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Wreck hunters plot new expedition to find 17th-century Griffon
National Post ^ | May 27, 2013 | Randy Boswell

Posted on 05/27/2013 12:36:14 PM PDT by Squawk 8888

A team of U.S. wreck hunters, backed by the governments of France and Michigan, has revealed plans to dive next month to a site on the bottom of Lake Michigan, where one of the most important ships in Canadian history — the 17th-century barque Griffon — is believed to be lying in a tomb of sand awaiting conclusive identification.

The first sailing ship on the Great Lakes, the Griffon was built in 1679 near present-day Niagara Falls, Ont., by the famed French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, and symbolized the ambitions of New France to construct and control a vast fur trade empire in the heartland of North America.

But the vessel, long sought-after by marine archeologists and hailed as the “Holy Grail” of Great Lakes shipwrecks, was lost with a load of pelts in a storm on Green Bay — the 150-kilometre-long inlet in western Lake Michigan — during its maiden voyage in September 1679.

La Salle, who led the construction of Fort Frontenac (the future Kingston, Ont.) and would later explore and claim the Mississippi River basin for New France — was the first of many searchers over the centuries to look for the lost Griffon.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpost.com ...


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; US: Michigan; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: canada; france; frederickmonroe; godsgravesglyphs; greenbay; griffon; kevindykstra; lakemichigan; legriffon; michigan; muskegon; niagarafalls; ontario; renerobertcavelier; sieurdelasalle; treasurehunters; wisconsin
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Fur would rot and would probably disappear in 100-200 years.

I’d like to see pictures of this wreck and the site is developed...


21 posted on 05/27/2013 2:27:34 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (NRA Life Member)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
I want to know why... I also want to know what

You're making a lot of demands here fella.........

22 posted on 05/27/2013 2:27:53 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (This space for rent)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
It's a waters /boat thing. Michigan lays claim as its supposedly in their waters. France lays claim because it was their ship.

But I'm not convinced France actually owned the ship and we have yet to declare it "found" at this location. I have to drag out a very old book.

23 posted on 05/27/2013 2:28:53 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Squawk 8888; cripplecreek; fanfan; Perdogg; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; ...

 GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach
Thanks Squawk 8888.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.


24 posted on 05/27/2013 2:32:40 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv
I wonder if they will write a song about the sinking....like the Edmond Fitzgerald...
25 posted on 05/27/2013 2:52:49 PM PDT by Youngman542012
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To: Dr. Sivana

That had to be a BIG storm!


26 posted on 05/27/2013 3:20:32 PM PDT by Paperpusher
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To: Squawk 8888

They`re going to dive for furry beavers.


27 posted on 05/27/2013 3:44:42 PM PDT by bunkerhill7 (("The Second Amendment has no limits on firepower"-NY State Senator Kathleen A. Marchione.))
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To: Kent1957
This is from Hennepins "A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America" originally published in 1698. (Hennepin is considered a liar of sorts.)

The Griffon and LaSalle are at Washington Island, off the mouth of Green Bay. Here LaSalle found traders....they had accumulated a goodly store of furs, which were promptly loaded on the vessel.

...."The crew of the Griffon were accordingly ordered to sail at once to Niagara, and then with all imaginable speed, to join us toward the Southern Parts of the Lake, where we would stay for them among the Illinois"

LaSalle with 14 men in HEAVILY LADEN CANOES, paddled southward along the Wisconsin shore of Lake Michigan.

November arrived at the mouth of St. Joseph River.

The Griffin was supposed to arrive here also??

...."loss in a storm between Green Bay and Mackinac".

That would mean she was lost almost immediately after setting sail.

In a previous sentence, I don't understand the cargo of heavily laden canoes". Was that a slip?? The furs were to go to LaSalle's personal creditors.

Hmmmm

28 posted on 05/27/2013 3:52:19 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Squawk 8888

http://washingtonisland-wi.com/le-griffon-the-griffin/


29 posted on 05/27/2013 4:09:48 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Squawk 8888

In French Green Bay means bay of stinking water. If you have ever been to Green Bay - it does stink!


30 posted on 05/27/2013 4:46:52 PM PDT by hondact200 (Candor dat viribos alas (sincerity gives wings to strength) and Nil desperandum (never despair))
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To: Squawk 8888

Here is the French - La Baie des Puantes - stinking bay


31 posted on 05/27/2013 4:52:11 PM PDT by hondact200 (Candor dat viribos alas (sincerity gives wings to strength) and Nil desperandum (never despair))
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To: cripplecreek

Most of the trees are conifers but there’s one that does look like a palm. The drawing is supposed to depict the boat’s construction in Niagara Falls.


32 posted on 05/27/2013 5:48:24 PM PDT by Squawk 8888 (True North- Strong Leader, Strong Dollar)
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To: cripplecreek
backed by the governments of France and Michigan

You guys are moving up or down in the world?

33 posted on 05/28/2013 4:43:14 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Right, every government should get a chance to pour taxpayer monies into a lake!


34 posted on 05/28/2013 4:44:38 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Sacajaweau
November arrived at the mouth of St. Joseph River.

Does she visit every fall?

35 posted on 05/28/2013 4:48:03 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Squawk 8888

All the pictures in Hennepins works show those palm type trees. I’m sure it’s the same artist. I’ll post another one this afternoon...


36 posted on 05/28/2013 5:49:34 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Dr. Sivana; Sacajaweau

Yipes! My mother told me once what a “physic” referred to during her childhood in the early 1900s.


37 posted on 05/28/2013 9:23:38 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! -Ps80)
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; ...
Note: this topic is from 2013.
Update: Related topic:

38 posted on 02/18/2015 3:19:37 PM PST by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW!)
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To: Sacajaweau

“I had one of my physic episodes”
Oh! So you have them too? I find them rather annoying.


39 posted on 02/18/2015 3:42:14 PM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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