Nostalgia & History > Nov 10

The primary iron ore "pipeline" from Minnesota's mines to Eastern steel mills is rail to docks on Lake Superior, transloaded to "ore boats", via water to ports near the mills in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The last, or at least most recent, great disaster on this pipeline occurred on November 10, 37 years ago. On that date the Edmund Fitzgerald went to the bottom of Lake Superior with 29 men and 26,000 tons of iron ore.

Why? There's lots of theories, but no one knows for sure. What is known is that there was one h*** of a storm on this date is 1975. There was a 6 fathom (36 foot deep) shoal nearby. There may have been waves over 35 high at the time. Minutes before her disappearance from surrounding radar, Capt'n McSorley reported by radio, "We're holding our own."

A "boat" nearly 1000 feet long may well have gone under, by some estimates, within as little as 7 seconds on November 10, 1975.

Be careful out there.

-LD



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/12 05:51 by LarryDoyle.

At the time of its launch in 1958, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest "boat" operating on the great Lakes and remained the largest until 1971. It was operated by the Oglebay-Norton company of Cleveland (yes affiliated with the same Oglebay in Wheeling, WV)

Here's a link to a photo:

http://www.mhsd.org/photogallery/images/fitzfrombluewater-geneocollection.jpg

The Edmund Fitzgerald departed from the Burlington Northern Dock #1 in Superior, WI loaded with taconite. It was bound for a steel mill near Detroit.

Those who want to know more may want to read Robert Hemming's book, "Gales of November, the Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald." I also recommend visiting the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Paradise, MI.

http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/

Those with a general interest in Great Lakes shipping should check out this website:

www.boatnerd.com

Wickapedia has a good couple of pages on the history of the Edmund Fitzgerald and its loss

And don't forget the legendary song by Gordon Lightfoot .... The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald.

There are several videos of it over on the video sharing website .. you know the one ...

Will MacKenzie
Dundas, ON

RuleG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>I also
> recommend visiting the Great Lakes Shipwreck
> Museum at Paradise, MI.
>
> http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/
>


Visited there about 10 years ago. Fascinating museum. The UP is fascinating for its beauty, remoteness and how brutal life can be in that part of the world. I respect those that scratch out a life through the harsh winters up there.

Thinking of this disaster, it makes you realize how much the world has changed since then. Yes, our world is changing rapidly. - sometimes for the better, but often, not.