burden in his heart. As James lived out his lifelong dream, rising through the ranks of Great Lakes seafaring, he was living the very life that David Weiss had also aspired to. Friends from their first day of cadet training through graduation, the two stayed connected as each found his sea legs and struggled to learn from—and gain acceptance by—the seasoned crews on their first ships.
On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald, on which Weiss was serving, and the Steamer Walter A. Sterling, on which James was serving, “met” in the storm-tossed seas of Lake Superior. The Fitzgerald was heading south toward the steel mills on Zug Island, while the Sterling was bound north for Silver Bay. Later that evening, the Coast Guard broadcast a call for all mariners to watch for survivors and debris. By then the Fitzgerald was already well off the Sterling’s stern. James knew there was nothing he could do to help his friend. He retreated to his berth, re-read Weiss’s letters, and stared at the postcard of the Fitzgerald that had been enclosed with them.
Years later, David James placed those letters, the postcard, and a photo sent by Weiss’s mother into a simple frame and hung it on the wall—a quiet memorial to a friend lost at sea by the man who went on to live the life they had both dreamed of.
When I asked James about his own letters to Weiss, he replied: “They rest in a place that never gives up the dead.”
Written by: Walker, Joe,
Condition
Being offered in "as found" condition. While the personal letters have been framed and have hung in Mr. James' home for decades, these are correspondences that were "finger" opened and read repeatedly. Mr. James never planned on selling this collection and only considered doing so to preserve David Weiss' memory for future generations. | Please note all lots show signs of wear commensurate with age and use, and the lack of a statement regarding condition does not imply the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from defects or the effects of aging. Unless otherwise stated, all information provided is the opinion of DuMouchelles' specialists. Should you have any specific questions regarding the condition of this lot, please use the “Request Condition Report” or “Ask a Question” buttons or email conditions@dumoart.com.
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