Edmund Fitzgerald
11-10-2010 | 02:09 PM
#11
Registered
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,571
Likes: 0
From: Gaylord, Mi
hgI8bta-7aw
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
of the big lake they called "Gitche Gumee."
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
when the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand 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 Wisconsin.
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
with a crew and good 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 ship's bell rang,
could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
and a wave broke over the railing.
And ev'ry man knew, as the captain did too
'twas the witch of November come stealin'.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
when the Gales of November came slashin'.
When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
in the face of a hurricane west wind.
When suppertime came the old cook came on deck sayin'.
"Fellas, it's too rough t'feed ya."
At seven P.M. a main hatchway caved in; he said,
"Fellas, it's bin good t'know ya!"
The captain wired in he had water comin' in
and the good ship and crew was in peril.
And later that night when 'is lights went outta sight
came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does any one know where the love of God goes
when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
if they'd put fifteen more miles behind 'er.
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 rooms 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 twenty-nine 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 said, "never gives up her dead
when the gales of November come early!"
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
of the big lake they called "Gitche Gumee."
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
when the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand 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 Wisconsin.
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
with a crew and good 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 ship's bell rang,
could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
and a wave broke over the railing.
And ev'ry man knew, as the captain did too
'twas the witch of November come stealin'.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
when the Gales of November came slashin'.
When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
in the face of a hurricane west wind.
When suppertime came the old cook came on deck sayin'.
"Fellas, it's too rough t'feed ya."
At seven P.M. a main hatchway caved in; he said,
"Fellas, it's bin good t'know ya!"
The captain wired in he had water comin' in
and the good ship and crew was in peril.
And later that night when 'is lights went outta sight
came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does any one know where the love of God goes
when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
if they'd put fifteen more miles behind 'er.
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 rooms 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 twenty-nine 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 said, "never gives up her dead
when the gales of November come early!"
11-10-2010 | 02:40 PM
#13
Allergic to Nonsense
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 21
From: Granite Quarry, NC
There's a hotel at the base of the Sarnia Bridge that was race headquarters at one time for the Port Huron race on Lake Huron. In the lobby is a huge framed picture (photo) of the Edmund Fitzgerald emerging from a fog bank. That picture is among the most haunting images I have ever seen.
In Memoriam
Captain Ernest M. McSorely, 63
First Mate John McCarthy, 62
Second Mate James Pratt, 44
Third Mate Michael Armagost, 37
Wheelsman John Simmons, 60
Wheelsman Eugene O'Brien, 50
Wheelsman John Poviach, 59
Watchman Ransom Cundy, 53
Watchman William Spengler, 59
Watchman Karl Peckol, 55
Chief Engineer George Holl, 60
First Assistant Edward Bindon, 47
Second Assistant Thomas Edwards, 50
Second Assistant Russell Haskell, 40
Third Assistant Oliver Champeau, 41
Oiler Blaine Wilhelm, 52
Oiler Ralph Walton, 58
Oiler Thomas Bentsen, 23
Wiper Gordon MacLellan, 30
Special Maintenance Man Joseph Mazes, 59
AB Maintenance Thomas Borgeson, 41
Deck Maintenance Mark Thomas, 21
Deck Maintenance Paul Riipa, 22
Deck Maintenance Bruce Hudson, 22
Steward Robert Rafferty, 62
Second Cook Allen Kalmon, 43
Porter Frederick Beetcher, 56
Porter Nolan Church, 55
Cadet David Weiss
In Memoriam
Captain Ernest M. McSorely, 63
First Mate John McCarthy, 62
Second Mate James Pratt, 44
Third Mate Michael Armagost, 37
Wheelsman John Simmons, 60
Wheelsman Eugene O'Brien, 50
Wheelsman John Poviach, 59
Watchman Ransom Cundy, 53
Watchman William Spengler, 59
Watchman Karl Peckol, 55
Chief Engineer George Holl, 60
First Assistant Edward Bindon, 47
Second Assistant Thomas Edwards, 50
Second Assistant Russell Haskell, 40
Third Assistant Oliver Champeau, 41
Oiler Blaine Wilhelm, 52
Oiler Ralph Walton, 58
Oiler Thomas Bentsen, 23
Wiper Gordon MacLellan, 30
Special Maintenance Man Joseph Mazes, 59
AB Maintenance Thomas Borgeson, 41
Deck Maintenance Mark Thomas, 21
Deck Maintenance Paul Riipa, 22
Deck Maintenance Bruce Hudson, 22
Steward Robert Rafferty, 62
Second Cook Allen Kalmon, 43
Porter Frederick Beetcher, 56
Porter Nolan Church, 55
Cadet David Weiss
Last edited by T2x; 11-10-2010 at 02:42 PM.
11-10-2010 | 04:06 PM
#14
Registered
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,042
Likes: 712
From: Toledo Oh
Entirely possible. I have been hit by 85 mph winds off south bass and the pucker phenom. was insane, that olny last 15-20 minutes at most. sustained 80~100 would be monsterous.
11-10-2010 | 05:40 PM
#16
Registered
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,008
Likes: 752
From: Traverse City, Michigan
A good chunk of an old early steamer washed ashore in the Sleeping Bear Dune near Empire last week during the high winds.
That lake got so roiled it was able to bring up part of a boat that has sat on the bottom for probably 100 years and wash it ashore.
ed
That lake got so roiled it was able to bring up part of a boat that has sat on the bottom for probably 100 years and wash it ashore.
ed
11-10-2010 | 08:15 PM
#19
Charter Mod
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,551
Likes: 3
From: E Dock
It's always surprised me more, that the wreck surprises so many others?
What is so difficult to grasp about the fact that those lakes are HUGE, therefore are naturally capable of having deadly conditions? The Great Lakes have taken down TONS of ships, and will likely take down more in the future, due to the fact that some still don't respect their potential to get ROUGH.
What is so difficult to grasp about the fact that those lakes are HUGE, therefore are naturally capable of having deadly conditions? The Great Lakes have taken down TONS of ships, and will likely take down more in the future, due to the fact that some still don't respect their potential to get ROUGH.
11-10-2010 | 09:00 PM
#20
Banned
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,373
Likes: 1
From: Arlington Tx
Capt. Bernie Cooper of the Arthur M. Anderson, the ship that was sailing with Fitz, reported that radar contact with her was "suddenly lost" and that he had received no SOS transmission. It is well within the realm of possibility that a rogue wave came up on the Fitz's stern, slammed down on her and broke her hull. There would have been no time for an SOS.
RIP Fitz
