Cold Missouri Waters - Cover

In August of 1949, in Mann Gulch, Montana, 14 smokejumpers and a forest ranger jumped into what was supposed to have been an easy fire to stop. For some unknown reason, the fire came around behind them and trapped them. Only three smokejumpers survived, the Crew Chief, Wag Dodge, and two firefighters. That was the highest number of fatalities for smokejumpers until July, 1994, when 12 firefighters and 2 helitac crew members where killed at Storm King Mt., Glenwood Springs, CO.

This song was written by James Keelaghan. I sent him an email via his web site about two months ago asking permission to do this song.

Since he hasn't replied back with a no yet, I'm going to take that as a yes.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Folk
• Smoke
• Jumpers
• Forest
• Fire
• Mann
• Gulch

[flyboy61b]

Actually, three smokejumpers survived out of the fifteen that jumped. There was aranger that joined (actually started fighting the fire) the smokejumpers and he perished as well.

Nice Job.

Steve

[unusedhero]

Thank you Steve. I corrected the narrative to reflect the correct # of survivors.

[carsonsheir]

I think your voice is suited to a different type of song.. However cudos for being brave enough to post this something I could never do

[unusedhero]

You are right, but one year ago, it was all I could do just to get up on stage. My voice might not be the greatest, but others do seem to enjoy it. Thanks for the kudos. :)

[hjfischer1]

The "Ground Pounder" who died was a former Jumper. A normal "Doug" (DC-3) load was 16 jumpers,

One of the guys I jumped with years later was the 16th- had stomach cramps and was taken off.

[flyboy61b]

I would refer you to "Young Men and Fire" by Norman McClean. Twelve smokejumpers and a ranger died fighting the Mann Gulch Fire.

[PlaytoLive03]

more then three survived. We lost 3 good smokejumpers. but 10 survived. I was almost on that jump , but Kevin Erickson nocked me off the load. And I always think of where I would have been on that fire. Done Mackey jumped out of Missoula and he was a goog friend.

[Xeno426]

The 16th guy that joined was a forest ranger from the nearby ranger station.

[ledieppe]

Bravo for getting up on stage! I've been playing English Concertina for just over a year, still can't get the playing and singing at the same time down. Keep doing it and you'll get better! :)

[mulesmarinair]

Excellent effort. Fair play to you for getting up there to play and sing.

Used to do what you do but never had the guts to open my mouth (west of Ireland mumble, doesn't really work...). Guy I used to play with did the singing and stuff on his own. He loved it just as much as you seem to be loving it. Keep on playing. Enjoy yourself.