The Dark Queen of the Sea

Maddie Campanella Article:
 

Queen Mary in Long Beach -- Painting by Chris Butler

The Queen Mary, built in 1936, in Clyde, Scotland, was one of the biggest and strongest ships of this time. Stretching 1,000 feet long and more powerful than the Titanic, the Queen Mary began her first voyage May 27, 1936. Just three years later in 1939, WWII broke out and Queen Mary was turned into a ship for the troops with the name of “The Grey Ghost.” Over the Queen Mary’s time at sea, she encountered one collision, and also participated in the D Day Invasion. Later on in 1946, Queen Mary carried war brides and their children to America and Canada. After the 13 “war bride” voyages, the ship was refurbished and returned to its original purpose as a cruise ship. Finally in 1967, after 1,000 transatlantic crossings, the Queen Mary was retired and sold to the city of Long Beach California for 3.45 million dollars.            
 
The Queen Mary has been investigated many times for paranormal activity, but has not been proven right or wrong that paranormal activity does exist on the boat. The paranormal investigation team has often compared the boat to the Titanic to show just how amazing and powerful this new ship was in 1936. While the Queen Mary had 1,001 voyages, the Titanic couldn’t last through one when it collided with a glacier. The Queen Mary also has many newspaper articles of many occurrences that happened during the life of the ship. Some that are included are the collision that happened during the war causing the other ship to sink. The paranormal investigators were unable to prove or disprove that the ship was haunted or had factual paranormal activity occurring on the boat. Even though the paranormal investigators were unable to prove the whip was haunted, there has been over 113 reports of paranormal experiences on the ship from common people that visit the now docked floating hotel. The Queen Mary has seen 49 deaths in the time that it cruised the Atlantic.            
 
It is said that the spirit of a little girl still lingers by the indoor pool looking for her stuffed animal or mother. She died by sliding down a railing on the boat but slipping to a drop that broke her neck. Other stories include that of the chef during the war. It is said that the troops did not like his food so they shut him in the oven and let him cook to death. You can still hear his dreadful screams when you are anywhere near the kitchen. Others believe the soul of a young man still haunts the doors of gate 13. For he was trapped inside the watertight gate that chopped his body in half. The story says that his spirit has been seen walking into the light by gate 13.  
 
Works Cited:
 
“RMS Queen Mary Hotel Long Beach CA California by Long Island Paranormal Investigators - Ghost Haunted Demonic Investigation Ghost Hunter New York NY.” RMS Queen Mary Hotel Long Beach CA California by Long Island Paranormal Investigators - Ghost Haunted Demonic Investigation Ghost Hunter New York NY. Long Island Paranormal Investigators, 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.  
 
“The Queen Mary Haunting.” - Your Ghost Stories. YourGhostStories.com, 2006. Web. 8 Oct. 2015.  
 
Champion, John. “The Queen Mary Is Not Haunted (But I understand Why You Think She Is).” Center for Inquiry- CSI. 1 July 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.  

SDPRS. “RMS Queen Mary Research.” San Diego Paranormal Research Society (SDPRS). San Diego Paranormal Research Society, 2009. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.

Weiser, Kathy. “The Queen Mary of Long Beach - History and Hauntings.” Legends of America, 1 Mar. 2013. Web. 8 Oct. 2015.  

Links for Further Research:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS-X7zdo20c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZfu_re_jwM

http://www.queenmary.com/history/comparison-fun-facts/wwii-facts/ 

RMS Queen Mary

Author: Catherine Garrett

Said to be one of the most haunted places in America, The Queen Mary floats in Long Beach, California. She originated in Scotland and was first built as a luxury cruiser. She took her maiden voyage in 1934 outfitted with an indoor swimming pool, salon, library, nursery, and first-class dining. She was used by all of high society for travel, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Winston Churchill (Firefox).

Come World War II, The Queen Mary gave up her days as luxury liner and was converted into a military transport. She was camouflaged grey for stealth and given the nickname “The Grey Ghost”, a name that she would later live up to. She was the fastest in her class, outstripping all other ships. Hitler put up a $250,000 reward for anyone who could stop this incredible machine. She could carry up to 15,000 men at a time, allowing for fast and easy transport for the allied efforts. However, she was involved in a few incidents during her war-time service. In October of 1942 she struck her escort ship, HMS Curacoa, killing 338 people aboard (Firefox). Later, in December of 1942, while transporting American GI’s back to America, she was hit by a massive wave. She almost capsized, but made it. Paul Gallico based his novel The Poseidon Adventure on this event. After World War II, The Queen Mary was transformed again into a luxury ship. However, times had changed and she was underequipped. Soon, she was retired from service.

In 1967 she was sold to the city of Long Beach, California. They turned the ship into a floating hotel and museum. Ever since she was docked in Long Beach, rumors of her haunting have been buzzing everywhere. It seems that the paranormal center of the ship is “Door 13”. “Door 13” was a watertight door that closed off the engine room. John Pedder, an 18 year old crewman, was said to have been crushed by this door in 1966 during a routine drill. It is said that you can occasionally see a man in blue overalls lurking around the door. Many people say they feel otherworldly feelings around this door, and some have even reported encounters with John Peddler (Strickland). The first-class pool on board is also a popular ghost hangout. It is reported that women in 1930s attire have been seen lounging around the pool deck. In the second-class pool room, a young girl named Jackie has been spotted wandering around looking for something – or someone (Firefox).  The children’s playroom also seems to be haunted, it has been reported that if you come close to the door you can hear crying on the other side. The hull of the ship, where it wrecked into HMS Curacoa, seems to be haunted as well. It is said that you can hear the sounds of the metal bending in the accident and the screams of the stranded men as they drowned (Firefox). Haunted or not, RMS Queen Mary is quite a mystery with a murky past.

Works Cited:

Morris, Tracy. “The RMS Queen Mary: The Most Haunted Place in America.” Firefox News. 6 June 2008. Web. 13 Oct 2013.

Strickland, Nicole. “An Encounter with John Pedder?” Ghosts and Spirits of the RMS Queen Mary. Nicole Strickland, 9 Feb 2013. Web. 13 Oct 2013.

“The “Queen Mary” On Her Maiden Voyage to the U.S.” Photograph. Temperamental Broad, 8 Oct 2012. Web. 18 Oct 2013.

Links for Further Research:

Ghosts and Spirts of the RMS Queen Mary

http://www.spiritedqueenmary.com/

This website by Nicole Strickland, a paranormal investigator, contains a lot of information on the ship and paranormal activity she has personally seen and recorded aboard.

The Queen Mary, The Most Haunted Ship That Ever Sailed The Oceans.

http://www.castlehalloween.com/news.php?id=35

This website has many personal accounts by people who experienced paranormal encounters aboard the ship.

Have Ghosts? Will Travel: A Ghostgeek's Guide to the RMS Queen Mary

http://www.ghostvillage.com/resources/2006/features_12042006.shtml

This article by Jen Brown is about her stay aboard the Queen Mary and her investigation of the ship.