The Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship to ever sail on the Great Lakes in 1975. It was a 729-foot vessel with a crew of 29 sailors and was travelling from Superior, Wisconsin to Detroit, Michigan with a load of taconite ore. On November 10th of that year, it encountered a fierce storm with strong winds, high waves and freezing rain. Despite the warnings from other ships in the area and signals from shore, the Edmund Fitzgerald pressed on and radioed its last known position about 7:10 PM. Then, it simply disappeared beneath the waves of Lake Superior.
More than 29 years later, the Mystery of the Fitzgerald’s sinking remains unsolved. It wasn’t until September 1985 that the wreckage of the ship was located in 530 feet of water, a full 17 miles from its original position. The official report suggested the Fitzgerald had hit a shoal; however, debate still lingers regarding the ship’s exact location.
One theory proposed by shipwreck investigators is that the Fitzgerald may have sunk somewhere between Whitefish Point, Michigan and Point Iroquois, Ont. This theory was suggested based on the large amounts of debris (taconite pellets, paint chips and scrap metal) that were found scattered between the two points. There was also evidence of a large break in the hull in the area. This is thought to have been caused when the ship struck either a shoal of rocks or a submerged mountain range.
The position of the ship was further studied by experient Jacques Cousteau. He analyzed the motion of the waves and compared it to the movements of the vessel’s trails. By using a computer simulation, the experts determined that the Fitzgerald was at the furthest point northeast of Whitefish point when it sunk. This theory has become the most widely accepted explanation of the ship’s position.
The ship had a treacherous final voyage and the deteriorating weather conditions were a major factor in its sinking. As the storm intensified and the waves grew larger, the waves were breaking all around the ship, causing it to pitch and roll, and repeatedly taking on more water. Eventually it was the very waves the ship was sailing through that caused its doom; their force was too much for the Fitzgerald to sustain.
In addition to the weather conditions, there may also have been additional factors that could have contributed to the sinking. One is that the Edmund Fitzgerald’s hull was filled with rust and corrosion, making it less buoyant and causing it to sink more easily. Another is that the ship was carrying an excess cargo of taconite pellets, which would have put the ship further down into the water.
Finally, human error may have been the main factor that caused the Edmund Fitzgerald to go down. Pilot error could have put the ship too close to the shoals. The crew may have failed to check the weather properly and underestimated the danger of the situation. There might also have been a mechanical failure that caused the vessel to take on more water than it could handle.
The Human Cost of the Tragedy
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald was a tragedy, not only for the people of Michigan and Ontario, both of whom depended on the Great Lakes for their livelihoods, but also for the families of the lost crew members. All 29 of the men on board were never seen again, and the terrifying nature of the disaster sent a chill throughout the surrounding towns.
The loss of the Fitzgerald created a tremendous sense of loss amongst the Great Lakes Community. There wasn’t a single dock or harbor on the lake that wasn’t affected by the tragedy. For example, the small city of Marquette, Michigan, where many of the men on the ship had lived, was absolutely devastated by the news of the loss of the Fitzgerald.
As a result of the tragedy, steps were taken to prevent a similar disaster from happening again. The US Coast Guard now monitors the Great Lakes more closely, and Coast Guard vessels are stationed in the area during storms to provide assistance. Additionally, shipping regulations were tightened and severe safety reforms were enacted.
Legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Although it has been more than 40 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy, its legacy still lives on. There are monuments, books, songs and movies dedicated to the memory of the ship and its crew. The ship has become part of the lore of the Great Lakes, an enduring reminder of the power and danger of the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Even today, the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is remembered as one of the most devastating tragedies on the Great Lakes. For many, it serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and of the power of Mother Nature. Although the exact cause of its sinking remains a mystery, it is a tragedy that will never be forgotten.
An Ongoing Debate
Many people, from marine historians to those who lived in the region during the time of the sinking, continue to debate the cause of the Edmund Fitzgerald disaster. There are still many unanswered questions about what happened on the evening of November 10, 1975, and the truth behind the tragedy may never be known.
Perhaps the most important legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald is “The Gales of November.” This phrase, which has become synonymous with the disaster, is still used by sailors to remind each other of the dangers of traveling on the Great Lakes. It’s a fatal reminder that no matter how strong a ship may be, it can still be vulnerable to Mother Nature’s fury.
The Edmund Fitzgerald in Popular Culture
The Edmund Fitzgerald was immortalized in popular culture with the release of Gordon Lightfoot’s song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” The song has gone down in history as one of the most famous Great Lakes tragedies and it has become an anthem for those who remember the 29 brave sailors who lost their lives that fateful day.
The tragedy of the Edmund Fitzgerald has also been the subject of several books and movies, including the popular television movie “The Kinship.” These works serve to keep the memory of the ship and its crew alive, and to remind us that even on the Great Lakes, tragedy can strike in an instant.
Salvage of the Edmund Fitzgerald a Techincal Challenge
Elaborate plans were created to raise the wreckage of the Edmund Fitzgerald and bring it to the surface. However, the 460-foot depth of Lake Superior presented a major challenge for salvage crews, as the darkness and cold temperatures made the recovery mission extremely hazardous. In addition, the turbulent waters meant that visibility was limited and the debris field was constantly shifting.
The recovery efforts were furthered complicated by the fact that the ship had broken into two sections. This made it difficult to determine the exact location of the missing parts, as the debris field covered an area of nearly 7 sq. miles. Despite the difficulty, many divers and volunteer seamen worked tirelessly to locate and recover the lost ship.
The recovery efforts ultimately proved to be unsuccessful, as no salvageable remains were found. However, the search was not in vain. Images taken by the underwater explorers showed that pieces of the ship were still there, along with the taconite pellets, paint chips and scrap metal that had been scattered throughout the area. These discoveries provided more insight into the circumstances leading up to the ship’s demise.
Despite Everything, The Legend Lives On
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald has been the subject of much debate and speculation, yet despite everything, the legacy of the great ship and the courage of the men who died aboard her lives on. It serves as a reminder of the power and danger of the Great Lakes and of the importance of safety and caution on the water. It is a tragedy that will always be remembered as one of the greatest Great Lakes disasters.
