33 replies to this topic

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

Sometime around 7:10pm est. 33 years ago, The Edmund Fitzgerald came to rest in two pieces at the bottom of Lake Superior.



In Memorium

Captain Ernest M. McSorley, 63

First Mate John H. McCarthy, 62

Second Mate James A. Pratt, 44

Third Mate Michael E. Armagost, 37

Wheelsman John D. Simmons, 60

Wheelsman Eugene O'Brien, 50

Wheelsman John J. Poviach, 59

Watchman Ransom E. Cundy, 53

Watchman William J. Spengler, 59

Watchman Karl A. Peckol, 55

Chief Engineer George J. Holl, 60

First Assistant Edward E. Bindon, 47

Second Assistant Thomas E. Edwards, 50

Second Assistant Russell G. Haskell, 40

Third Assistant Oliver "Buck" J. Champeau, 41

Oiler Blaine H. Wilhelm, 52

Oiler Ralph G. Walton, 58

Oiler Thomas Bentsen, 23

Wiper Gordon MacLellan, 30

Special Maintenance Man Joseph W. Mazes, 59

AB Maintenance Thomas D. Borgeson, 41

Deck Maintenance Mark A. Thomas, 21

Deck Maintenance Paul M. Riipa, 22

Deck Maintenance Bruce L. Hudson, 22

Steward Robert C. Rafferty, 62

Second Cook Allen G. Kalmon, 43

Porter Frederick J. Beetcher, 56

Porter Nolan F. Church, 55

Cadet David E. Weiss, 22

[Striker]

thanks for this Dan, i'll never forget what happened on our great lake superior that night.

[Comet]

God Bless the Edmund Fitzgerald and all those who went down with her.

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

Here's another Youtube with some underwater footage and the Arthur M. Andersons Captain Cooper calling the Coast Guard.
I'll try to post up that emergency call if I can find it again.



OK, Found it, it's in Real Player Format. Gosh is it it creepy listening to it.

Captain Cooper's Coast Guard Radio Call

Real quick history, the Anderson followed about 10 miles behind the Fitzgerald all day from Wisconsin down Lake Superior, and Cpt Cooper and Cpt. McSorley were in constant radio contact the entire way through the storm.

[No_Nickname]

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconson
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.

Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.

The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind

When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.

The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the words turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd fifteen more miles behind her.

They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early.

RIP guys

[DAN_DALY]

I remember it as well and I also remember the song below from Gordon Lightfoot.

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconson
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.

Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.

The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind

When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.

The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the words turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd fifteen more miles behind her.

They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early.

RIP guys

[Kkookie]

remember remember.

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

And now, 34 years have past.
Fare thee well gentlemen, fare thee well.

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

35th anniversary tonight.

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

36th Anniversary tonight.

[HARRY TRIGGER]

I had just turned 20. I was living in Minot North Dakota.

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

37 Years and counting......

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

Today marks 38 years since the Big Fitz came to rest in two pieces at the bottom of Lake Superior, it also marks the 100th anniversary of The Great Storm of 1913 (Nov. 7th-10th). Here are the Statistics from that storm.

Ship Sunk/Casualties

Lake Superior

Leafield: 18 victims
Henry B. Smith: 25 victims

Lake Michigan

Plymouth (barge): 7 victims

Lake Huron

Argus: 28 victims
James Carruthers: 22 victims
Hydrus: 25 victims
John A. McGean: 28 victims
Charles S. Price: 28 victims
Regina: 20 victims
Isaac M. Scott: 28 victims
Wexford: 20 victims

Lake Erie

Lightship LV 82, Buffalo: 6 victims

 gls.png   185.71KB   3 downloads

[BOVA]

Dan it says your video is private.
I heard the radio call though. That is weird.
I would like to see your you tube video though.

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

Not sure what is up with that, YouTube must have blocked it. Here is a 1/2 radio transmission between Capt. Cooper of the Arthur M. Anderson and Coast Guard Sault Saint Marie shortly after the Ander lost contact with the Fitzgerald.

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

39 Years....

[posi]

Great story, neat to just listen to the banter on radio , from the lead in I'm stuck singing 'It was 39 years ago today... SGT Pepper told the band to play...

You have to be in a certain zone for Gordon Lightfoot. Nevada I think. : /

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

40 Years......Fare Thee Well........

[Renlist]

Perfect storm. Both navigational radars on the ship weren't working and the radio navigational station on shore wasn't working that night due to the storm. The back up generator failed there. That didn't help.

Great song. Aren't we supposed to celebrate anniversaries by the 5's and 10 years mark?

[Scoop1967 - Dan]

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