SS Edmund Fitzgerald, November 10, 1975

[danny5]

It probably don't mean much to most here, and never heard of this, but I had to post this. The Edmond Fitzgerald went down a long time ago, but I heard a lot about it, being surrounded by Lake Superior in my youth. Just posting for those 29 whom were lost.

You can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Edmund_Fitzgerald

Or, read this excerpt:

Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin on the afternoon of Sunday, November 9, 1975 under Captain Ernest M. McSorley. She was en route to the steel mill on Zug Island, near Detroit, Michigan, with a full cargo of taconite. A second freighter, Arthur M. Anderson, destined for Gary, Indiana out of Two Harbors, Minnesota, joined up with Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, being the faster ship, took the lead while Anderson trailed not far behind.

Crossing Lake Superior at about 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), the boats encountered a massive winter storm, reporting winds in excess of 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph) and waves as high as 35 feet (11 m). Because of the storm, the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie were closed. The freighters altered their courses northward, seeking shelter along the Canadian coast. Later, they would cross to Whitefish Bay to approach the locks.

Late in the afternoon of Monday, November 10, sustained winds of 50 knots were observed across eastern Lake Superior. Anderson was struck by a 75-knot (139 km/h; 86 mph) hurricane-force gust. At 3:30 pm Fitzgerald radioed Anderson to report a minor list developing and top-side damage including the loss of radar. Visibility was poor due to heavy snow, and the Coast Guard warned all ships to find safe harbor. Two of the Fitzgerald's six bilge pumps were running continuously to discharge shipped water. The lighthouse and navigational radio beacon at Whitefish Point had also been knocked out by the storm. Fitzgerald was ahead of Anderson at the time, effectively blind; therefore, she slowed to come within 10 miles (16 km) range so she could receive radar guidance from the other ship.

For a time Anderson directed the Fitzgerald toward the relative safety of Whitefish Bay. At 5:45 pm, Captain McSorley radioed another ship, Avafors, to report that Fitzgerald was suffering a bad list, had lost her radars, and had seas washing over her decks. McSorley described the situation as, "One of the worst seas I've ever been in."

The last communication from the doomed ship came at approximately 7:10 pm, when Anderson notified Fitzgerald of an upbound ship and asked how she was doing. McSorley reported, "We are holding our own." A few minutes later, she apparently sank; no distress signal was received. Ten minutes later Anderson could neither raise Fitzgerald by radio, nor detect her on radar. At 8:32 pm, Anderson was finally able to convince the U. S. Coast Guard that the Fitzgerald had gone missing. Up until that time, the Coast Guard was looking for a 16 foot outboard lost in the area. The United States Coast Guard finally took Captain of the Anderson, Jesse "Bernie" Cooper seriously shortly after 8:30 PM. The Coast Guard then asked the "Anderson to turn around and look for survivors".

And there was a song written about the incident:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U219...eature=related

And video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X841S...eature=related

[musksnipe]

I've visited the museum, at the lighthouse, at Whitefish Point.
The display about the Edmund Fitzgerald is awesome and saddening, at the same time.
Here is a pic of the recovered ship's bell:

[Mankind]

Nice post Danny and nice pic Don.

[augie]

Ya, it's a big Canadian thing. Friend worked on the lakers and that shook him up big time! Very nice pic of the bell Don, thanks.

[Solange]

Nothing as scary as late night, strong winds and snow and ice. *shudder*

[musksnipe]

Originally Posted by Solange

Nothing as scary as late night, strong winds and snow and ice. *shudder*

AND huge waves!!!

Here's another link: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/wxwise/fitz.html
The Edmund Fitzgerald was only a few miles from safety when it sank.

This is a pic of Lake Superior from Whitefish Point. It looks pretty calm, but has claimed many ships.
The Edmund Fitzgerald sits out there in the right third of the picture.
That's Canada in the distance.



The Great Lakes are just as dangerous as the oceans. The Edmund Fitzgerald was being hit by waves, built up by sustained winds over 40 knots.
This pic was taken on a day with winds almost like that. This is L. Michigan.

[danny5]

Originally Posted by Solange

Nothing as scary as late night, strong winds and snow and ice. *shudder*

Not to mention death by cold water. I know those people did not suffer very long. Anyone who has taken a swim in August in Superior will appreciate how cold it is. Superior is REALLY big, but does freeze over in cold winters. Those winters were very bad where i grew up. The extreme cold and wind was something that you'd have to experience.

[Bearcat]

My home town and place of residence for my first 23 years was in a city called Racine, Wi. We sit on a bump that juts out 7 miles out into lake Michagan, and I can tell you first hand about the waves of the Great Lakes. We use to get drunk and go down to the lake and go for a swim at 2AM and just the force of the waves coming in made it hard to stay on your feet, and that was without a storm brewing

[TxTazDad]

Someone wrote a song about this years ago.........trying to remember who

[augie]

Originally Posted by TxTazDad

Someone wrote a song about this years ago.........trying to remember who

Of course,

Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald