In the vast and often unforgiving waters of Alaska, the story of David Seelye's disappearance is a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living from the sea. On November 21, 1992, David, a 45-year-old man, was aboard a tugboat in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area when the vessel encountered trouble. The last moments of his known existence were spent in the cold, turbulent waters of Farragut Bay in Fredrick Sound, a place of stark and remote beauty.
At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, typical attire for a man at work in the rugged Alaskan environment.
The tragic event unfolded on November 22, 1992, when the tugboat named the May capsized and sank. The vessel went down in 50 fathoms of water at the mouth of Farragut Bay while it was engaged in the routine task of pulling a tow of floating logs. The waters were reported to be calm, making the suddenness of the capsizing all the more shocking. While one crewmember managed to escape the sinking vessel, David Seelye, along with two other men, Jay W. Ellis and Randy S. Janisch, were lost with the tug. It is presumed that they drowned as the boat rolled over and quickly sank into the depths.
Despite an extensive search and rescue mission launched by the U.S. Coast Guard that lasted for approximately ten days, David and the other crew members were never found. The tugboat itself released several hundred gallons of diesel fuel upon sinking, which contaminated the attached log boom and created a sheen on the water's surface, a grim marker of the tragedy below. The case remains a painful memory for the families and the community, a story of lives lost to the unpredictable power of the sea. The official investigation by the Alaska State Troopers has kept the case open, but with no remains ever recovered, the final chapter of David Seelye's story is left to the deep, silent waters of Farragut Bay.Last Seen: Nov 21, 1992
