FOCUS: Remembering adventurer and author Clive Cussler

Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, suspended from a crane during her recovery from Charleston Harbor, Aug. 8, 2000.  Public domain photo via Naval Historical Center.

Editor’s Note:  Author Clive Cussler, who discovered the sunken remains of Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley almost 25 years ago, passed away last week at age 88.  His friend Dean Foster, who lives in Meggett, remembered him on Facebook last week.  He gave us permission to share.

By J. Dean Foster, special to Charleston Currents  | Dirk Pitt never cried, until today. 

Foster

Rest in peace Clive Cussler, a true gentleman, a throwback and a real life adventurer followed and enjoyed by millions of readers. 

He was my client. I met him in May 1995 when he called late at night from the Mount Pleasant Holiday Inn bar and insisted I come there immediately. 

He was with his team of hired divers, just returned from a mile out of Charleston harbor and with startling news: they discovered the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink a warship. 

Cussler and crew were celebrating with rounds of drinks: Guinness in a glass mug with a shot of Gosling’s Black Seal rum dropped into the bottom. They called it “Hunley’s depth charge” and pushed one my way. 

“How do you know it’s the Hunley?,” I asked. “Video? Photos?” 

Desperate silence.

Cussler

“Get the cameras and your asses back out there tomorrow,” said Clive. “We’ll get the evidence.  You get the press conference arranged — 48 hours.” 

Two days later, the story was on the front page of The New York Times, and on all of the major television networks and BBC worldwide. I stopped counting at 300 million impressions. 

When I handed him my invoice, Cussler grinned and wrote me a check for twice the amount. 

Today is sad. And I’d like to think the world’s evil forces, “be they Commies or Blofeldian madmen,” will take the day off out of respect for Cussler’s Dirk, the guy who grabbed them all by the throat and never let go.

Clive, thanks for the ride.

Update March 1, 2020:

Dirk Pitt was spotted late today,12 miles outside Paradise Valley, Arizona, screaming through the high desert in a 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. He arrived at the airfield and climbed into the cockpit of his immaculately restored WWII P-51 Mustang fighter, released the throttle and was airborne within minutes. He was late. He planned to pick coconuts at breakfast with the beautiful Vivian Tallagash on Kauai. She was a feast. 

Just past sundown, Dirk noticed a small box at his feet. Inside he found a half-roll of duct tape, three cotter pins and a note:

“Don’t worry about the oil leak … but you may need these just in case. Oh, and please tell Vivian she can keep the shirt; she looks stunning wearing it at first light.   – Clive.”

Dirk placed the tape on the stick and set his eyes on the now darkened horizon. The midnight blue sea illuminated by a billion stars overhead. Clive once said the most beautiful thing on earth is a night sky out on the ocean, lights from above, like so many holes in heaven. 

Foster is a longtime local public relations and marketing professional.