The Legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald: 20 years later | WTOL 11 Vault - Nov. 26, 1995
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- On November 10, 1975, the Great Lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a storm in Lake Superior taking with her the lives of all 29 men aboard.
Twenty years later, WTOL 11 anchor Jeff Heitz and photojournalist Paul Kwapich take us to Whitefish Point in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to learn a bit more about the mysteries and theories behind the legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
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The presentation made it sound like the Coast Guard were the first out looking for the Edmund Fitzgerald. Actually, at the request of the Coast Guard, the Arthur M Anderson went back out into the storm after reaching Whitefish Bay along with another freighter, the William Clay Ford to look for survivors. Another reason the legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald lives on is that the Arthur M Anderson is still sailing the lakes and hauling cargo, a living reminder of that day in 1975.
What you said! I have gone down the rabbit hole big time since I recently found out about this. What you said goes exactly as my favorite video on it says too.
I've seen the Arther Anderson in person getting repairs in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Still looks like a capable laker.
I’m from superior wi. Anderson is always in port still, she’s still chugging alone!
Along**
The Buchanans walked on board that ship. Loosen the hatch bolts. And left the vessel before the weather became severe. they were told the vessel contain Tanerite a natural explosive. Vessel was actually carrying taconite. The Buchanan were paid to destroy the vessel for insurance.
Thank you for sharing the pictures of this horrible story. I have always loved Gordon Lightfoots song about this and the Ship, the huge loss of life and the fact she has never been forgotten. Thank you again. RIP to all who were lost, may you never forget this Legacy.
I was six years old living in Pennsylvania and my dad worked at Bethlehem Steel when this happened. I remember there was a little bit of a fuss about what was on the news and even at that age I tried to understand what was happening but only decades later did I realize that my father was grieving for his fellow blue collar countrymen and their families 😢
I can’t even imagine how heartbreaking it has been for your dad. I have so much respect for people that do these kinds of work. To risk your life to support your family really makes me look at some people so differently. My condolences to your dad, and also your entire family. Just a terrible tragedy😢
The whole country mourned w/you 🇺🇸
I’m from Superior, WI. My dad worked for BNSF at that Taconite facility they left from. My grandfather passed and is at peace, weird how things kinda worked…
Thank you for sharing this story.
The courage of our mariners/sailors is breathtaking. The Great Lakes are so dangerous.
Thanks for sharing this great presentation. I remember when they interviewed me way back in 1995. Good Job!
Glad to see you on there Capt Darrell!
Rest in peace the Edmund Fitzgerald crew member 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Too all who lost a love one on the Fitzgerald im very sorry 4 your losses. The men on that ship were brave
Very nicely done. Bravo. Very respectful of the crew & their families. God bless them all. ♥️🙏♥️🙏♥️🙏 🫡 🇺🇸
May they r.i.p.
Very well done presentation. Thank You!
My family and I visited the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point in June of 2019. The bell from "The Fitz" is there. I was disappointed that the bell hadn't been left in it's original condition, but was polished, and the framework painted.
I like to think that their restoration of the bell and frame was done out of respect?
@JayYoung-ro3vu very possible. I would have preferred it to be displayed in its "as found" condition. Just my opinion!
@@zfactortedzabel9267 I can agree to your viewpoint. Have you ever seen a Titanic exhibit? Not one of those items are "as found". They have been conserved in some way. Polishing the bell and painting its frame could be seen similarly?
@JayYoung-ro3vu no. I haven't, but it doesn't surprise me that these have been cleaned for preservation. The majority of viewers probably prefer the new look.
I only just foubd out about this crazy story a few days ago, however im completely fascinated by it. I used to be a fisherman so these stories always interest me. Love the song as well. ❤ rip in peace to them all
This may seem obvious but then you must go and listen to Gordon Lightfoot's song and although most of it is understandable by listening get the lyrics online to follow along. I've listened to it hundreds of times and it's still difficult to listen to without crying.
The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot. He tells the story. God bless his soul
it will be 50 yrs next yr this happened, so tragic we loose so many to the sea's, but you go into the water ur at it's mercy!~
Great stuff. She was a Great ship but also the best Crew!
Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing this with us
No program credit given to Gordon Lightfoot for the use of his song 😢
I noticed that also. I consider that a curious omission.
@ed
The Church rang the bell 30 times, after the death of Mr Lightfoot. Now rings 30 times each year.
Strange, no mention of G.L., but an excellent video.
I wish they would have given Gordon Lightfoot credit as being a large contributor in helping to keep the legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald alive.......
So sad for the loss
I live on the shores of lake ontario in Canada, we would sit on top of the bluffs and watch the big boats coast thru the lake,I remember hearing my parents talk about it and they were very upset, something that has stayed with me all these years
God bless
Awesome presentation - thank you for posting this!!
One of the few video productions that mention the very significant fact about the bulkheads, and the damaged hatches. I don't think the hatches are any fault of the crew, but rather the fault of construction, her crew being top-notch. God bless the crew and the family and loved ones they left behind.
Stop desecrating the gravesite, RESPECT for families left behind 🙏🏼 RIP 29 souls 😔
The Great lakes and Superior. She's the one who allows you to live or not. Make no mistake, she's in control. No human rules the seas. Period.
She chose on November 10, 1975, to take the vessel and the crew. She knew them, as they sailed many times on her waters. Dear God grant everlasting life. Amen 🙏
Amazing!
20 years ago? Hallelujah!!! I'm young again!!!
Such a heartbreaking tragedy, may they Rest In Peace forevermore❤️
May God hold their loved ones close.🙏😘
When i first found out about this story a few years ago i am hocked, my ex husband told me about this years ago and we took our kids to Duluth when they were younger and they just loved it, we toured the ship thats there, just amazing, i was speechless, good job Gordon Lightfoot
If memory serves me correctly, all expeditions to/on the Edmund Fitzgerald site have long been prohibited by provincial and federal laws? Closed even to scholastic and government investigationa?
Yup I still believe so
I really hope so. It is so disrespectful to take pictures/video of these incredible people that lost their lives in such an unfortunate way. I would think that most people would automatically think that but…I’m obviously wrong. I get diving on a shipwreck. Definitely not a resting place for people still in the wreck. The families have to be crushed over this.
@@stephanieann622 Why do they go over ever last piece of aircraft when they crash? Aren't they final resting places also? My opinion is they don't want the public or insurance companies find out the real reason the ship sunk.
It wasn’t well taken care of.
The hatches were rusted. Rusted bulkheads.
Fitz went down because of the flooding through the hatch covers. She went into a trough and torpedoed into the bottom, that’s why her bow is accordioned and her stern broke off. It’s in 500 something feet of water and she’s over 700 feet long. So it would make sense it would break off. She went under the water still under power.
(6:08)
Gravity speed the hull up to 32 mph before impact, double normal cruise speed. The bow buckled upon impact. A portion (less than 10% hull length) may look like bellows of an accordion.
Corrugation, such as corrugated cardboard is a novel description.
The ship 729' long, built to the Saint Lawrence Sea canal capacity, was 154' less than the 883' the Titanic, which wouldn't fit.
The bulkheads, 3 rather than the normal 5, weren't solid, whether rusted or not, they wouldn't inhibit the sloshing of the water in the hold, below deck.
14:24 Check the transcript. It mentions the bulkhead was a Screen Bulk Kit. You know ship terminology better than I, and the transcripts are literal transcribed. So, the speaker's diction & recording sound quality affect what's noted.
💡Two 50 person life boats is transcribed as 250.
Yes, if that picture they use to click on is the actual Fitzgerald. It looks like a big wave went over the front of the ship. With it taking on water and the iron ore, it went straight to the bottom. I remember hearing about it on the news I was only 5, but my parents watched the news after we ate dinner. Then Gordon Lightfoot wrote the song. So, you pretty much grew up with this tragedy.
I’d heard the song I didn’t realise it was so recent. How sad
Nearly a half century ago, after Watergate, but before the USA Bicentennial.
'95 is "20 years after," not when the vessel sank, the title is a little ambiguous.
Heard the song and didn't know what it was about. Now I have learned a lot.
Rest in Peace. 💔💔💔
Never forget.
The thing about Taconite that it absorbs water so if water was getting into cargo holds the water would not drain out as fast as it was coming in even if the pumps were on making the ship so much heavier and if it was fully loaded or overloaded with taconite and water was getting into it's hold that ship would of been dangerously overweight and then the stress of the waves and wind tossing the ship around could of made it break apart and sink very quickly.
Thank you for that information re. the taconite factor I never knew.
I'd recently read this about the taconite, and it makes sense of why it sank so fast.
I love all his hits album
I would like to feel sure that the Angels gathered them all together
🙏
Lets solve this mystery once and for all
She was constantly overloaded. When she sank she was overloaded. Her bilge pumps could not keep up with the water coming in. She was leaking from the start of that final journey. A week before that fatal voyage she passed inspection.
She had two mishaps previous to this she was supposed to be put in dry dock for the winter and to allow for further repaiars.
That final rogue wave took her down in one fell swoop.
The cause corporate greed this is what sank her.
Corporate greed sank her and the titanic
In 5th grade now history I search for wondering why so fast it left us all!!!?? Why!!
Believe now that a ship of ANY size, can sink. Rip.
When I first heard the song "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," I thought it was describing something that happened hundreds of years ago. I was a dumb kid at the time.
The Concordia disaster was also on the "11th" day of the month. ...Twin Towers...🙏❤
Sad
What is Taconite pellets?
Google...
I don't know either, but since she carried iron mined in the U.P., taconite is some kind of iron ore.
?
I do think the families of Fitzgerald crew members are a little overboard with their sentamentality about gravesites and all. My Daddy commanded an LST in the Pacific during WWII. If it had gone down we'd have never known where or why. His grave would have been memories and photos and maybe a tree planted. I think it unfortunate for the families that the wreck was found because they continue to obsess over it and having it declared a grave site. You can't guard underwater. I saw one special on diving that wreck and that revealed the truth of the Coast Guard's misinformation. The families were told no bodies were observed, but subsequent private exploration revealed there were several bodies observed around or in
the wreck. Another diver claimed he was sure exploration was still going on. Saying, you don't need to be right over a wreck to dive it. Anyway, they're dead. That is the main thing. And using an example of digging up a grave is ridiculous. No one is doing anything to them, or bringing them up and exhibiting them. Have memorials or services, but stop acting like y'all are the only ones who've lost someone. Lots of people have, yet the Fitz's families act like they and their lost are more important and deserve special treatment. You aren't and you don't. So stop being whiney publicity grabbers. That is disrespectful to your dead and they'd probably be embarrassed by your carrying on. They are 29 of many thousands, but those other families (any living) are not being interviewed and trotting out their grief for public display. Any one can feel grief as long as they want, but they needn't maje an industry of it.
Wow, I am sensing some hurt feelings in this. Sometimes it also accompanies grief. I don’t get the feeling that the families are looking for media exposure or attention at all. My dad has passed as well, and the first thing I thought of was how I would react if someone was down in his grave taking pictures of his face. I would be absolutely devastated. That’s an image that nobody should see of their loved one. I am sorry for the loss of your father. I send my deepest sympathy. Don’t let the anger consume you and maybe try and understand how others can view things differently. We all grieve in our own way but I don’t think video or pictures of the dead are necessary for anything positive. Have a blessed day.
Your father served in war so your assertion is a false equivalency. None of us have the right nor should we speculate regarding the grief process of others or how it’s expressed. In fact, *your comment is the most arrogant and disrespectful in this section.* Shame on you.
You have most clumsily morphed a tragedy that clearly has nothing to do with you into your own “whiney” dissertation about your “Daddy.” This is what happens when one lives in a hermetically sealed bubble of terminal self-absorption. I’m embarrassed on behalf of your “Daddy.”
@tundrawomansays694: You are missing the point, which is that these people are demanding, and receiving, special treatment; that is what I find amazing. And as far as special attention some of them were frequently obliging, if not eager, about interviews. There is the case of the Kamloops. The difference is that no one knew exactly where she sank and it was not discovered for years, I am assuming immediate family members had died. There are bodies on it in the engine room, I believe, and people dive on that as they wish. I did not suggest, nor have I heard, that photos of the Fitzgerald crew were being taken. If the families were concerned when it was revealed there were bodies in and around the wreck, they could have demanded retrieval and buried them; rather than making a fetish of the bell. There are thousands of wrecks known and unknown on the bottoms of the lakes. I have no problems about my father's service. He served from 1923 to 1954 and retired as an officer. He died peacefully in bed at age 84. He chose to die and requested a DNR order at the hospital. More than 1000 sailors were entombed in the Arizona, and their families would have been considered looney had they demanded recovery. It does have a nice shrine over it. Men were alive in the capsized Oklahoma and continued tapping for rescue for weeks until their air ran out. They were too deep in the ship to reach, too many decks to cut through and possibility of flooding compartment they were in, although holes were cut in some capsized ships and a few were rescued. I find and was just reading an article about other nations feeling the same, that Americans are overly obsessed with death rituals. I have made arrangements for my body to go to a body farm when I die. It's the closest I can get to Tibetan Sky Burial in a country ruled by zealots and the massive funeral businesses' lobbyists. A cheap funeral runs $6000 to $7000, which I find obscene. Most are $10,000 to $20,000.
Just dump me under a tree in a field for bugs, birds, and rodents and I'll be happy. It's just the cycle of life, you know. I doubt there's lots left of the Fitzgerald crew. Although bones in fresh cold water last a long time. There was a ship that went down in the St . Lawrence River making way to the Atlantic in the early 20th or late 19th century thst there's a documentary about on UA-cam. There's a museum consisting entirely of relics brought up from her wreck. There's also film taken by a diver which shows bones on the deck. Salt water dissolves bones. She may have sunk earlier than I said. Not sure and can't remember her name. It's a very dangerous dive.
None of you have any idea what it’s like to lose a family member to the sea on a merchant ship like the Fitz or you wouldn’t be so quick to judge. The bell is the voice of any ship, and easier to bring up than remains. The site is off limits now as it should be.
@@user-ds2cg1cg1m, i agree with you. If the relatives of Edmond F. had it declared a grave therefore all other relatives of shipwrecks should be declared a grave site too.
They sleep in wait of a resurrection. Jehovah will call they will answer
It’s not a legend. A legend is an unverifiable story
A day before my 17th birthday
Fun!! 🔥🔥
Sadly I think the bell looks like a trinket. Rest well guys xx
It was functional pre- 1958.
-linfergusson
8702: it absolutely is and a publicity stunt. The families didn't care about putting the diver who retrieved it in danger, which he was. That produced several documentaries. They seem determined to mine the tragedy as long as they can.
@@user-ds2cg1cg1mWho is “they?” The families were very articulate regarding their wishes which were respected to the extent feasible. They were and remain quite capable of speaking for themselves.
There is a difference in the bacteria and wildlife. In the Atlantic the sea life and saltwater corroded the bodies. In the Great Lakes the water is freshwater and it's too cold for any bacteria to eat at anything. It's why the wrecks are so well preserved and why the bodies remain in the wrecks in the Great Lakes.Sep 2, 2023
S true Canadian singer❤❤❤
Ruth, If your so upset, have your sons remains recovered and properly buried.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
One Ship rolls off the blocks, one Nuclear Submarine goes under the North Pole. 1958 was an awesome year. Wasn't supposed to be this way. One now is a ship wreck and the other is a Pristine Museum. Ships aren't meant to dive, Submarines are. Very Ironic. God Bless Submariners.
I really feel for them and if it was me I my feel differently. But the "gravesite" is just where they died, it isn't hallowed ground (or water in this case) During wars many people die in water and land and are buried at sea, but that doesn't stop things. Unfortunately because it is water and transient people need answers. I would do something on hallowed ground as a memorial either in a cemetery or other place. If they are atheists then forget hallowed ground, but in a disaster one needs answers and maybe tech years from now will help others.
God Bless!!
The thumbnail is so incredibly disrespectful to depict this grave ship as having been raised off the lake bed!
This is 2024. I can do math, why 20 year proclamation?
I would want my relative brought up and given a decent Christian burial... How terrible and tormenting if the souls of these men are never able to rest in peace... becos their relatives want them left in the gloomy blackness at the bottom of the lake. 😢🙏🌺
That’s where all lost sailors rest.
I understand the bell of the cathedral was rung 30 times this year, one in memory of Gordon Lightfoot.
And supposing some of the recovery team died attempting to recover the remains. If there is indeed any remains left in the wreck ??
LadyOaks, navies have services for servicemen, it is in their prayer book. Surviving members of the USS Arizona are permitted to have their remains placed to rest with their shipmates.
And what do say to few remaining World War II sailors age 99 to 100+ that wish to be laid to rest aside of their fallen brethren of the U.S.S. Arizona in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii?
Or what about the H.M.S. Titanic that went down in 1912?
I don't agree that people are not allowed to visit or investigate the boat especially if the intentions are correct ...they don't make sense people go to graveyards all the time we are all going there at some point and they are made to be visited ...plus people walk them sometimes !
But people don't steal bits broken off the gravestones. That is what always happens when diving is allowed on maritime graves. Imagine if someone stole your grannies wedding ring out of her grave as a souvenir !
Why not raise it
They should leave the ship where it is and raise the minimum wage instead.
Why ???
@@brianferguson7840 yea
@@Jophlo78 nah
Possible hull fracture on a shoal near Caribou Island, McSorley took a route closer to the shoreline than the Arthur Anderson. Also McSorley requested a Coast Guard inspection of the Ship but neither Canadian or U.S. Guard Cutter for the area was operational this afternoon...
Making money off the dead sailors
Actually they're spending money trying to solve the mystery....
People are so full of her. They don’t want anyone to investigate to see if there’s a chance we can keep it from happening again. They just want to use their her to be hate unless someone else’s children go down the same way..Very sad.
If you don't know English, but your comment in your first language. Otherwise, proof read or copy text & have it read aloud. "so full of h e r" Really?🤔
There were 20 months of investigation during Presidents Ford & Carter's administration. Watch the beginning, again.😮
13:00
20 months investigation done.
I don't think you have a clue of what you're talking about. You're talking nonsense. There's nothing else to learn from the Fitz. We already know how not to let something like that happen, we always did.
What economic gain are they getting by dividing it trying to to study it to find what happened
That captains greed killed those men!
Did you know him?
@@pt68picaso The oiler, Tom Benson was my first roommate in college who went down on the Fitz. As far as the captain I can say I never had the displeasure of knowing him.
Good thing you liked your own comment because nobody else will. There is not one shred of evidence despite all of the analysis of this incident to support your statement.
I’ll give you a shred of evidence: Him and the other jerk of a captain on the Anderson were the only people out there. Everyone else had gotten and read the mayfour and were laying too. He was over loaded in comparisons to all the other trips made that year and his bonus was based on the tonnage that he hauled that year. Let’s be honest, with all his experience and the knowledge of the condition of his motor vessel he put himself and his crew in harms way. You did not lose any of your friends because of his bad decision, I did! All because of his bad decision and greed. Do you know anyone else besides him and the idiot on the Anderson that was out there. Please don’t count anyone who was hiding behind any islands. The fact that he went out into these known conditions supports my argument that his greed killed himself and his crew.
The thing was too big, poorly constructed, overloaded, with a crew not trained to handle adversity. Nothing new. Same reason Multi-thousands of ships have gone down. Lightfoot Gotta decent song out of it. move on.
God bless their souls.
Rest in peace brave men.✝️
There is a difference in the bacteria and wildlife. In the Atlantic the sea life and saltwater corroded the bodies. In the Great Lakes the water is freshwater and it's too cold for any bacteria to eat at anything. It's why the wrecks are so well preserved and why the bodies remain in the wrecks in the Great Lakes.Sep 2, 2023