From 1958-1971 the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest of all the freighters to sail the Great Lakes. It was also the finest ship on the Lakes and because of this it had only the best crew on board. It was known as the "Pride of the American Flag."
On November 9, 1975 a wicked storm started to kick up in Lake Superior. With hurricane force winds the waves grew. Captain McSorley knew that it would be a bad storm and choose a course that would take them by Six Fathom Shoal, which is a rocky shallow area located by Caribou Island, but it was more protected than being out in the middle of the Lake. As the storm raged and day turned into night and then back into day again, the Fitgerarld had already been inflicted with damage. The storm had already taken out his long range radar, which made this passage by Six Fathom Shoal very dangerous.
We do not know as much about this horrific night as we wish. There are varying stories, several different reasons as to why she sank. What we do know is the information that was relayed to another vessel that was traveling 16 miles behind, the Arthur M. Anderson (the Anderson still sails the Great Lakes).
Captain McSorley radioed the Anderson that they had sustained topside damage. A fence rail laid down, two vents lost or damaged, and a starboard list. A list meant the the Fitzgerald was taking on water. Then the Fitgerald radioed that they had lost both radars and asked the Anderson to be the eyes for them until Whitefish Point.
Captain McSorley knew that if he made it to the shelter of Whitefish Point there would be hope for survival. As they continued to travel the waves grew. The Anderson radioed the Fitzgerald with her location and asked how they were doing with their problem. Captain McSorley replied "We are holding our own." Shortly thereafter the Edmund Fitzgerald vanished from the Anderson's radar screen.
Captain Cooper ordered his men to search the horizon for the Edmund Fitzgerald. But the men saw nothing. It was later reported that shortly before the Anderson lost the Fitz on the radar, they had encountered a 45ft wave. It is one of the theories that the wave crashed on the already water logged Fitzgerald in the place that had already sustained damage and that the vessel just broke in half.
The Edmund Fitzgerald is now and will always be laying in a 535ft watery grave. Back on July 4, 1995 the bell was recovered and now sits in the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point. On November 10th it is rung 30 times, one time for each of the 29 men that was lost that night, and one time for all mariners lost on the Great Lakes.
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| The actual bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald at the Shipwreck Museum. |
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| Tyler looking at the bell. |
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| Can anyone tell me what this is?? |
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| 17 miles off this coast is where the Edmund Fitzgerald lies. |
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| Before Coast Guard Stations, they were called Life saving Stations. This is a picture of Grand Havens first station. |
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| Jilli resting her cute little legs. |
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| Tyler looking at all the books about the Big Fitz. |
Tyler's favorite video of the Gordon Lightfoot song (you might want to turn off the music on sidebar before playing)
Tyler also has a favorite book about the Edmund Fitzgerald. It's a great children's book.
The bell rings forever where heroes are found,
for the soul of the sailor is held in its sound.
The soul of each sailor sang out in the chime
of the beautiful bell as it rang to keep time.
The men changed watch with the sound of the bell--
It rang through the storm as the freezing rain fell.
The battered bell rang as the storm held its grip--
It rang for the men as the heart of the ship.
As the ship moved on with a terrible list,
the bell still rang through the snow and the mist.
There wasn't a sound except for the bell--
Some say it rang out when the mighty ship fell.
The bell rings forever where heroes are found,
for the soul of the sailor is held in its sound.
We tell them good-bye with a loving farewell,
but their legend lives on...in the song of the bell.
(taken from the Song of the Bell)
2 comments:
The guess it picture - looks like a lens from a lighthouse to me. Am I right? Am I? Am I? What do I win?
We went there on our honeymoon :) Pretty cool place :)
Kerri
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