TV-Reviewed

When I saw that the two investigations were going to take place on a pair of nineteenth-century ships, I got extremely excited, and for good reason. TAPS’ past investigations of ocean-going vessels has yielded some surprising evidence–particularly (just recalling back to previous investigations) the USS North Carolina. I’ll still never quite forget that one, and to think I once had gone on the tour of it! But, getting back to this episode. Honestly, I was sort of let down.

The two ships, the Berkley and the Star of India, were both vessels with interesting histories behind them. It’s cool (like always) seeing pieces of history that have been saved–and not only that, but for people to still enjoy their presence. The Maritime Museum there in San Diego seems to have done a good job, and I hope (as is sometimes the case) that TAPS’ investigation brings to them some recognition (and funds) that they otherwise might not receive. That’s one plus (as we’ve seen) for any TAPS investigation. Anyway. Back to said investigation of these two historic vessels.

Like I said, I wasn’t too thrilled with what TAPS found, which basically amounted to nothing (at least, on the paddlewheeler Berkley). The first night at the Maritime Museum didn’t really seem to stir up the ghosties very much. I know, ghosts don’t come out on cue. I’m fine with that–but there really didn’t seem to be much investigating going on. Sure, Jay and Grant did an EMF sweep and there was an EVP session attempt made by the other investigators–oh, and Tango, we learned, is a master of the handbell and is even in the handbell choir at his church–but it all seemed to me half-hearted. Straws being grasped at, if you will.

Yes, there was the typical “fear cage” effect pointed out by Jay and Grant. Tango got a bit seasick. And Steve gave us a laugh–he just had to play with those bells. Other than that not much was found onboard ship number one: The Berkley just didn’t seem to be alive that night. However, I did want to point out that, as one story goes, a miner blew himself up in the bathroom with nitroglycerin by accident. And some of the claims did revolve around that. TAPS did their best to debunk some of the stuff said to happen in the bathroom–or, should I say “head”?–but, in the end, the debunking came up with little–at least, to me anyway. So, I guess that should tell us the ghosties were all over on the Star of India that night, and the night afterward, too.

Kris Williams investigates ladies bathroom

Though there wasn’t any hard evidence found onboard the Star of India, there did seem to be something more paranormal going on there. Of course, as pointed out by the guys, investigating a ship moored in an active and busy harbor, you have to be aware of any potential contamination of evidence. However, the night did seem to yield more personal experiences than onboard the Berkley. That was particularly in the case of the moving ship’s wheel.

Now, of course, we never saw it on camera, but Grant swore the ship’s wheel moved on its own in coordination to the sound of the footsteps–which were clearly audible. Brit also claimed to have felt the vibration of the footsteps through the ceiling above. I just can’t help but wonder if he felt vibrations just from the movement of the ship itself. Like Jason himself pointed out, the Star of India is not anchored to the harbor-floor, only to the dock. That has to account for something, right? Also, as far as the wheel moving, could that not have been caused by any moving currents in the area? I know, Grant said the wheel was hard to turn, but still…It might not have been (and probably wasn’t) paranormal.

Then, we’re left with the shadow figure seen by Grant. Again, it was a great story, but we (the audience) never got to witness it. It would’ve been cool to have seen that figure, though. I bet Grant’s hairs must have been standing up on end. However, the real question is: How can we prove Grant wasn’t just over-exaggerating? I’d hate to think he was just making it up–so I’ll forgo that. But, maybe he just thought he saw something that was really something else? Something explainable?

Lastly, the evidence found at the end…There was the swinging gate found on the mini-DV. Well, I’m not sure what to think about that. I’m still sticking with the motion of the ship. The Star of India, like any vessel, is going to sway from side to side. So it’s going to rise from left to right, which might cause something (like the gate) to move just from that motion. So, I think it’s safe to debunk that one right there. Then, there was the thermal footage of the blob. Heck, they couldn’t even tell what it was–or where it was caught. Therefore that bit of evidence should have been thrown out, in my opinion.

As far as the EVP, well, it was really the only bit of what I would think to be true paranormal evidence–and even that might be pushing it with all the background noise. “Get off my ship,” said the spectral voice. Indeed…Anyway. Besides this startling EVP and the footsteps, I’m not exactly ready to call the Star of India haunted. TAPS did their best to come up with evidence, but in the end did little to prove or disprove what was going on.

I really wish I hadn’t gotten my hopes up about this investigation. And the team the two nights didn’t really seem in peak performance, either. Maybe that was because of the two new west coast members that TAPS doesn’t usually roll with? There might have been some anxiety there, who’s to say?

Rating: 6.5