The Titanic Reenactor Who Actually Dove The Wreck and The Woman Who Was Mayor, Garbage Woman, Liquor Store Owner, Teacher, AND Member of the WAC

American stories more people have mentioned in our space the mentor the Titanic rest and 1/2 miles down the ocean floor Lowell Eitel is been one of the privileged few were seeing the Titanic firsthand.

Lowell has played the part of Capt. Smith, Titanic events all over the globe is been entertaining guests at the Titanic Museum for more than 15 years.

Lowell liable to tell his story and the story of the Titanic. Celeste you do this is lowlight whole. I have an unusual story to tell you it was home minding my own business way back in 1987 I heard about the Titanic. They've discovered it's and when you know that I got a phone call from the designer that was building the exhibit Orlando on the Titanic called me uses low we've gone through 350 doctors here in Orlando can't find the captain said. I told these men. I know some of the complete part is my next-door neighbor to be a lead singer.

One of my rock 'n' roll bands I hit eight bands for 22 years toward the United States and Canada and I went over there on know who to secede is all about them. He opened the door and there was six men sitting around the table and he said gentlemen. Here's Capt. Smith. They took one look at me in the city up. I didn't know what the captain look like, but an hour later I went through that souvenir shop and I saw the front page of the New York Times, 1912.

Picture Capt. Smith looking right at me and my first thought was my neighbor has taken my picture and pasted it on the front page of the New York Times. He shouldn't do that. That's wrong.

Well I was there for about two years and then I heard they were going to dive to the time and again at the old, that would be nice if I could do that. So I called them and they said no. I waited two weeks; again is it I'd like to go down of the Titanic and they said no, no, that's for archaeologists and important people. Wealthy people, people of climbed Mount Everest millionaires.

I waited two more weeks and I you know I remember Winston Churchill made a famous speech during World War II. He said we will fight them in the air. We will fight them online and mobile vitamin C but we will never surrender.

I remember that he was invited to speak at Harvard University after the war, and the professor said that the students get your pads and pens ready because when this man speaks its wisdom, they flew him over from England. The old man hobbled up the microphone he needs it. Never give up, never, never, never, never give up any turnaround is set down, I never forgot that the best speech I ever heard.

I call them again and I said I'm the captain of the Titanic. I'm in front of the camera. I'm in everyone's home.

Either one is talking about your exhibit. I believe that that maybe could say this man is been down to see the ship more people would be interested, but it does say about it and you'll get more people there you make more money. It got quiet on the other in the phone and the man said, I think you're right. Come along so I actually packed up and I went in St. John's Newfoundland. That's where you leave and I got there they looked at me this in your toe tall you will fit in there. I sit outfitted in their times 6 foot four I'm the tallest and the oldest ever been down to the Titanic. I was 68 at the time I sit outfitted in their well we don't have a fire use of big enough for you fire suit which is about a fire, will you be breathing 100% oxygen. It could/20 fire like Apollo one day. Well if that's the case I'll be burnt to a crisp in 10 seconds.

What good is assume visible.

Your name will be written on it's for identification identification on that tall guy down there. Well anyway I got in the suit that suit with a little too small, but I did get in one know when I on I got on the academic elves that Russian dive vessel.

I notice on the back in one of those selves. The protective shield that went around the propeller was held together with duct tape.

Now that doesn't breed a lot of confidence and I'm thinking to myself what I really want to do this. All I can think of as well. I live alone, lifetime 68 if I die, I know where I'm going.

That's the important thing, and if I come back I'll have a story to tell and I came back and I been telling that story for 21 years all around the world. I told it in Shanghai China for two weeks.

I told it in Singapore for two weeks. I did every state in the United States every province in Canada where they've had these Titanic exhibits, sometimes two or three times, different cities one day I was eating dinner. Not as twice as many people out there that would like to go down that would get a chance to. I knew I didn't have a chance, but while I was eating that fellow that I talked to on the phone, came over to me, bent over and said to me, Lowell. You're going down in the morning and what a unique and original voice were listening to. That is, of course, the voice of little Lionel plays the part and has been playing the part of Capt. Smith. When we come back more of Lowell Eitel story here on our American story view of the great American stories we tell and love America like we do, risking you to become a part of the all American stories family. If you agree that America is a good and great country. Please make a donation monthly gift of $17.76 is fast becoming a favorite option for supporters to allow American stories.com now and go to the donate button and help us keep the great American stories coming@ouramericanstories.com.

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Titanic events all over the globe to return the little Lionel in his story all about doing this. My heart began to pound. I couldn't believe it. Let me go down to the Titanic.

Well, Fox television, follow me all around like it was an astronaut. Now you first of all, you got it. Take your shoes off in in the event that you pick up any oil from that mothership walking on the deck and breathing hundred percent Nazi dented good if there's a spark that would be it. So I took my shoes off and got inside them in my long legs when you know I take over the oxidant paint ball.

You didn't take long before that Russian pilot came alive straighten that thing up. No, I I got no place to sit. I'm in a ball and 6 1/2 feet in diameter, 19 inches thick and there's three grown men in their and it takes 2 1/2 hours to get down to a nap miles to the wrecks they turn off all the lights to conserve the batteries. Now they turn that hatch type, and I knew then I could but my I can't see anything. All I can do is think about what I'm about to see. I'm not going to see a movie. I'm going to see the real thing. And when they turn on the lights, the Russian pilot said were almost there and I didn't like what I saw too fast and we bounce off the ocean floor. Oh my goodness, I goodness course. It took five minutes for all that dust settled down in the first thing I notice is the sea life. It was so strange is no like that far down on the ocean floor sothecrabsarewhitestarfishthat13inchesindiameter.Fivepointsbutonthemanylargerthantheirlittlefinger.Nowwhentheyturnonthelights.Momentslater,IwasrightoverthebowthesamespotwhereJackandthemovieheldouthisarmsthatI'mthekingoftheworldwentrightoverthatspot.Isaidtakemetothecaptain'scabin,JamesCameronsaidthatsidewasalreadygone.Theytookmethere.Iwas5feetfromthecaptainthatfor10minuteswhiletheywerechangingfilm,Ifoundaranchdownthere.Themouthonthatwas13inchesacrossstickingstraightupintheoceanfloorlikesometothrottleajavelinandInoticedwhileIwaspickingitemsupofftheoceanfloor.Therewasahatderbyhadanditwasinmintcondition.ThereisnocurrentthatfardownandItoldtheRussianpilottogogetthatinthedidtomechanicalarmsintheoutsideandthatsomeandhepickeditupandtheypushedabuttonandabasketwentoutfromunderneathandtheletgoofittofallintothebasketanddisappearlikeacloud.Themicroorganismsareeatingupthatshipmentsubjecttomen.Thisrateit'sgoingbeyondorangespotontheoceanfloorwithin100yearsnow.IthinkthathappensprobablymadeonthefeltIhaditbeenmadeontheleather.Itprobablycouldmakeitbecausethosemicroorganismsthatnotlikethetanningprocessofleather.Itrepelsthemtheirshoesandhatsandbags.That'swhyyouseethethingsfoundenoughitemsthatIthoughttomyselfIjustgoingtostayfocusonthisandnotgetinvolvedemotionally.ButIafteranhourand1/2.AllIcouldthinkofiswhatreallytookplaceatnight1500soulsslippedintoeternity.AllofthemhadplanstogettoNewYorkandstartanewlifeneverhappenedlikecanbeshortfolks.Makesureyoutellyourlovedoneeverydayhowmuchyoulovethemandyoubetterknowwearegoingbecauseit'sgoingtohappentoeveryoneofuswereallgoingtodieonetimeoranother.Whetherthathappens,it'llbetoosoon.Justrememberthiseternityisalongtimetobewrong.Getitright.Infact,there'sastoryaboutasecondclasspassengersnameisRev.JohnHarperisabookentitledtheTitanic'slasthero.It'saboutRev.HarperandhewasonhiswaytoChicagotopreachhehadarevivalservicebeforeheleftandhetoldthepeopleinthatservice.HesaidhewasgoingtogotoNewYorkonthatnewshipcalledtheTitanicthenextweekaftertheservice.One.OneofhisparishionerscameuptomeandsaidRev.Ihaveabadfeelingaboutthatship.Iamanominousfeelingthatsomethingbad'sgoingtotakeplace.Ifeelsostronglyaboutit.IwanttowantyoutogotoNewYorkbutIdon'twantyoutogetonthisship.PleasetaketheLusitaniaoutevenpayforyourticket.Rev.Harperthoughtabouthisisno.TheapostlePaulwouldrunawayfromdanger.IfanythinghappensinbrevityandithappenedandwhentheTitanicstartedtogodownthatBaptistministerranaroundthedeckshoutingwomenandchildrenandunsavedpeoplegetaboardthelifeboats.Youjustcan'tkeeptheseBaptistsquiet.HeevengavehislifeastoamanthatwasnotaChristian.HisdaughterAnnawasstandingrightnexttoitinthesister-in-lawwasstandingnextto.Theybothsurvivethesister-in-lawoverheardtheRev.whenhegavethatlightfasterthatMannysaidheretakethis.Idon'tneed.I'mnotgoingdownongoingoutisinthewater.Now28°itfeelslikeathousandknivessteppinginamandriftedby,andapieceofwood,andwhereverHarpershoutedtothemanpoweryousay.Themansaidno.Rev.Harpershouted,believeontheLordJesusChristandthoushaltbesaved.Themandriftedoffintothedarkandlightofthecurrentdrewhimbackinreverentharboragainshoutedtotheman.Howdoyousaveyouthemansaid.IcanhonestlysaythatIamneverHarper'slastwordswere,believeontheLordJesusChristandthoushaltbesaved.AndwiththattheRev.slippedunderthewaterandwenttothatfrozenwaterygrave.Therewere12peoplepulledfromthewaterthatnight.Sixofthemlive.Thatbondwasoneofthem,andthatstorywastoldafewweekslaterinHamilton,Ontariobythatsamemansaid.IlistentoRev.Harper'slastmessageandbecameabelieverinJesusChristwithwhomWildewaterbeneathme.Titanic/heroRev.JohnHarperGodblessyoufolksandwhatapieceisstorytellingbyLowellEitelnotonlyhisstorynotonlyhispassion.TheTitanictellingthestoryoftheTitanic'slastheroaswellisperhapsonlyhecando.Wehaven'thadmanybetterstorytellersontheshowandmanybetterstories.AspecialthanksLowelllightofsharinghisstoryisbeenentertainingguestsattheTitanicMuseumformorethan15yearsisalsotheauthoroftheinspiringreaddivingintothedeeplittleLionelstorythestoryoftheTitanichereonourAmericanstoriesandwereturnedtoourAmericanstoriesupnextstoryofthetrailblazingwomanwho'slivedherlifetothefullestisMontyMontgomerytogetusstartedbackacubbyholeisafirecrackershe'sbeenmayorintheArmyteacherandatonepointownedaliquorstore,whichisimportantforsomecontextinregardstothestoryshe'sabouttotellyourscopy.MysistersaysalwaysbeenreligiousandIwenttoSt. LouisyearsagotovisitwithherandtheyweregoingtochurchandchurchwasabigoldoldbuildingandIwasshockedbecauseIthoughtthatbeingoneofthesebigfancyCathedraltypethings.ItwasanoldfamilyhadancongregationintheSundayschoolclasswasondrinkandIfeltnobeensetuphereandthenthesermonwasonsellingalcoholandIknewIhadtothinandIwassittingrightnexttomysisterandInolongerknowwentonandonandputsit,andIjuststoodupIsaidmayIsaysomethingyesyoumaywellIwounduptalkingandIcouldn'tfindanyplacetoshutup.IsaidyouknowGodsayshedidn'twantyoutomistreatMonicadoyoubelongtoyouasanlinkingtheft.Peopleintheiralltohim.Theirteethneedrepair.IjustwentonandonandsofinallyIsatdownandtheycan't.Andthepreacherthankedmefordoingsomething.HefinishedhissermonandIsatrightnextmysisterandshedidn'tsayaword.Andnow,sowhenhewasfinished.GottagetouttahereandIrushedbacktothedoor,buthebeatmebackandhegrabbedmyhandandthatdidn'tthankwentonandIstoodrightthereandshookhandswithapersonIcameout.Mattchurnsandthenwewenttomysister'shouseandnowIgottherehewasborninAugust1934.IthassubmittedmanyyearsagothatIhadlivedwithoutelectricityandmygrandfatherhomesteadedandthenhehadbrothersandsistersandmydadandtheycannotcutitlatermighthavesentwithmydad.Theygavetheoldfarmhouse.Hewasborninthere.IwasborninthatfarmhouseandwhenIwasborn.Mydadworkedonthehighwayandhehadateamandhehadtoleaveandcoursehecouldn'tcomehomeeverynightbecausetheybetoofarwithmulestocomethathealwaystoldmymothertakethecupbearerandthat'showIcompanyandnotrightnextdoorwehadwhatwecallthegaragebutithaddentedbutcherandwealwaystookthebladderpegandcleanedit,blowitfromhislastphoneleaksfromvolleyballandfunhaveanwehadchickensandwealwayshadchickenfootSundayandwegotochurchthatbeforewewenttochurch.Itwasmyjobtogettheticketearlytocatchachickenandputaboardacrossto10feetoffandholditdownsometimesletitfloparoundthatIhadthehotwaterandscaldedandnotgetinthehouseafterIgotitafterwelostitrealgoodmomandletitsoakinsaltwaterwewenttochurch,butthatwasalwaysmyjobandIwasjustthinkingtojustgrabthatchickentakecareof,andoffwegotoSundayschoolthatIwenttheonlyoneinmyrent.InthesamethingandnowwewenttotownonSaturdaybutyouletitsnow.WewenttotownonSaturdaybecauseintownandyoushowtheyhadatruckwithabigliarbarrellongintheheadthereby'snameandtheypulloutatmeandtheygot$100billmerchantsandweneverdidmissSaturdaybutweneverdidgetaheaddollars.HewealwaysmomalwayspackedalunchandwewenttobigSpringPark.ButIwillhavetosayIwasalwaysastraightastudentgradeschoolthroughhighschoolandEileenF.IwasrealbashfultalkeranythingbutwhenIstartedhighschoolfreshmanyearyoushowIheadedteacherMrs.DorothyfallrealizedthatIwasn'tjustamoronandsheaskedmeifIwouldcomeinmystudyhall.Andnowchainandshewouldtutorme,IwasdoingwashappyshehadtocleanhisroominschoolbecauseIknewhowtocleanbutanywaylateronafterIgotoldIranforthecityCouncilreallyoneandBobHayesranthatsameyearandourfirstCouncilmeeting.Theyelectedme,Mayorprotemandboundless,andthenBob,sorrytosayhadtheaudacitytohaveaheartattackthatnightandcouldnotbeonthecounseloranymoresoIautomaticallybecamemayorshowandthenafterthefirstterm,Iwaselectedmayorthesecondtimeandthat'swhenwehadthatbigtornadoandmyteacherDorothyfall,love.SheandhermotherlivedatthecornerofKodiakandNorwayandtheywerebothkilledandIwasalwayssoproudthatshedidhavedeceivemebecomemayorbecauseshepromptlyoutofthedeckstyle.Terryisawonderfulandthat'sprobablythemostexcitingthingandyoubeenlisteningtoRebeccacubbyholeknowherstory,bornin1934thelongpartofherlifewithoutelectricitygiveyouacontextthattherewaslifeforushereinthisgreatcountrytakecareofthecupbearerfatherwouldsaytohermotheratSouthcubbybecamehernicknameanditsandbytheway,whenaskedtogothechickenbeforechurchdidnotentailatriptoKrogerorPigglyWigglyorRalphs.ItmeantThechickenandanyonewhoisarurallifeknowswhatthatmeansbackbendwhenwecomebackmoreofthisuniqueandoriginalvoicebutnotsouniquetoyouwholiveoutinpartsofthisgreatcountrylivelikethisandliveinruralpartsofthecountry,especiallymorewithcubbyholestorytrailblazingwomanhereinourAmericanstory,andwereturnedtoourAmericanstoriesinherstorywithBeccaBobbyallwelastleftoffCubbywastellingusaboutherupbringingabouthowterriblethestudentshouldbeenstraightappshesaidandalsotoldthestoryabouthowoneteacherchangedherlifeandtheteacher,MissDorothyfallwouldultimatelyloseyourlifetoatornado,butthankstothatteacher'sinterventionwellcubbywouldonedaybecomemayoroftheoceanbumping.Shewasgladthatherteachergottoseebeforethattragedy.Let'sturnjustabitbackfurtherherteenageyearhereagainiscubbyhole.IhadapaperrouteandCampCrowderPotterwasinfullswingthat70,000menandwomenoverthereandthat'swhyIjoinedtheArmybecauseIsawthosewax.Ididn'tknowanyofthemneverspoketooneeventactivelyandthatwasthewomen'sArmyCorps.Therewasnowomen'sArmybodynowevennoticewhatwaxstandsforRebecca'smotherwasn'ttoofondoftheideaofherdaughterjoiningtheArmywantedtogosobadlybyhernotwantingmetomakemewanttodomorebutmydadneverdidsayyes,goahead.MymotherneverdidsaynoyousoIdidandIjoinedmeandmydad.Mymotherwouldn'teventellmegoodbye.Shewouldn'tgowithmetoKansasCity.MydadtookmeandIcaughtthebusIthinkitwasabout1030or11atnight.Greyhound'sandmydadsaidnowcan.Don'teverdoanythingthatwhenitgetsdowntothedeclivity.Youcan'ttellyourmomandme.Ithinkaboutthatallthetime.IthinkthebestadviceanybodycouldeverhavegivenitcanbutanywayIwentintheArmy.ThestationthewholetimeatFortJackson,SouthCarolina,andtheyspenttheirmycommandingofficersentmetoputsomeNewYorktofightthecallchipinformation,education,school,andthat'swhereIbecameateachertaught,amongotherthings,Ithoughthadtakeninoneapartmentpleadedbacktogether.ItalkedPEandItaughtthehistoryofthemilitarychemicalwarfare,ofwhichIrememberaneventnowthatIdidn'thaveawaytogototowngovernmentbecauseofmyjobisaboutassistedafterIgotoffworkIwenttoworklate,gotoffreallylateandsothisbook,IhadnevereverbeenclosetoamotorcycleinmywholelifeneverseenoneotherthanjustdrivingbythatIboughta1947Harley-DavidsonwhenIboughtmymotorcycleIwentintothisshop.IjusthappenedtoseeitwhenIgotoffthebusandtoldthemIwantthismarkethavebeenthisplaceandhesaidwellsalmonrightoverthere.Itwasin1970andIcan'trememberitwhenthegreatbigbutitwas$200soIpaidincashforit.HegavemeareceiptandIsaidnowifyoushowmehowtorideitallleaveandhesaidifIhavenowthatyoudidnotarrivethateyewitnessbuthehadabigfieldoutbehindhisshop.SowewentoutthereandheshowedmehowhehadtochangegearswithyouforandIrodearoundandroundandacrosssetyouaroundthat.IsmiledandconfidentandIleftitforabouttwoweeksandandeveryopportunityIgot.Iwentoutroadthatmotorcyclepushwewereallowedtowearhatsandtranslucentmommysocks.Ijustcheckedthatoveraggressiveman.OnedayIwasoutthereIrodethinkingItwaskindofscaryatfirst,gotusetoloveandifIcouldafforditnowandwereyoungermotorcyclerightkneethattheonlyproblemIeverhadwithtempswiththeguysinmyofficefordemandnetworktomyofficeandtheywerealwayswantingtomoveallmyandIletsomeofthemsome.IwouldandIgotAlexmytimesoonreenlisted.Theymademegetout.WomencanmaybehearingthesurfaceandthenwecamebackherewithcollegetogetmyMastersdegree.ElementaryteacheranditonlytookmenineyearsbecauseIhadjobsinbetween,andthefirstschoolalottalkingandmissingoneroomschoolhad28studentsboysandgirlsfirstgradetoeight.Lovedeveryminuteofitdidmoancounterwherewehadtooutsidetoilets,boysandgirlsandmycontractreadthatIwouldscrubtheoutsidetoiletswithhotsoapywatereveryFridaynight.Wedidn'tevenhaverunningwaterwasinsometimeandnotIhardlyevergottosleep.Iwassobusygettinglessonplanslookingupdoingandwehadasetofworldbooks.That'showwelookandnottomakecopies.IhadapictographmachinethatwaslikeawoodenbookieopeningupandhadShelleyandyouwashthatdownlikeelbowpenciltowriteonpaperandyoucontactyouwithIntelIputyourpaperontherabbitandtakeyourpapercleansheetofpaperonandthatwouldmakeonecopythatyouhadtodothat.AllIcantakeCopiesforhowevermanystudentsyouhadsoIwasIwasconstantlymakingcoffeeandIcouldn'tstudentsdobecauseitseethetestifitwereaworksheetthatIdidletin.Rebeccawouldhavehersondoginthemiddleoftheschoolyear.Becomingamotherdidn'tslowherdownthedeckwasborninNovemberandIstartedtoschoolandthenIrealizemarket.ThisturnaroundwenttohospitalandnowDougwaspoorandonThursdayandItookhimtoschoolwithmeonMonday).Sohestartedprettyyoungerkidsevenalwayssplitoneholdingup.Iwasasleep.Theoldergirlsfixingcrucifiedmefornow.Leteverybodytherelivedonfarmstheybelongto4-Handeverything.TheoldertheseventhandeighthgradegirlswouldtakecareofduringthedayifhewenttosleepwithlittlegirlslittleboysholdingnicemeetingcarefullybroughtinPsalms.IhadschoolIdideightyearsofschool'sandwehadarealslightblack.MixingshouldcomeasnosurprisegivenherpenchantfordoingthedirtyworkthatRebeccaalsoworkedasagarbagewoman.Shehadauniquewayofhandlingthejobbecauseshecan'tliftheavythingsbyhand.IranhousetohouseandIwouldgetthetrashcanbecausethere'salwaystrasharoundthempickitupandputitinthecanandthenaftertheguyswentdown,butinthetracktheyjustthrowthecandownonthegroundandallthetrash.ThisleftitcomesoutsoIwouldpickallthatandputbackonandpeopleactuallycameoutandbringlemonadecookiesandicecreamstuffitbeeasytogainweightontrash.Ralph.Sheneverstoppedteachingthemeveninherworkaroundsitting.Igotagrantfromthegovernmenttoget12highschoolboysthatwereintroublewiththelawandneededtheirGEDandtookthemaroundwithmeandIwouldsingthemultiplicationtablesfortheirGEDbecausethereisnowaytomakethoseboyssitdownandworkfortheGEDandoneofthemactuallybecamethesuperintendentshall,afterthatthoseboyswereapleasurereallyapleasureneverhadanyproblemsatallafraidofbodyoranythingdoneathomeandaspecialthankstoCatrinaHeinandMontyMontgomeryfortheworkonthatstoryandaspecialthankstocopyallthestoryofRebeccatrailblazingwomaninourAmericanstory