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50 - Michael Odom and The Insane Death of George Washington
43 Plays1 month ago
Sam won the coin toss and shared the incredible survival story of Michael Odom. Jeff tells the insane story of the death of George Washington... probably not the story you learned in history class. Enjoy.
Also, Jeff bought Sam a gift and Sam almost passed out.
Visit us on Linktree for the collection of links, Instagram, or email us at downtherabbitholepod@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: When we mention an item (like a drink) during the show or on Instagram, it's simply because we like the product. No other reason.
Jeff's Sources:
- The Death of George Washington – Mount Vernon
- George Washington's Achievements – Britannica
- Washington’s Farewell Address – U.S. Senate
- The Death of George Washington – Mount Vernon (duplicate source)
- Death Defied: Dr. Thornton's Radical Idea of Bringing George Washington Back to Life – Mount Vernon
- The Mysterious Death of George Washington – Constitution Center
- Washington’s Final Hours – PBS
- Quote on Washington’s Death – RealClear Public Affairs
- Video: The Death of George Washington – YouTube
Sam's Source:
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Availability
00:00:01
Jeff Rogers
Hello, Sam. Hi, Jeffrey.
00:00:25
Jeff Rogers
And welcome to Down the Rabbit Hole Jeff and Sam. I'm Jeff. And I'm Sam. Hey. How are you? I'm well. How are you? Good. Can't complain. It's our day off.
00:00:36
Jeff Rogers
It is. So we're here doing this. We are. but you know, both of us did just work three in a row, which was and unusual for our normal schedule. Yeah. No, I lied. You didn't. know.
00:00:49
Jeff Rogers
I was going to see if you caught that. get out of here. Go away. Oh, so yeah, welcome to Down the Rabbit Hole. You can find this show on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon, iHeartRadio. Where else?
00:01:03
Jeff Rogers
ah Reach out to us on Instagram, Down the Rabbit Hole Pod, or via email at downtherabbitholedpod at gmail.com. Cannot say it enough. Follow, rate, and review.
00:01:15
Jeff Rogers
That does something to the algorithm we are learning. And it does something to us. Rate. Yes, it does. rate, rate, rate, rate. rate Yeah, just let us know what you think and be brutally honest, be completely honest. We... Somebody was very nice about it, though. Oh, it was wonderful.
00:01:30
Jeff Rogers
So whoever you were... Yeah, i would that was lovely. Thank you.
Podcast Format and Listener Engagement
00:01:36
Jeff Rogers
um What's new?
00:01:41
Jeff Rogers
Just to also wait, just to clarify. When we do this show, we tell each other stories. And those stories do not relate. They're in no way like connected.
00:01:53
Jeff Rogers
i share a story with Sam. Sam shares a story with me. And neither of us know. We go into it having fully researched whatever we're talking about by ourselves.
00:02:04
Jeff Rogers
We come in we flip a coin to decide who goes first. And then you both of us are completely shocked at whatever comes out of the other's mouth. And that's the fun part of it.
00:02:15
Jeff Rogers
It is. Yeah, that's the absolute fun part of it. People still think that they... That they're supposed to be connected in time. They're not. But they're not. That's kind of part of our vortex of fuckery here is that you you never know. You're going to get some sort of horrific, horrendous, brutal story from me. And then Jeff will come in with something that happened 700 years earlier that's like peppy and happy and motivational.
00:02:39
Jeff Rogers
And... They are not in any way connected. I'll do a story about a ship that sinks and Sam will do a story about two French sisters who do horrible things and they're in no way connected.
00:02:52
Jeff Rogers
None. But that's the fun. It is. So we're going to keep doing it. Sorry if we've confused you up to this point. um Okay. Oh, you know what we did? What?
Horror Movie Discussion and Personal Anecdotes
00:03:05
Jeff Rogers
We went to go see a movie since the last time we recorded. and ah was called Clown in a Cornfield.
00:03:12
Jeff Rogers
I don't know if any of you guys who are listening know this. Jeff was fully aware when he asked me to join. I hate clowns. I know it's very cliche. i don't know why.
00:03:24
Jeff Rogers
i haven't had any traumatic experiences with clowns. It's not like I've got something repressed that keeps surfacing when I see them, but They are creepy. I mean, they're not normal. And the fact that they're used as like kids. But then again, I also have issues with like all mascots.
00:03:42
Jeff Rogers
Anyone that puts on a costume and like disguises everything about who they are. It freaks me out. I don't like it. You send a mascot my way at a sporting event. I'm out.
00:03:53
Jeff Rogers
Like, ah you know, I love me some caps. But if that freaking eagle comes at me, I'm gone because I don't know who's in there. Your commentary no during that movie was the best. I was trying to keep myself from freaking out. It was the best.
00:04:06
Jeff Rogers
And that movie is just like a specific audience goes to see that movie. A specific... If you like horror movies, but more than a horror movie, if you like a slasher...
00:04:18
Jeff Rogers
A really great old school. It was really old Kind of cheesy. Cheesy. But that's what it's meant to be. So good. Yeah. It was really good. With a fun twist at the end. Yeah.
00:04:29
Jeff Rogers
That Sam set up and got excited for. it That was good. It was good. And it was I think that the reason I liked it so much was because it was a ah throwback to like the the early ninety s early Yes. Yes.
00:04:45
Jeff Rogers
yes I mean, even Scream was more brutal and more eerie. yeah This one was just great and cheesy and awesome. It was. It was really good. Oh, and I also watched another horror movie that I think you need to watch.
00:05:01
Jeff Rogers
It is When Evil Lurks. when it's the uh film from argentina i think i saved that on one of my streaming services even kayla agreed with me that it is a five-star horror movie like that's rare that you come across one that good and it scared the shit out of me i was that was one of those when the phone rang beside me i the zysbastic scream like cam from modern family You, oh, I love it.
00:05:31
Jeff Rogers
And then the one I told you about last night, Strange Darling. Yes, yes. I just need your thoughts on this movie, Sam. I need your thoughts on this movie. The way they do it. Okay, Strange Darling, I think it's not Stranger Darling. It's just Strange Darling.
00:05:45
Jeff Rogers
So a serial killer, the last few murders by this serial killer between like 2018, 2020. won't what's coming. ah you won't know what's coming it's okay I just can't wait to hear what you think about it. Okay.
00:06:01
Jeff Rogers
Put that on your priority list. I will. Don't let your nieces or nephews see any part of this movie. I mean, oh, it's so good. i It's going on the list.
00:06:12
Jeff Rogers
But I have a present for you. Okay, but here's what I need for you to do. My heart just started racing. I need you to close your eyes. Let me put this on my list first. Strange, darling.
00:06:24
Jeff Rogers
This was kind of mining Kayla's idea the other night. Why making that face, Naomi? I couldn't find my thing. I'm so sorry. least I didn't lose my dongle. I'm so sorry.
00:06:38
Jeff Rogers
Hopefully the dongle was the problem.
00:06:42
Jeff Rogers
Okay, we're having awkward silence. I can't do two things at once. Okay, go. Okay, close your eyes. no Oh, God, no. Yep. I'm not going to touch you with anything or you know show up in your face and scare the fuck out of you. Can you see the look I'm making even with my eyes closed?
00:06:59
Jeff Rogers
So just don't open them, okay? So Kayla and I had this idea.
00:07:07
Jeff Rogers
Oh, God. Where did you find that? Why? I got you a Jack in the Box with a clown it.
00:07:21
Jeff Rogers
Here, let me close it so you can, um so you can do it, Sam. You screamed, and I'm wearing headphones, and that scream was like up. I'm so sorry. next octave at Why would you do this to me?
00:07:34
Jeff Rogers
Here, I'll let you take it. Take it. But when we when we get the pod lab set up this goes on the shelf. um so That scream, i'm still hearing it in my head. no. Do need to pause it? Sam's goading on me.
00:07:58
Jeff Rogers
Okay, we're back. Sam had a moment where she did the goat thing. oh are you doing, Sam? Fine. I'm fine. I'm upright. As soon as that jack-in-the-box jumped out, you started fading.
00:08:13
Jeff Rogers
i just, I could feel it. I could, everything. So, there you go. It's my little gift. Thanks. hu That was actually Kayla. I called Kayla on the way home from the movie the other night because Kayla went with us to the movie.
00:08:26
Jeff Rogers
was like, you know, I think I'm going to get Sam this. She was like, absolutely. Do it. Do it. Do it. Because your reactions were so great. You guys are diabolical. And in that movie, every time like there's about to be a clown scene, there's a little jack in the box that the clown leaves.
00:08:43
Jeff Rogers
So anyway. Anywho. Anywho. Okay. What else? um I don't know. Everything just drained out of my brain with that blood pressure tanking. probably 70 over 40.
00:08:54
Jeff Rogers
Yeah, but yeah, I don't know. a lot of the physical expressions. I paused it because she got out of the chair, laid down on the floor, hat legs above her head.
00:09:06
Jeff Rogers
That was funny. it's but So here's the thing. is's If it's vasovagal, right? If it's just a blood pressure drop, Why do I not go pale, cool, clammy? Why do I turn beet red and get hot as hell?
00:09:20
Jeff Rogers
I just imagine that but i imagine that blood pressure going down so low. One of these times we'll have to do it with blood pressure cuff on. um I'll make the clown jump out at you. Anyway, so this is the hot mess that is this show. We're very
Product Mentions and Storytelling Setup
00:09:36
Jeff Rogers
professional. so professional. As you can tell, this is a professional podcast.
00:09:40
Jeff Rogers
It is. But I think one of the things that we have to say is Because we are so not actually professional at this point in our lives. um Whenever we mention products or anything, we do not have sponsors.
00:09:57
Jeff Rogers
um So any of the things that we mention, we're just mentioning it because we enjoy it. And it's not in reference to them giving us anything. So we're saying it because we use it or we like it or something along those lines. So sorry we confuse that.
00:10:13
Jeff Rogers
Good point. I don't, yeah, that needs to be said. Oh, we'd like our poppy soda. We really do. I mean, honestly, even the cans. Uh-huh. So should we get to it? We should. Let's get down.
00:10:25
Jeff Rogers
Let's get down to business. Okay. um You have the Turkish coin there? Yes, I will hand it to you. Oh, Jamie. Jamie, give us a coin from Turkey. She did. and ah A Turkish lira.
00:10:36
Jeff Rogers
A Turkish lira. I think I know which side you're going to choose for me. I just have to see. Which one do you think it's going to be? I'm not telling. Well, the one with the person. Yes, because he has a very lovely hat on his head.
00:10:49
Jeff Rogers
Yes. Indeed. And I'll be the five. Okay. I mean, I'd give myself maybe like a seven, I think. Absolutely. I'd give more than a five.
00:11:01
Jeff Rogers
You're crazy. All right. Ready? Yeah.
00:11:05
Jeff Rogers
Oh, she's going to throw this shit across the... I have no faith. I just... It just makes me anxious even just starting. Okay. Oh, my God. She caught it. She caught it.
00:11:18
Jeff Rogers
Don't go... Don't go again, please.
00:11:23
Jeff Rogers
At least you caught the coin. I did, but what for what? I know, I know. got one cause. Podcasting is dangerous. Podcasting is dangerous. I'm going first. Okay, go.
00:11:36
Jeff Rogers
Do your thing. Okay. All right. Oh, um I am drinking a ginger lime, Poppy. so am I. Good call. We like ginger. We like lime.
00:11:49
Jeff Rogers
And Jeff likes poppies. I do. Hi. I
00:11:56
Jeff Rogers
and feel like I have to pee. What am I doing to myself? That's what you get from us with me. That had to be done. I'm so sorry. I almost drink it. Cheers, queers!
00:12:11
Jeff Rogers
Okay. What is that about? so it's the microphones. Why was that so long just then? Okay, so... Sam goes first.
00:12:24
Jeff Rogers
And these stories are not related. They are not. we've established. And we're not sponsored by Poppy. As we've established. And you guys, as we've established, need to follow us, rate us, review us.
00:12:34
Jeff Rogers
Oh, good one. Leave comments. Good one. Absolutely. Okay, Jeff. Okay.
Coast Guard Rescue Operation Story
00:12:40
Jeff Rogers
I'm going to tell you a story. 23rd, 1995. 350 miles east of Savannah, Georgia.
00:12:48
Jeff Rogers
A man floats in the Atlantic Ocean waiting to die. He had been in the water for 50 minutes already, fighting through a winter storm. He had been thrown from his raft, gulping down seawater that was tearing his stomach apart, alternately vomiting violently, and then feeling the cramps seize his body.
00:13:05
Jeff Rogers
He knows enough about situations like these to realize his core temperature is dangerously close to fatally low. He knows nobody's coming for him. How can they? Now he just waits for death to take him.
00:13:20
Jeff Rogers
one hour earlier and just that would be the fucking worst i mean there's so many bad things or bad ways to go but that one kind of freaks me out a little bit because you know it's coming there's nothing you can do yeah you're in the middle of an ocean yeah
00:13:40
Jeff Rogers
one hour earlier Michael Odom had been aboard Coast Guard helicopter 6019. one nine He had just finished his checklist for the rescue he was on.
00:13:51
Jeff Rogers
He and the rest of the crew were heading to get the survivors of the sailboat Mirage. Michael Odom is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Okay. Do you know anything about that?
00:14:02
Jeff Rogers
Okay, let me tell you. I am weirdly obsessed with Coast Guard rescue swimmers. I think that they are top notch, best of the fucking best. yeah Absolutely crazy, 100%.
00:14:16
Jeff Rogers
Because who would do this as a profession? But all respect in the world and so badass. Well, no they're not only just badass, but one of the things that makes them so badass, in my mind, is that every time you see something horrible on TV, like a flood, a building that's, you know... They're there. They're there, coming in from an house a helicopter, swooping down rescuing people, on the water rescuing people.
00:14:42
Jeff Rogers
But then there was a video, I think it was the Coast Guard, that jumped on top of a submarine... and opened up the door on the the hatch on the top of the submarine.
00:14:54
Jeff Rogers
I think there was like cocaine or something on there. But I mean, that's crazy. Also badass. Yeah. So Michael Odom, the rescue swimmer, trying to save the sailboat mirage.
00:15:07
Jeff Rogers
The mirage, a 40-foot racing sailboat, was on its third day of a trip from St. Augustine, Florida, to the Virgin Islands. The crew was under unprepared for the winter front coming down the Atlantic coast.
00:15:19
Jeff Rogers
and had been overcome with terror hours earlier when the storm pummeled the boat. The engine had failed on their second day, the batteries weren't charging, and the food supply was thawing.
00:15:31
Jeff Rogers
They had hoped the storm would pass quickly, but it just got worse. The autopilot wouldn't work, and the men took turns trying to steer the boat as it surged in the waves. Fatigue wore them down, and their two-hour shifts got shorter and shorter.
00:15:46
Jeff Rogers
Neglect and poor planning had left the sailboat in no condition to endure these conditions. When the storm peaked, quote, it just started picking up and picking up and picking up, and the waves kept getting bigger and the skies darker, said one of the crewmen, Mark Cole.
00:16:04
Jeff Rogers
Winds up to 50 knots hammered the boats, changing direction and heaving the ship this way and that. The waves surged to monstrous heights. Captain Brueger was at the helm for three hours when a surge up to 50 feet broke over the boat and rolled it 120 degrees and then shoved it beneath the surface.
00:16:25
Jeff Rogers
The wave passed and the hull struggled upright as the boat crested back out of the water. One of the crewmen had been washed overboard and still attached by a safety harness was being dragged along behind the boat.
00:16:37
Jeff Rogers
At 8.30 p.m., crew member Dave Denman managed to work the single sideband high-frequency transmitter and sent out a mayday. It was copied from stations at Hampton Roads and Cape May.
00:16:50
Jeff Rogers
They alerted Coast Guard units from Miami all the way up to Norfolk. Three hours later, the HC-130H Hercules from Coast Guard Air Station, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, arrived overhead.
00:17:04
Jeff Rogers
Pilot Lieutenant Reed guided Lieutenant Beta of the H-60 Jayhawk helicopter to the site, where they arrived overhead at 1.10 in the morning. They arrived with enough fuel to remain on scene for 50 minutes.
00:17:19
Jeff Rogers
The Mirage had been offered pumps and survival kits so arrival kit by the 130, but they had declined, and the captain requested they be removed from the vessel because of flooding.
00:17:31
Jeff Rogers
don't know. The waves were still surging up to 25 feet with wind at 40 knots. The helicopter couldn't stay over the boat or rescue the crew from the deck because the mast was making it impossible to safely maneuver. Oh my God, so much anxiety.
00:17:49
Jeff Rogers
The only option was to drop a rescue swimmer in the water to load the men one at a time into the basket from the water after they jumped from the boat. His pilot had radioed the sailors and Odom had his plan worked out.
00:18:04
Jeff Rogers
He would approach... in the water from the rear of the sinking boat and grab each of the sailors as he entered the water. Just before the sailors began to jump, the captain of the sailboat decided he wasn't leaving.
00:18:18
Jeff Rogers
He was going down with his ship. And honestly, when I wrote this, all I could hear was that Dido song, just so you're aware. This message was relayed back to the search and rescue or SAR coordinator, who then replied that the team would rescue all or none.
00:18:35
Jeff Rogers
The situation had significantly improved since the Mayday call went out. It appeared the storm had moved on some. Maybe they could just wait it out. The helicopter retreated some and sat back to watch and wait, consuming critical fuel.
00:18:50
Jeff Rogers
However, Mark Cole wasn't waiting or dying for this shit. He launched himself off the boat, gripped the line that had been cast for the rescue swimmer, Unfortunately, Odom wasn't in the water yet.
00:19:03
Jeff Rogers
He was still sitting in the cabin door with his flippered feet dangling over the side. The helicopter repositioned to keep Cole in the light and quickly lowered their swimmer into the water. The water was 53 degrees and the air temperature was sinking below 40.
00:19:19
Jeff Rogers
coat Cole lost sight of the boat and was just beginning to register the terror and the cold when he felt Odom reach him. He said, it was a great feeling when that fellow put his arm around me.
00:19:30
Jeff Rogers
Odom swam hard to the basket with Cole in tow. As the wind and the waves repeatedly jerked the basket out of his reach, he fought to keep hold of Cole. Lieutenant Beta struggled to keep sight of his swimmer.
00:19:43
Jeff Rogers
The flight mechanic, Mark Buffetti, had eyes on Odom and continued to call out instructions and positioning to Beta. Buffetti, using the controller, adjusted the basket to keep the cable tight because slack could be very deadly to swimmers and survivors.
00:19:59
Jeff Rogers
He got it within reach of Odom. Odom reached out and grabbed the basket, but he was suddenly dropped by a wave as it sunk back and the basket was jerked from his grasp. It took 20 minutes to finally get the stunned Cole into the basket.
00:20:16
Jeff Rogers
There were only 30 minutes left of fuel time and still four crew members to rescue. Odom was lifted back into the helicopter and they sped away to where the boat was now a mile from where they had been.
00:20:29
Jeff Rogers
Steyer was the next to jump from the Mirage, although he hesitated because the idea of jumping from the boat into the black churning water seemed impossible. Odom got to him in the water and managed to squeeze his six-foot-two frame into the rescue basket.
00:20:44
Jeff Rogers
As he was hoisted up, a wave surged and overwhelmed the basket, very nearly making contact with the helicopter itself. The basket and Steyer banged into the bottom of the aircraft just before being hauled to safety.
00:20:59
Jeff Rogers
Odom again returned to the helicopter and encouraged Beta to hover at a higher altitude for the next rescue. Mario Vitone, Odom's best friend, was on the craft as backup rescue swimmer.
00:21:10
Jeff Rogers
On his return to the cabin, Vitone noted that Odom looked gassed. He asked if he wanted to swap out. Odom responded with, just one more. Let me have just one more.
00:21:22
Jeff Rogers
Odom hit the water hard on his next insertion and took a gulp full of seawater. He threw up and gasped ah for breath. He fought to where crewman Denman was now in the water, got him into the basket.
00:21:34
Jeff Rogers
Buffetti and Vitone were working together to control the basket and the slack. As they hoisted Denman up, the basket swung out, slammed into the fuel tank, hit the fuselage, slid along the cabin door frame, flew out again, and repeated the arc.
00:21:50
Jeff Rogers
Cable strands began to pop. With Denman 70 feet above the churning water, Buffetti hoisted at full speed to pull the cable before it could snap. As they pulled him in, co-pilot Guy Pearce announced six minutes to bingo, which meant there were only six minutes six minutes left of fuel time before the helicopter had to leave.
00:22:13
Jeff Rogers
Odom was still in the water. The helicopter tried to signal him, but he didn't respond on his communicator. He watched as the basket dropped back into the sea, no longer attached to the cable.
00:22:25
Jeff Rogers
The helicopter dropped a marker buoy, which is a floating radio transmitter. Now seven minutes past bingo, the 6019 crew could think of no way to recover Odom.
00:22:38
Jeff Rogers
They had to leave or they would all be dead. Before departing, Vittone kicked out a life raft and closed the cabin door. Odom inflated it and climbed in. He knew how far offshore he was, and he knew there were no other rescue resources.
00:22:53
Jeff Rogers
As the helicopter disappeared into the dark, he tried to signal on the radio. 19, talk to me. What's going on, 19? Talk to me. He got no response. The helicopter was also trying to communicate with him, but their transmissions were blocking each other.
00:23:09
Jeff Rogers
Steyer recalled that as they flew away, he and his crewmates had no idea what was going on, but he looked at one of the Coast Guard lieutenants and saw that he was crying. Back in the ocean, waves continued to pummel the life raft.
00:23:24
Jeff Rogers
Before he could attach himself to the lanyard, Odom was thrown violently from the raft twice and had to swim hard to return to it before the wind and the waves took it.
00:23:34
Jeff Rogers
i I can't even imagine how you would swim hard enough to get back to a raft. Just being thrown and blown away. yeah Above him, the C-130 had reached low fuel status.
00:23:45
Jeff Rogers
Lieutenant Reed knew there was a relief C-130 readying to replace him, but it would take at least four hours to arrive. Instead of turning and leaving, he cut off two of his engines and continued to circle Odom for as long as he could.
00:24:00
Jeff Rogers
The only other Jayhawks that had the capability to reach him were out of service in the hangar at Elizabeth City. The Marines at Cherry Point didn't have anything that could make it that far out to sea.
00:24:13
Jeff Rogers
The cruiser Ticonderoga CG-47 had an SH-60B Seahawk on board, but they were too far out of range, so they redirected and tried to close a distance.
00:24:27
Jeff Rogers
The crew members on the cruiser prepped the helicopter anyway so that it would be ready as soon as the ship was in range. Merchant ship Daletta F. received alerts from the Coast Guard and redirected her course to head towards the lost rescue swimmer.
00:24:42
Jeff Rogers
As Odom floated alone in his raft, the co-pilot of the circling C-130 hailed him on the radio and told him help was on the way. He lied and told him that another plane was close and said, you can make it.
00:24:54
Jeff Rogers
They joked back and forth and shared memories over the radio until it was cut short as another wave tossed him out of the raft. Although he was attached and he didn't have to swim hard to get back, he was exhausted and struggled to climb over into the raft again.
00:25:09
Jeff Rogers
The cold was overwhelming him. He had already passed through the shivering phase, which he knew was dangerous. His limbs were now numb and his muscles were seizing. He started losing vision.
00:25:20
Jeff Rogers
His thoughts now were that he didn't want to get thrown from the raft when he died, and he didn't want the Coast Guard to spend days searching for his body. So with his remaining strength, he tied himself face up in the raft.
00:25:34
Jeff Rogers
The relief Hercules arrived at 4.36 in the morning. The new crew, including Odom's boss, Lieutenant Junior Grade Dan Rocco, tried to ascertain if Odom was still in the raft and alive.
00:25:46
Jeff Rogers
There had been radio silence for too long. As they flew in low, they saw what appeared to be his lifeless body. The helicopter was still 50 minutes away. The Daletta F arrived on scene as the sky began to lighten.
00:26:00
Jeff Rogers
Although they couldn't retrieve Odom, the vessel served as a wind and sea break for the helicopter when it arrived. At 6.13, four hours and 50 minutes after Odom first went into the water, the Jayhawk settled into hover.
00:26:13
Jeff Rogers
His last transmitted words had been, I'm cold. I'm cold. Over an hour earlier. Rescue swimmer and friend, Jim Peterson, dropped from the helicopter into the raft.
00:26:24
Jeff Rogers
He straddled Odom and began shouting in his face and rubbing his chest, but he remained motionless and unresponsive. He reached his hand up under Odom's hood to check for a carotid pulse, and unconsciously, Odom's arm came up.
00:26:38
Jeff Rogers
Peterson hooked his harness to Odom, and they began the hoist. Moments later, the raft's webbing caught on Peterson's arm and yanked them back. The weight of the water-filled rafts was putting a critical load on the cable.
00:26:51
Jeff Rogers
Peterson tugged and tugged until he finally broke free. They were hauled into a helicopter with Odom still unconscious. Miles away, the two remaining crew members of the Mirage awaited evac from the sailboat.
00:27:04
Jeff Rogers
Lieutenant Jones of the Jayhawk was ordered to pick up the two Mirage crew members, but he relayed Odom's status and was directed to take him to a hospital two hours away. Instead, he he headed for the the cruiser ship, which was 150 miles away, for immediate medical attention and necessary refueling.
00:27:23
Jeff Rogers
During the 70-minute flight, the crew cut off Odom's suit and wrapped him in worn blankets. They cranked the heat up to full, regardless of the men still in their wetsuits, who Odom later noted must have been over 100 degrees.
00:27:39
Jeff Rogers
When he arrived at the medical facility on the Ticonderoga, his core temperature was 90 degrees. He remained unconscious and underwent treatment for exposure. With Odom safely stowed in the sick bay on the cruiser and the helicopter refueled, Lieutenant Jones stuck out for the Mirage.
00:27:56
Jeff Rogers
He was unaware of Captain Brueger's previous refusal to leave the boat. Nielsen, the sailor who had been thrown from the boat 13 hours earlier, was eager eager to get the hell off the boat.
00:28:07
Jeff Rogers
He gladly leapt from the boat this time and was easily retrieved. Brueger again refused evac when the helicopter arrived. Lieutenant Jones quickly informed Brueger that there would be no other assistance coming for her, and they left the scene.
00:28:24
Jeff Rogers
Odom remained on the Ticonderoga for 24 hours and recovered well. He was transferred back to Cherry Point and then fetched home by his unit's aircraft. He returned to work the next day.
00:28:36
Jeff Rogers
Three days later, he was flying another rescue mission. Damn. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross before Congress on May 4, 1995, for his heroic actions in the rescue of the crew members of the Mirage.
00:28:49
Jeff Rogers
The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to persons who distinguish themselves by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. The act in the face of great danger, well above normal expectations, is required to be eligible for the award.
00:29:05
Jeff Rogers
That one had me on the edge of my seat. That was good. ah just He survived. He did. You know, i was thinking the Hercules, Nutty Professor.
00:29:18
Jeff Rogers
miculeses herculeses Hercules, Hercules. That was a good one. Really good. Thanks. All right, let's get down to yours. Okay.
00:29:29
Jeff Rogers
Let's see what I have here.
George Washington's Later Life and Death
00:29:33
Jeff Rogers
George Washington... Know that guy. Do you? I do. Old George? He's a bud. I'll have to really get to know him now, okay? He's one of the most important people in history, in the history of the United States, obviously. He was one of the delegates to the First Continental Congress, led the country through the Revolutionary War, convinced the states to ratify the new constitution, forming a new nation.
00:29:52
Jeff Rogers
Just a few things. On April 30, 1789, he was inaugurated as the first president in New York City, which was the capital of the country then. It was a unanimous vote.
00:30:03
Jeff Rogers
He was respected in America and in Europe. In September 1796, worn out by the burdens of the presidency and the attacks of the of his political foes, George Washington announced his decision not to seek a third term.
00:30:19
Jeff Rogers
With the assistance of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, Washington gave his farewell address to the nation. um We know about George's life, yeah so that's not what this is about.
00:30:31
Jeff Rogers
This is the absolute insane... have teeth, right? a Great teeth. Top of the line teeth. This is the insane story of his death. I do know this story. i do, just from history class. I don't think I'm about to get the details you're going to give me.
00:30:47
Jeff Rogers
So it's December 1799, and old George has been retired for over three years at this time. President Washington spent his time riding around Mount Vernon, his home, on his horse, overseeing his land and his projects.
00:30:59
Jeff Rogers
He was enjoying his retirement. He's 68. He's done a lot. And on December 12th that year, the temp outside was in the 30s, and he was out from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. doing his thing on his horse.
00:31:11
Jeff Rogers
With his teeth. Uh-huh. Never late for dinner. He rode home. When he got there, dinner was ready. And they had company. Records show that during 1799, as many as 600 to 700 visitors had visited Mount Vernon to meet George Washington.
00:31:31
Jeff Rogers
i Can I just say that 600 people block came to visit me in one year. would lose it. yeah I'm done. I'm out. Put a fence up. Put a lock on it. Do not let anybody own this property. Some may say build a wall.
00:31:43
Jeff Rogers
Build up. Yeah. Damn you. Okay, nevertheless, George is on time for dinner. He's a stickler for time. I would imagine George was a stickler for every everything because he was George Washington. His clothes are wet, but he's a stickler for time, so he doesn't change his clothes.
00:31:59
Jeff Rogers
He stays in his wet clothes. He sits down to eat. The next morning, December 13th, Washington complained of a sore throat. Nevertheless, he jumped on his horse. He rode through the snow and did his retired thing, like marking his trees that he wanted to cut down.
00:32:16
Jeff Rogers
Like peeing on his trees. No, just kidding. When he came home, he sounded a bit hoarse. But not like nay. Not like that. He read the newspaper to his wife and his secretary, Colonel Lear.
00:32:31
Jeff Rogers
Lear was like, maybe you should take a little medicine for that cold there, George. ah general george washington and washington said i never take anything for a cold let it go as it came tough man right like his voice thank you uh that night around 3 a.m m washington woke up and told his wife that he wasn't feeling too well martha was concerned so she wanted to go get the maid this would involve martha going outside and george george didn't want martha to go outside because she had just gotten over a cold but he was having a hard time breathing and he could barely speak
00:33:06
Jeff Rogers
The next morning, Washington thought the cold air would make him feel a bit better. So he wants to go out on his horse again. But Martha was like, George, no. So Washington stays in bed.
00:33:19
Jeff Rogers
Caroline came out. Caroline came in at sunrise to see that George was in bad shape. Now, Caroline was the maid, also an enslaved person, right? And George is in bad shape.
00:33:32
Jeff Rogers
Difficulty breathing. He can barely speak. Caroline... but She went and got Colonel Lear. Colonel Lear sent for Mr. Rollins. Now, this was the man that was over the estate.
00:33:44
Jeff Rogers
I don't know why you'd get Mr. Rollins, but he did. Rollins prepared a concoction for George. Okay. It was quite the concoction. He mixed molasses, vinegar, and butter.
00:33:56
Jeff Rogers
Ew. He stirred it up, and he poured it down George's throat. Okay, so that's what we're having on our next cold day. Abso-fucking-lutely. Okay. George tried to swallow, but lo and behold, it caused him to have, quote, an episode of convulsive suffocation, end quote.
00:34:12
Jeff Rogers
That's not funny. and
00:34:15
Jeff Rogers
After George got over that, quote, episode, George decided that he what he needed, what he really, really needed was bloodletting. I mean, he was a believer in this.
00:34:27
Jeff Rogers
He had done it to several of his enslaved people. Turned out so well. With a success rate, allegedly. He wanted Rollins to put a needle in his arm and drain some blood from him. And Rollins did it because that was George Washington and you can't tell him no.
00:34:42
Jeff Rogers
Martha was like, George, this is a bad idea. i don't think you should do this. Literally, she said that. So after Rollins drained about a half a pint, he stopped and then put Washington's feet into warm water.
00:34:56
Jeff Rogers
In a smart move, Rollins believed they needed actual doctors. So he summoned Dr. Craik, Washington's private doctor, for over 40 years, who was close by in the little city of Alexandria.
00:35:09
Jeff Rogers
He also summoned Dr. Brown and Dr. Dick. When Dr. Kreck... Why are you looking at me like that, Sam? Like what? When Dr. Kreck arrived, he was stunned because Washington looked so bad.
00:35:23
Jeff Rogers
Shocking. Dr. Kreck applied a painful blister of cantharides. Any idea what that is? To Washington's neck.
00:35:34
Jeff Rogers
the the so The oil that makes... Spanish flies. This involved the application of a preparation of dried beetles which caused painful blisters to form.
00:35:45
Jeff Rogers
The treatment was part of a the medical understanding at the time based on the idea of counter irritation where the blisters were thought to where the blisters were thought to draw out the harmful humors causing the throat inflammation. so So they put beetles on his throat and burned his skin.
00:36:03
Jeff Rogers
That's when Washington had spontaneous bowel evacuation. Medical talk for he shat his pants. Dr. Kreck decides that he needs to take more blood from George Washington.
00:36:16
Jeff Rogers
So he drained another 40 ounces on top of the half a pint already taken. Then Dr. Kreck prepared another concoction... of hot water and vinegar and tried to get Washington to gargle it.
00:36:30
Jeff Rogers
I mean, that's that's not too far out there. So far, that's the least yes absurd thing. Yes. I mean, no, the putting feet in hot water was good. Yeah. However, this led to suffocation and difficulty breathing because it went into the man's lungs.
00:36:44
Jeff Rogers
So Dr. Craig decided what he needed to do was take more blood. That's the only solution. So he took another 40 ounces. Washington could still walk around his room.
00:36:57
Jeff Rogers
I mean, he was a strong man. 220. I mean, this is going to lot to take him down. But they're trying their damnedest, right? The problem was that when he was laying down, he could hardly breathe.
00:37:07
Jeff Rogers
Especially when he was laying on his back. Flat on his back. I mean, pillow, people. Give the man a pillow. I just, like, prop him against the wall. Maybe have him sit on the floor and lean against the bed.
00:37:19
Jeff Rogers
So Dr. Dick arrives at 3 p.m. Dr. Dick said, let's take more blood. Yeah, let's do it. So they did.
00:37:30
Jeff Rogers
i They drained another 32 ounces from old George on top of the 40 ounces, on top of the 40 and then the 40 and then the half a pint they had already taken. Now, Dr. Brown arrives.
00:37:44
Jeff Rogers
Code Brown. We have a Code Brown. And for you all that do not work in a hospital environment, sometimes people say when people have that spontaneous bowel evacuation, that is considered a Code Brown sometimes.
00:37:57
Jeff Rogers
So that's what that means. There's, there's, but there's. Just a couple of things to point out here. We have patients who when we take four or five vials of blood, vials of blood being max three mLs, right?
00:38:11
Jeff Rogers
That's the max goes in any of those vials. They act like we're stealing all of their life force. And I just want them to maybe hear this story when they think that we are draining them of all of the blood that exists.
00:38:24
Jeff Rogers
Maybe tell it to him next time. Or not, because it doesn't end too well for George. Okay. So at 3 p.m., Dr. Dick arrives, and he said, oh, my God, I know what we've got to do.
00:38:36
Jeff Rogers
Let's take some more blood. So they did. They took a another 32 ounces on top of the 40 and the 40 and the half a pint, case anybody's keeping count. Now, Dr. Dick, um Dr. Brown took Washington's Pulse, and then he said,
00:38:54
Jeff Rogers
I think we need to give him an enema. And so he did. This
00:39:02
Jeff Rogers
is horrible. This poor man. And the enema didn't work too well. Because he had just spontaneously evacuated moments before. So so Dr. Brown gave Washington ah strong emetic to make him vomit violently. Perfect.
00:39:23
Jeff Rogers
An emetic is something that makes a person vomit, often violently. They thought it could make Washington vomit out the thing that was in his throat. I mean, they burned it, his throat trying to get it out. They're taking all the man's blood. i mean they keep trying to drown him. Gave him an enema.
00:39:39
Jeff Rogers
So it was at this time that Washington considered the fact that maybe it was all in vain. Washington called Colonel Lear over and gave Colonel Lear death instructions. Washington said, quote, I find i am going.
00:39:53
Jeff Rogers
Washington also said to Dr. Kreck, Dr. This is a quote. Dr. I die hard, but I'm not afraid to go. his His doctor raised him to a sitting position whereby the fading Washington thanked the doctors and instructed them to seize their vain efforts to stave off the inevitable.
00:40:13
Jeff Rogers
He said, quote, I thank you for your intentions, but I pray you take no more troubles about me. Let me go off quietly. I cannot last long. That's his gentle way of saying leave me the fuck alone. guys are killing me.
00:40:28
Jeff Rogers
i can't. dont No more enemas. No more leeches, bugs. just leave me. Let me die in peace. However, the doctor stayed at the bedside until 8 p.m., ignoring Washington's wishes.
00:40:42
Jeff Rogers
So Washington's breathing becomes worse. Because he's drowning. Uh-huh. So Dr. Dick suggested the trachea be perforated, ah which is also known as cutting a hole in somebody's windpipe.
00:40:54
Jeff Rogers
Okay. um Recently, this procedure has saved lives. So it's a new procedure, but it's saved lives. However, the other doctors didn't agree with it, so this did not happen. Thank God.
00:41:06
Jeff Rogers
Jesus. Can you imagine if they had performed it performed an emergency trache right there? Oh, my God. So George Washington did not fear death itself.
00:41:18
Jeff Rogers
He did have one fear, though. The doctors. Yeah. of the Well, by this point, he had a couple of fears. The doctors and also being buried alive. Because at this time, people were actually being buried alive. It was a little bell system.
00:41:31
Jeff Rogers
Valid concern. Washington told Colonel Lear, quote, have me decently buried. Do not let my body be put into a vault in less than two days after I am dead. When his grieving aide didn't immediately answer, Washington said, Do you understand me?
00:41:47
Jeff Rogers
Washington's last two words were, Tis well. Between 10 and 11 o'clock that night, on December 14, 1799, George Washington passed away. He was surrounded by people who were close to him, including his wife, who sat at the foot of the bed, his friends, Dr. Kreck and Tobias Lear, enslaved housemaids Caroline, Molly, and Charlotte, and an enslaved valet, Christopher Schills, who stood in the room throughout the day.
00:42:18
Jeff Rogers
In the 226 years since George Washington died, several retrospective diagnoses have been offered ranging from the croup Quincy, diphtheria, and streptococcal throat infection to acute pneumonia.
00:42:33
Jeff Rogers
But the suggestion of bacterial epiglottitis seems most likely and is commonly accepted. Probably pneumonia too, I would imagine. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah.
00:42:44
Jeff Rogers
Just our total guess. If it wasn't pneumonia before, then it was definitely he swallowed enough of whatever the crap was that it's all in his lungs. But also, in 1799, Washington's physicians justified the removal of more than 80 to 100 ounces of his blood.
00:43:01
Jeff Rogers
3.75 liters, or 40% of his total blood volume, over a 10-hour period was removed on December 14. This massive blood loss, along with the accompanying dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and viscous blood flow, could not have helped the president's dire condition.
00:43:20
Jeff Rogers
They took almost half of the man's blood. It probably contributed to his death. The triad of death. But he's dead. But now here comes Dr. Thornton.
00:43:31
Jeff Rogers
He's a newbie. Another one. This doctor was trained in Europe. He's so fancy. He's one of the fancy doctors. So he's well-renowned, and he had helped design the capital.
00:43:43
Jeff Rogers
he was also an old friend of George's. But he was overwhelmed because of Washington's death. So he had an idea.
00:43:54
Jeff Rogers
and don't think this is a good idea. Blood transfusion. okay. Blood transfusions were relatively new at the time. his first successful The first successful blood transfusion was done in 1665 by an English doctor named Richard Blower.
00:44:09
Jeff Rogers
He bled a dog almost to death and then brought the dog back to life by transfusing the blood from another dog into that dog. In 1667... Wait, wait, wait. Was the dog normal after this? Or, like, were there deficits from having no blood? Valid question.
00:44:26
Jeff Rogers
don't know the answer to it. In 1667, the doctor to King Louis the fourteenth performed an animal-to-human blood transfusion. He took the blood from a sheep, transfused into a 15-year-old boy who allegedly survived.
00:44:39
Jeff Rogers
I can't imagine. she He said allegedly. I call bullshit on that. Honestly. At this point, George Washington had been dead for a day. Dr. Thornton said to Martha Washington, mind you she just lost her husband.
00:44:53
Jeff Rogers
Dr. Thornton said, quote, and he said this, so he's quoting what he said to Martha. Okay, this is his own quote. The weather was very cold, and Washington remained in a frozen state for several days.
00:45:06
Jeff Rogers
I propose to attempt his restoration in the following manner. First to thaw him in cold water, then to lay him in the blankets, and by degrees and by friction give him warmth, and to put into activity the minute blood vessels at the same time to open a passage to the lungs by the trachea.
00:45:25
Jeff Rogers
by way of the trachea and to inflate them with air, to produce an artificial respiration and to transfuse blood into him from ah lamb. If this. Okay, so we're we're we're just.
00:45:37
Jeff Rogers
Lamb blood. Let's talk about this for a second because yeah, okay, so this duck. talking to the wife of this dead guy, semi-important dead guy, who's been dead for a couple days.
00:45:49
Jeff Rogers
And he's basically like, okay, well, we pretty much did therapeutic hypothermia on him. So like we kept him chilled. You can't be dead unless you're warm and dead. So let's just cut into his airway.
00:46:03
Jeff Rogers
Well, warm him up first. That's good. bad so one but he did he He did. He said slowly warm him. Okay. So we're now in the rewarming phase and then we're cutting into his trachea and then we're going to give him artificial breaths. Okay. So we're putting on a ventilator.
00:46:17
Jeff Rogers
Okay. All right. I mean, it's not totally absurd. it's to help. It's going help him. Give him the blood of a lamb. Which sounds biblical almost. He also said if these means had been resorted to and had failed, all that could be done would have been done.
00:46:34
Jeff Rogers
But it was not. What you think Martha said? Fuck right off. Abso-fucking-lutely. He said, but it was not seconded and this he was not seconded in this proposal for it was deemed unavailing i reasoned thus he died by the loss of blood and the want of air restore these with the heat that had been subted subsequently deducted and as the organization was in very respect perfect there was no doubt in my mind that his restoration was
00:47:05
Jeff Rogers
Martha Washington was like, um, no. oh john Can you imagine the thoughts that were going on in her head? What the fuck is he talking about? No.
00:47:16
Jeff Rogers
Just horror. 20 years later, Dr. Thornton seemed a little miffed that people questioned his idea. He said, wondering, quote, whether if it were possible, it would be right to attempt to recall the life one who had departed full of honor and renown, full from frailties of age, in the full enjoyment of every faculty and prepared for eternity.
00:47:41
Jeff Rogers
So resurrect the body, but not the spirit. That's very mummy-ish.
00:47:47
Jeff Rogers
Thornton kind of at least got his way after Insisting that the body be enclosed in a lead coffin so that Washington could eventually be buried in the United States Capitol, but that never happened. He was indeed put in a lead coffin.
00:48:01
Jeff Rogers
On December 18th, 1799, solemn funeral was held at Mount Vernon and a national parade for Washington was held in Philadelphia on December 26th, 1799.
00:48:13
Jeff Rogers
And that is the story of the death of George Washington.
00:48:18
Jeff Rogers
See, I didn't know any of those details, but I heard this story recently and I was like, what in the hell were they doing? Voodoo. Voodoo. so That's crazy, right? But like you know it's like the the first really absurd thing that they did, well, not in the first, but when they did the blisters on his throat, like some do still talk about that pain gateway, right? So distracting pain.
00:48:47
Jeff Rogers
And so that was taught in nursing school fucking 10 12 ish years ago right when i was still learning i don't know if they still teach it but that was still a concept that they ascribed to like what about the molasses down the throat do you think that helped him i think it probably did it just like coated the airways and helped um him open up george open up molasses and butter molasses butter and vinegar Well, first it was like lemon or something.
00:49:18
Jeff Rogers
Oh. Oh, was it vinegar in the first? thing Yeah, that's... Vinegar's used a lot today. Yes, but I just am trying to think... I mean, we're going to drink this. When it gets cold, look, I'm going to put this on our board.
00:49:30
Jeff Rogers
Molasses, butter, and vinegar. Oh, next winter when we... Let's do a show and we'll drink molasses, butter, and vinegar. And we'll take it to work and we'll give it to everybody.
00:49:41
Jeff Rogers
Yeah, it's I mean, it was good enough for George Washington. If it was good enough for George, damn it.
00:49:48
Jeff Rogers
Did you like my Martha voice? George, George, you can't do that. George, I just, George, but wait, wait we wait, wait, pause. Let the men give you an enema, George. So let's talk about how the, how do say this gently?
00:50:04
Jeff Rogers
Some of the male patients that we have nowadays, and that's not just we, that's we as a medical profession, specifically in the ER. Um,
00:50:16
Jeff Rogers
They come in um and the unofficial diagnosis is man flu. So here's George Washington.
00:50:28
Jeff Rogers
trying to die, but still like going out, riding his horse, marking his trees, maybe peeing on them. You don't know. Trying to like figure out what he was going to cut down. Back out on the horse the next day.
00:50:39
Jeff Rogers
Dude looks like, feels like shit, but he's still doing his best. He's still doing his damn thing. Right. He even wants to go out again. Martha's the only reason he did it. Right.
00:50:50
Jeff Rogers
George, please don't go. Don't go. You're going to die. Yeah, well, nowadays. George was like, please let me die. let's let's stop with the n Let's just compare.
00:51:03
Jeff Rogers
You don't have to tell me anything. I'm just saying. Don't have to tell anything. even going finish that, but I'm just saying. yeah What has happened? What has happened to men? I don't know. Okay, what was it? Winter drink, molasses, butter, and vinegar.
00:51:20
Jeff Rogers
I'll get some Spanish flies. It'll be a party. Okay. You come near me with Spanish flies. I'll kill you. Stop. Sorry. ah
00:51:32
Jeff Rogers
Okay. ah I think that we've done enough. and Look, people. If you like the stories. they enough to Absolutely. If you like the stories, follow us, rate us, click the stars, give us five stars. Give us one star. If you didn't like us, give but give us five. If you'd like, really liked us, review us.
00:51:49
Jeff Rogers
Yeah, tell it tell us what you think. Rate, review, follow us, share us with your friends and family. Ooh, maybe not family. Unless your family has absolutely no morals.
00:52:00
Jeff Rogers
and Share it with them. Share it with them because they might like us too. Yeah, that's it. Alan, thank you. Our overqualified, and underpaid master publisher extraordinaire.
00:52:11
Jeff Rogers
Ashley, the ultimate and epically unmatched hype queen editor. Kelsey, our incomparable swag and merch creator. And Daniel, our friendly neighborhood supporter.
00:52:23
Jeff Rogers
Together, our first... And forever fans. Bye, everybody.