The Loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald 10 November 1975

[Sherman A1]

http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/the-fateful-journey-62/

The final voyage of the Edmund Fitzgerald began November 9, 1975 at the Burlington Northern Railroad Dock No.1, Superior, Wisconsin. Captain Ernest M. McSorley had loaded her with 26,116 long tons of taconite pellets, made of processed iron ore, heated and rolled into marble-size balls. Departing Superior about 2:30 pm, she was soon joined by the Arthur M. Anderson, which had departed Two Harbors, Minnesota under Captain Bernie Cooper. The two ships were in radio contact. The Fitzgerald being the faster took the lead, with the distance between the vessels ranging from 10 to 15 miles.

Aware of a building November storm entering the Great Lakes from the great plains, Captain McSorley and Captain Cooper agreed to take the northerly course across Lake Superior, where they would be protected by highlands on the Canadian shore. This took them between Isle Royale and the Keweenaw Peninsula. They would later make a turn to the southeast to eventually reach the shelter of Whitefish Point.

Weather conditions continued to deteriorate. Gale warnings had been issued at 7 pm on November 9, upgraded to storm warnings early in the morning of November 10. While conditions were bad, with winds gusting to 50 knots and seas 12 to 16 feet, both Captains had often piloted their vessels in similar conditions. In the early afternoon of November 10, the Fitzgerald had passed Michipicoten Island and was approaching Caribou Island. The Anderson was just approaching Michipicoten, about three miles off the West End Light.

Captain Cooper maintained that he watched the Edmund Fitzgerald pass far too close to Six Fathom Shoal to the north of Caribou Island. He could clearly see the ship and the beacon on Caribou on his radar set and could measure the distance between them. He and his officers watched the Fitzgerald pass right over the dangerous area of shallow water. By this time, snow and rising spray had obscured the Fitzgerald from sight, visible 17 miles ahead on radar.

[marym625]

1. The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald

[mountain grammy]

3. Thanks for posting..

glad to take six and a half minutes to remember the Edmund Fitzgerald.

[marym625]

4. I always loved that song.

When I was little, I didn't know it was based on a real event. It was heart wrenching to learn it was

[mountain grammy]

5. The wreck happened two weeks before my 28th birthday.

I remember it well, and Gordon Lightfoot told the story beautifully.

[marym625]

6. He sure did. Great song and great way to remember the horrible event. n/t

[left-of-center2012]

2. Great song

Love Lightfoot since my "hippie daze" back in the 70s.

[shrike]

7. My husband's a steelworker, and he used to see the Edmund Fitzgerald come into dock. Enormous ship