The stern flips upside down and plunges to the bottom alongside the rest of the ship.
The stern flips upside down and plunges to the bottom alongside the rest of the ship.
The snow squall suddenly ends and skies clear. Visibility is excellent. The crew of the Arthur M. Anderson can see the lights of ships heading north from Sault Ste Marie.
But the Edmund Fitzgerald, and the 29 men aboard her, have vanished.
The snow squall suddenly ends and skies clear. Visibility is excellent. The crew of the Arthur M. Anderson can see the lights of ships heading north from Sault Ste Marie.
But the Edmund Fitzgerald, and the 29 men aboard her, have vanished.
“We are holding our own,” is the last communication ever received from the Edmund Fitzgerald.
“We are holding our own,” is the last communication ever received from the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The Arthur M. Anderson, about 10 miles west of the Fitzgerald, is swamped by two huge waves that crest 35 feet above the water line.
With wind and waves moving west to east, it is only a matter of minutes before they reach the Fitzgerald.
The Arthur M. Anderson, about 10 miles west of the Fitzgerald, is swamped by two huge waves that crest 35 feet above the water line.
With wind and waves moving west to east, it is only a matter of minutes before they reach the Fitzgerald.
Avafors: “What’s that Fitzgerald? Unclear. Over.”
Fitzgerald: “I have a bad list, lost both radars. And am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas I’ve ever seen.”
Avafors: “What’s that Fitzgerald? Unclear. Over.”
Fitzgerald: “I have a bad list, lost both radars. And am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas I’ve ever seen.”
The Fitzgerald is not receiving the radio beacon from Whitefish Point, she radios every vessel in range for information.
The freighter Avafors responds, informing her the storm has knocked out power to the Point.
The Fitzgerald is not receiving the radio beacon from Whitefish Point, she radios every vessel in range for information.
The freighter Avafors responds, informing her the storm has knocked out power to the Point.
Fitzgerald: "Yes, both of them."
Fitzgerald: "Yes, both of them."
“The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing”
The wind whistling over hundreds of taut wires on storm-bound ships creates a ghostly wail.
Sailors say the sound stays with them for the rest of their lives.
“The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing”
The wind whistling over hundreds of taut wires on storm-bound ships creates a ghostly wail.
Sailors say the sound stays with them for the rest of their lives.
The hook forms a bay to the east, providing shelter from wind and waves coming out of the northwest.
Whitefish Bay has been the salvation of many ships trying to survive the worst of the lake’s November gales.
The hook forms a bay to the east, providing shelter from wind and waves coming out of the northwest.
Whitefish Bay has been the salvation of many ships trying to survive the worst of the lake’s November gales.
THE STORM
Instead of skirting Lake Superior’s southern shore, the storm has moved north across the lake. The winds, predicted to come out of the northeast, have shifted, instead coming across the lake from the northwest.
THE STORM
Instead of skirting Lake Superior’s southern shore, the storm has moved north across the lake. The winds, predicted to come out of the northeast, have shifted, instead coming across the lake from the northwest.
Fitzgerald radios Anderson to talk about weather changes and their course southeast. Capt. McSorley reports that the Fitz is “rolling some.”
The Fitzgerald passes close to Michipicoten Island, while the Anderson moves a few miles to the west to deeper water.
Fitzgerald radios Anderson to talk about weather changes and their course southeast. Capt. McSorley reports that the Fitz is “rolling some.”
The Fitzgerald passes close to Michipicoten Island, while the Anderson moves a few miles to the west to deeper water.
THE FITZ
The Edmund Fitzgerald and Arthur M. Anderson have reached the Canadian shore, approximately 10-20 miles northwest of Michipicoten Island. They report 23mph winds and 12 foot waves.
THE FITZ
The Edmund Fitzgerald and Arthur M. Anderson have reached the Canadian shore, approximately 10-20 miles northwest of Michipicoten Island. They report 23mph winds and 12 foot waves.