It's Maritime 45-08-14 (x) Mogo Mc Kenzie the Pirate

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: It's Maritime 45-08-14 (x) Mogo McKenzie the Pirate
Date: November 15, 2025

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Overview of the Episode

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio features an installment of "It's Maritime," originally aired during the Golden Age of Radio in the 1940s. The episode, titled "Mogo McKenzie the Pirate," dramatizes a legendary tale of piracy and peril on the Atlantic, centering around the infamous Mogul (Mogo) McKenzie. The program then pivots to heroic real-life stories from World War II’s Merchant Marine, celebrating the courage and resilience of those who sailed in dangerous waters. The episode is interspersed with period music and includes a special live news interruption about the Japanese surrender offer near the end of WWII, grounding the radio drama in its historical context.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Structure

1. Introduction & Setting the Scene (01:09–05:12)

• The narrator opens by situating the audience in the tradition of radio programming honoring the U.S. Merchant Marine.

• Quote (01:09):
  "This program is devoted to the men who sail the ships of the United States Merchant Marines in cooperation with the War Shipping Administration. Columbia brings you It's Maritime." – Narrator

• Brief mention of the history of seafaring—from primitive navigation to more modern and “gentle” persuasion—leads into a musical number.

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2. The Legend of Mogul McKenzie (05:12–13:01)

Tale Introduction (05:12–06:19)

• Sets the eerie, mythical tone, focusing on Nova Scotia’s Sable Island, notorious for shipwrecks and maritime legends.
• Mogul McKenzie is introduced as the last North Atlantic pirate, notorious in the 1860s.

Pirate Drama Unfolds (06:20–11:53)

• The narrative follows a whaler’s encounter with a mysterious brig—McKenzie’s ghostly ship, the Canawa.

• The whaler's crew boards an abandoned vessel, finding all in order but eerily deserted.

• Quote (10:16):
  "Not a living soul aboard her. Abandoned on the high seas." – Captain

• The suspense builds as they discover the lifeboat's name: Canawa, tying the ship to McKenzie and prompting a hasty retreat.

The Fate of McKenzie (11:53–13:01)

• The legend claims Sable Island finally claims McKenzie's ship in a storm.
• The Canawa is immortalized in ghostly sightings, a deathless symbol of piratical villainy off the Canadian coast.
• Quote (12:21):
  "The Cape of Sable island had caught Mogo McKenzie. No man could do the job. It's a fearsome island." – Storyteller

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3. Interludes & Musical Segments

• Breaks between dramatic sequences feature period songs performed by members of the Maritime Service band and soloists.
  • Song: "Love Me or Leave Me" (approx. 04:50)
  • Song: "That's For Me" sung by Petty Officer Tommy Mercer (13:01–16:06)
  • Song: "Honeymoon Lane" (17:53–18:22)

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4. Historical Cut-In: Breaking War News (16:06–17:53)

• The program is interrupted for a live news update on the Japanese surrender at the end of WWII.

• Quote (16:06):
  "We interrupt this program to bring you the latest news on the Japanese surrender offer... the Japanese note accepts the Allied formula for surrender. This is not official..." – News Announcer

• The update provides palpable wartime atmosphere and contemporary context for listeners.

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5. Merchant Marine Heroism: SS Independence Hall (18:22–24:48)

Setting the Scene (18:22–19:47)

• Dramatic recreation of an American merchant ship’s peril in a wartime Atlantic convoy in March 1942.
• The Independence Hall faces a treacherous storm and is separated from the convoy in dense fog.

Crisis and Leadership (19:47–22:44)

• The crew battles worsening conditions; half the ship is torn away, leaving survivors stranded.
• Quote (22:32):
  "The seaman was right. When I got up on deck, it was a nightmare. It couldn't be real. The forward part of the ship was pulling away from us. The stern was wallowing in the sea like a pitching cork. And we were on it." – Narrator (recounting the officer’s experience)

Rescue & Commendation (22:44–24:48)

• A desperate jury-rigged antenna enables an SOS to Sable Island.
• Rescue efforts succeed; all 37 men aboard are saved by day’s end.
• Heroic crew members are recognized by name, with Walter J. Lee honored with the Distinguished Service Medal.

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6. Closing Remarks and Call to Service

• Encouragement for former Merchant Marine personnel to rejoin postwar shipping efforts, framing the end of WWII as the beginning of a new challenge.

• Quote (24:48):
  "The end of the war will not mean the completion of the Merchant Marine's job. VJ Day will mark the beginning of a tremendous shipping task..." – Narrator

• Credits roll for the program’s production team and performers.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Maritime Legend:
  "Not a man thought to look at the name on that dinghy before they went aboard... The name on it? Kanawa, Mogul McKenzie’s ship. So that's it... We're getting out of these waters under full sail and fast." – Captain & First Mate (10:48–11:02)

• On Shipwreck Survival:
  "We couldn't move—just stand there, staring across the widening strip of water between us and the other half of our ship." – Narrator (22:43)

• War News Interrupts Fiction:
  "The Japanese note accepts the Allied formula for surrender. This is not official..." – News Announcer (16:39)

• On Merchant Marine Resilience:
  "I'll answer 'no' to that. Till then, we're fighting back, Price. Understand this?" – Third Officer (24:29)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:09 — Program Opening: Salute to the Merchant Marines
• 05:12 — Introduction to the legend of Mogul McKenzie
• 10:49–11:11 — Discovery of Canawa; supernatural fear and retreat
• 11:53 — McKenzie's final fate at Sable Island
• 13:01–13:27 — “That’s for Me” performed by Petty Officer Mercer
• 16:06–17:53 — Live break-in: Japanese surrender offer coverage
• 18:22–24:48 — SS Independence Hall struggle and rescue
• 24:48–end — Recognition and call to join/rejoin Merchant Marine

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Tone & Language

The episode captures the classic storytelling style of mid-century radio—dramatic, earnest, and often poetic. Maritime legends are told in a sea-worn vernacular, while modern wartime stories convey urgency and profound respect for ordinary heroism. Music punctuates the action, alternating between light-hearted romp and somber reflection.

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This summary provides an engaging overview of the episode’s dramatic retelling of seafaring legends and historical heroism, giving non-listeners insight into both the content and atmosphere of this Golden Age broadcast.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

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[Narrator]

The following program will be interrupted to bring you any late news developments. Monday through Friday at this time, the Columbia Broadcasting System presents Service Time every Tuesday afternoon. This program is devoted to the men who sail the ships of the United States Merchant Marines in cooperation with the War Shipping Administration. Columbia brings you It's Maritime. It's Maritime a program dramatizing the history and color of the American merchant marine. This is the story of the sea, the story of maritime America. Today you'll hear about the fog sprouted graveyard of the Atlantic and the man who dared it and lost. And one man who dared it and won. There'll be Music with Ensign Philip Lang directing the orchestra of the Maritime Service training station of Cheap Bed Bay. Yes, it's maritime. Way back in the days when sailing vessels were hollowed out logs and sailors, bearded giants and leopard skins, when home was a cave on a cliffside, and navigation a matter of paddles and guesswork. Way back then, disciplining the fair sex was the process of a snarl, a cuff and a blow with a club. Today it's different. Today it's persuasion, coaxing and the gentle urging of a song like Love Me or Leave Me.

[Singer]

Foreign.

[Narrator]

This is the story of Mogul Mackenzie, the story of a pirate. When men of the sea talk of Nova Scotia and the windswept Cape of Sable Island, a note of awe comes to their voices. For it's a fearsome, dark island filled with treacherous sands and jagged toothed rocks with swirling mists and curling fogs. Dropping a great spoke of mystery over ships that have struck and gone down there. And there are legends of sable. Tis dead on a stormy night. If you look sharp out to sea by the lightning's flicker, there'll be the shapes and spars of long dead ships swinging against the sky and arching up and up, curving in frenzy across the churning bank clouds. The distress rocket from the stricken ship of Mogul Mackenzie and his pirate crew. Mogul Mackenzie was the last of the pirates to cruise the North Atlantic sea lanes back in the 1860s.

[Singer]

Hey.

[Storyteller]

In the days of four, they put a light on the Cape of Sable Island. Wild days those was with the rebel freebooter Mogul Mackenzie. Let loose by the War between the States as a privateer. And sailing on after Appomattox as a pirate, raiding and plundering and striking fear to the hearts of honest men. There's a night in Maine 65. The Legend of Mogul Mackenzie in his long gray ship, the Kanawa, begun before it had finished. Not a seaport town in New England missed the wind of fear. His name blew in. And from the sea this night. The skies was peaceful and serene above the Cape. Not a breath of fog to crowd the lookout. The sea running smooth and steady. A whaler bound through Bedford up the cape was spanking along with never a hint of the discovery that was bearing.

[Captain]

Down on her wind holes. Mr. Mate will cast anchor off New Bedford before daylight.

[Narrator]

Aye, sir, if the wind holds. Scoundrel.

[Captain]

HP Lawyer even to doubt it for luck. We've never logged a better trip.

[Narrator]

That's just it, sir. It's not natural for our luck to hold out much longer.

[Captain]

Yeah, we got a bulging hole in less time than ever. A whaler did it before. I know that. We've had no storms or squalls, and I know that too. And for all that luck of the grace of Neptune. There's still no reason to doubt we.

[First Mate]

Make it.

[Captain]

Ahead not tong.

[Narrator]

A break.

[First Mate]

What the thing did you plan to do? You fool?

[Captain]

The brig.

[Narrator]

All right, Captain. See that by your shot, prow.

[Captain]

She had the grease dance to my heels, Baron.

[Narrator]

Pull across our bow, sir. Not a sound or a light showing on her.

[Captain]

Hey, there's something rotten aboard there, Mr.

[Narrator]

Breach. There is that, captain. I wonder. Well, what's he doing? All her sail set running before the wind. She's veering off.

[Captain]

Yeah, we'll outrig any brig anytime.

[Narrator]

Aye, aye, sir.

[Captain]

A race it is.

[Storyteller]

A weird race that on up the coast of Maine with the brig Showing nary alight the sound, the movement of border and the whaler spanking hot after loaded and slowed but gaining through the night for all that come daylight and a gulp in the wind.

[Narrator]

Winging her nose out to sea, captain.

[Captain]

Now, what did she do that for?

[Narrator]

The chance she had to outrun it now is gone. Why, our small boat could come up with her on its oars.

[Captain]

And that's what we're going to do, mister.

[Narrator]

Me ro crossing border, sir.

[Singer]

Order.

[Captain]

I order a boatload. We make pass to that dinghy that's railing in to over and see what.

[Narrator]

This is all about.

[Storyteller]

Now, mind you, not a man thought to look at the name on that dinghy before they went aboard. The brakes hit the head and likely rode off back to the whaler and set sail away from there fast. They didn't pay no heed to that dinghy. This made fast to us.

[Narrator]

Swung up the tow rope onto the.

[Storyteller]

Deck and stole toward the bridge, knives out in pistol shot 10 minutes later.

[Narrator]

What do you make of it now, Captain?

[Captain]

I don't know. The log says she's a St. Clair registered on a huddle pool in the cargo line.

[Narrator]

Look, sir. Wheel and lookout both deserted. Table in the captain's cabin, spread for a meal.

[Storyteller]

Twas never eaten.

[Narrator]

Everything in order on deck. You're stocked with provisions below.

[Captain]

Not a living soul aboard her. Abandoned on the high seas.

[Narrator]

What do you figure it means, sir?

[Captain]

I don't know, Mary. A sign of a storm haven't hit us. It's as if. Well, as if you might say, her crew had been snatched away by some dread power.

[Narrator]

Well, the men say, sir, that sea serpent, they want to get off and they want to get off in a hurry. That's Mr.

[Captain]

He's running this way like the sea serpent itself was after him. Well, Smith, what is it?

[First Mate]

The dinghy, sir. The dinghy.

[Captain]

What about the dinghy?

[Narrator]

There's a name on it, captain.

[Captain]

Name on it? What are you trembling for, man? What's the name on the dinghy?

[First Mate]

It's the Canawa, sir.

[Captain]

A Kanawha, Vogel, McKenzie ship. So that's it. Come along, men. We're getting out of these waters under.

[First Mate]

Full sail and fast.

[Storyteller]

What McKenzie did with a captain and crew of that big, nobody ever found out. The legend started and spread. Mikanawha was reported sighted outside Portland harbor and off the island of Campobello and in the Bay of Fundy. And everywhere men's imaginations put her. The merry gunboat and the warship sent to trail her. Ever come up with the canawa in Mogul Mackenzie that was left to the cape of Sable island on a wild black night. Evil is the villainy of mogul McKenzie himself.

[Narrator]

There's a ship aground on Sable Rock.

[First Mate]

She'll be dashed to pieces. Well, looky there.

[Narrator]

By that flash of light send it up a rocket. All her sails are set and she.

[First Mate]

Can'T move a foot. Just be dashed and crashed and blurry.

[Narrator]

Fe.

[First Mate]

But the canal, man. That cape and the storm have caught the canal at last.

[Singer]

Hey.

[Storyteller]

The cape of Sable island had caught Margo McKenzie. No man could do the job. It's a fearsome island. The Sable is and to this day the coup. Look out to sea of a stormy night. You'll see him curved up across the line of ghost shapes, his bars swinging against the sky. Rockets going up to the spectre of the Canawa at the hands of Mogul Mackenzie and his pirate crew.

[Narrator]

Petty Officer Tommy Mercer believes in the direct approach. Objects of desire cited, recognized and gone after an unabashed manner elaborating on this philosophy, Petty Officer Mercer sings. That's for me.

[Singer]

Standing in the sun and you were something.

[Captain]

To see.

[Singer]

I know what I like and I like what I saw. And I said to myself that for.

[Narrator]

Me.

[Singer]

A lovely morning I remarked and you were quick for breath, you wanted to walk and I nodded my head as I breathlessly said that for me I left you standing on the side.

[Captain]

The desert enter us.

[Singer]

There's nothing for me but the dream in my heart and the dream in my heart that for you oh my darling, that's for you you standing understand the day adventures are through. There's nothing for me but the dream in my heart and the dream in my heart.

[News Announcer]

We interrupt this program. We have interrupted this program to bring you the latest news on the Japanese surrender offer. As President Truman's press secretary Charles Ross said earlier today, we are nearing the end of our long vigil of waiting. The Japanese reply to the Allied surrender note is now on its way to Washington from Switzerland and it's possible that President Truman already knows its content. The reply was handed to American Ambassador Harrison In Bern at 3:25 this afternoon, Eastern war time. It was cabled to this country 40 minutes later. At five minutes after four, a full hour and 10 minutes ago, Harrison also received another copy of the message which he has telephoned or will telephone direct to Secretary of State Burns and to President Truman. The United Press says that so called informed sources in Switzerland say the Japanese note accepts the Allied formula for surrender. This is not official. Harrison refused to make any comment to correspondence as he left the Swiss Foreign Office. But one newsman said he had a satisfied expression on his face. In Washington State Secretary Burns left the White House an hour ago and at that time told newsmen that he would not be back for a while for late development. Keep tuned to CBS World News. We now resume our scheduled program.

[Singer]

I'll be walking with my honey down.

[Narrator]

Honeymoon.

[Singer]

Soon, soon, soon, soon need the moon we won't care if it's November or the middle of June I'll be sweeter than my sweetie Then before morning, day, night at noon Or I'll be walking with my honey My honeymoon lane.

[Narrator]

Through There is an enemy which wears no uniform, issues no communiques, maintains no surface or undersea fleet, but which strikes with savage devastating force out of the fog. An enemy called storm at sea. This is the story of an American merchant ship, the SS Independence hall in Convoy SC 73 departed Halifax March 6, 1942, and her third officer, Walter J. Lee of Oswego, N.Y. and the saga of color, courage and valor born of the fog shrouded horror of a storm at sea. The Independence was the rear ship in convoy SC73, bound for an Allied port across the Atlantic. We fell in the stern of the British merchant ship Danby to proceed to point of assembly. Speed six and a half knots. During the night watch, the wind increases gale force and the sea logs very rough. She can't be more than 100 yards ahead out there.

[Captain]

Professor.

[Narrator]

The Danby. We've lost her in this fog, but she can't be more than 100 yards off. The captain's orders are to continue on assigned course. They are? He figures to make contact with the convoy again with daylight. You sound like you. You aren't too sure that's yourself, sir.

[News Announcer]

I'm not.

[Narrator]

Christ, I'm not at all. This fog's getting thicker. The skipper knows what he's doing, but I don't like the pace of the weather. Somehow it's solid for trouble. By morning the fog was worse, the sea rougher, and we'd failed to contact the Danby. About 10:30 we were hit broadside by a tremendous sea. Number one light bulb boat number four. Rad midships boat all carried away. And four and a half deck cargo shifted. Reduce speed to three knots.

[First Mate]

Aye, aye, sir.

[Narrator]

While the wreckage is being cleared, carry the boatswain below. I'll need help moving it. Right. Lend a hand here.

[First Mate]

Aye, aye, sir. Starboard instant stored of the officer's quarters and all cargo midships has been carried away, sir.

[Narrator]

I'm taking action at swing lookout stop room and get the boats and below. Then report to the bridge. The bridge is still here to report to. That was intended as humor. If the bridge is still here to report to. Only as it turned out, it wasn't exactly. At 1345, the wind was still gale forth to sea. Mountainous. Captain Conning directed me to take over medical attention of the injured boatswain. I left the bridge and went below. Hurting you much, Tony? Not much. Meat this arm Set another strip of tape here, mate. Yeah. This ship. This isn't bad trouble. No. We've got a fight on our hands, Tony. Skipper figures our position is due east of Sable Island. Treacherous waters. This fog. Our best chance. That felt like a sledgehammer. Smasher. Tony, you all right?

[Captain]

Sure, sure.

[Narrator]

What? The light. The lights are out. Yeah. If you can crawl over to. What's that? Somebody come down the companion with in a hurry?

[First Mate]

Mate, you're down here.

[Narrator]

Yeah. Price, what is it? What's happened?

[First Mate]

Come fe yourself.

[Narrator]

It's.

[First Mate]

It's like a nightmare.

[Narrator]

Pull yourself together, boy. The skipper sent for me.

[First Mate]

The skipper can't send for nobody, sir. He's gone.

[Narrator]

Gone?

[First Mate]

Him and every other officer in the forward half of the ship. With wet and cruiser cut clean in half.

[Narrator]

The seaman was right. When I got up on deck, it was a nightmare. It couldn't be real. The forward part of the ship was pulling away from us. The stern was wallowing in the sea like a pitching cork. And we were on it. For a minute.

[Storyteller]

We couldn't move.

[Narrator]

Just stand there, staring across the widening strip of water between us and the other half of our ship. Stand there watching till it drifted off into the fog and was gone. Then we realized we had to act and act fast. Brahman.

[First Mate]

Right here, sir.

[Narrator]

Wireless out.

[Captain]

Is it cold?

[Narrator]

I think I can rig a jury antenna, though. Try to contact Sable Island. Ask for radio bearings for an sos. Aye, aye, sir.

[First Mate]

We're taking heavy seas over the whole from starboard corner, sir.

[Narrator]

Order engineers to remain at stations and keep the engines backing slow. Price. It's our best chance of hauling our stern into the sea. All hands into warm clothing.

[First Mate]

Stand by to abandoned kids. Bring out number two and four light.

[Singer]

Bulbs and load them up.

[Narrator]

We've one chance in a thousand and I'm taking it. Inspections showed that with luck, we might stay afloat. Roman managed to rig a jury antenna. We contacted Sable island and got word help was on the way. We salvaged what warm clothing and provisions we could from the flooded storeroom. Then, just as we Were getting ready to lower a number two boat. We grounded hard on a re.

[First Mate]

These are building, sir. Two and four boats of trust this German quarter squad is spend Nathan here quick Cancer.

[Narrator]

Why Cancer? What do you mean?

[First Mate]

He was washed over monster lost when we stuck Check the engine room and fire room, sir. Full slut in our food gun still.

[Narrator]

Standing on transmission of Roman we, sir.

[First Mate]

No telling if the messages are being intercepted or not. But on the chance they are, I'll get back there and keep at it. The ass protection's underwater, sir. And the deck house is only about a foot above the water line.

[Narrator]

Thanks, Price.

[First Mate]

Have we any chance, sir, when the.

[Narrator]

Last foot of this ship goes under? I'll answer no to that. Till then, we're fighting back. Price Understand this?

[First Mate]

You bet. I mean I I, sir.

[Narrator]

The jury antenna brought help. At 10:45, two planes appeared overhead. At 11:32 destroyers and one corvette came up out of the northeast. Rescue boats worked all day through heavy surf. By nightfall, every man left aboard 37 had been taken off. Special credit should be given to wireless operator Sp vroman William Price, AB the steward, Lewis Malik, deck cadet William Coffee, engineer cadet. The enemy beaten by the courage and stubborn valor of a third officer who refused to admit the President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to Walter J. Lee for especially meritorious service in the SS Independence hall, another proud chapter in the records of the men and ships of the United States Merchant Marine. Back in nineteen seven, officers of the fifth Artillery were preparing to leave the Philippines for service elsewhere. To give them a marching song suitable for the occasion, General Edmund Gruber wrote a piece intended to be sung only by artillerymen. Ten years later, America went to war with Germany and the song written in the Philippines was published and became world famous as the Khe Sanh Song. It Sam. The end of the war is near. Victory is in sight. But the end of the war will not mean the completion of the Merchant Marine's job. VJ Day will mark the beginning of a tremendous shipping task. An opportunity for merchant seamen and officers to prove they'll stick to the job until it's finished. If you are a former mate, engineer or ab, there's a job for you in the Merchant Marine. Write or wire collect to Merchant Marine Washington, D.C. give your name, your address, your rating and when you'll be available. You have heard It's Maritime, one of a series of service time programs which is brought to you every day, Monday through Friday. It's Maritime is presented each Tuesday afternoon in cooperation with the War Shipping Administration. The music was played by the orchestra of the United States Maritime Service Training station of Cheathead Bay, under the direction of ENSOM Philip Lang. Join us again next week when It's Maritime. It's Maritime is written by William Kendall Clark, narrated by George Tip lady, and directed by Ronald Dawson. Tomorrow, Service Time, in collaboration with the United States army, will present Waxed on Parade. This is pbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.