Monday marks 39 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sank on Lake Superior

Clevland.com ^ | Nov. 10 2014 | Cliff Pinckard

[Cincinatus]

It was Nov. 10, 1975, when the Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared in the waters of Lake Superior during a severe storm, taking 29 lives with it.

After nearly 40 years the story of the ship continues to intrigue, with some saying its legend is second only to the Titanic. Several books have been written about it and it famously was memorialized by Gordon Lightfoot's 1976 hit "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

When the ship was christened on June 8, 1958, it was the largest freighter on the Great Lakes at 729 feet long. It was named after Edmund Fitzgerald, president of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Wife and I attended the rechristening and dinner afterward at Interlake’s corporate office downtown. Much has changed from those days. The Ed Fitz’ owner, Columbia Steamship was absorbed into American Steamship Company of Buffalo, NY. All their boats received new names.
US Steel sold off ownership of their boats to Canadian National Railway Company. They apparently figured out a way around the Jones Act in doing this. At least they're still sailing and will through January 14, the usual close of the season on the Big Lake.
A major change in fuel takes place January 1, 2015. No more N6 fuel will be burned by the lakers. A couple older steamers got exemption from this EPA sulfur content rule. The others, including the 1,000 footers, will have to switch to N2 fuel, at about $1 more per gallon. The 1,000 footers burn 75,000 gallons every five or six days.

[Fantasywriter]

What are the parameters of radar in that situation? Cooper evidently thought they could continue to guide the Fitz even if more distance opened up between them. Do you by any chance know the outer limitations of radar in such a setting?

[thackney]

Much more info available at:

Marine Casualty Report
SS Edmund Fitzgerald
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071191467;view=1up;seq=47

[Fantasywriter]

I have read several critiques of the marine casualty report. I don’t put a lot of stock in it. People who know more about the situation than I do claim it was not a good, objective finding.

[Fantasywriter]

Your post reminded me of something I had recently read. Maybe there’s a connection:

“Obama Generates More Regulations than Jobs, 68 per Day”

http://www.frontpagemag.com/2012/dgreenfield/obama-generates-more-regulations-than-jobs-68-per-day/

[Ozark Tom]

At least he didn’t get seasick sailing on a river as one of our new hands did.

[thackney]

Keep in mind while looking for the capabilities of radar at that time, by 1800, Anderson was report waves up to 25’. 1900 was the last time they spoke on the radio. 1910 was the last time they saw a target on radar they were certain was the Fitzgerald. It stopped snowing shortly afterwards.

[thackney]

Any better source of info available?

[themidnightskulker]

That IS the hardest song in the world to pole dance to.

stay free

[SamAdams76]

For those looking for an alternate take, The Rheostatics do a pretty good cover version of this song.

Any yes, the gales of November did come a bit early in these parts. I'm still picking up branches in my yard from the storm that blew through here a week ago Saturday.

[Fantasywriter]

First, take into consideration the fact that the report you cited does not account for the damage McSorley reported. I.e.: unfastened hatch covers would not result in the sudden rash of structural damages McSorley cited. Also, as Cooper pointed out, an “immediate list” could not have resulted from the slow seepage unfastened hatch covers would have allowed. [McSorley reported the list at around 3 pm, along with all the other damage.]

Below is a list of theories. Only the shoaling theory covers/explains the sudden structural damage reported ~3pm—i.e.: shortly after the Fitz passed very close to Six Fathom Shoal.

http://ssedmundfitzgerald.wikispaces.com/Theories+of+the+Fitz

[Fantasywriter]

One additional piece of info. At 3 pm the Fitz was still sailing under the lee of the Canadian coast. They hadn’t encountered the open-lake massive waves yet at all. How could sufficient seepage—above-deck—have taken place to cause an immediate list so early in the day/prior to waves coming over the deck?

[thackney]

First, take into consideration the fact that the report you cited does not account for the damage McSorley reported.

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Page 26

[mountn man]

Fitz Hitz Itz

[Eric in the Ozarks]

A few other changes I overlooked;
M.A. Hanna of Cleveland sold off their pair of boats to American Steamship. Bethlehem Steel went bankrupt and their pair of 1,000 footers are now operated by American Steamship.

Inland Steel went out of business and I don’t know what happened to their fleet of three vessels. One of Inland’s boats, the steamer Edward Ryerson, built in 1960, was probably the most attractive boat on the Great Lakes.

Oglebay Norton, owner of the Columbia fleet continues to operate in the natural resouces business but sold off their 14 boat fleet, including the steamer “Middletown.” This was built as an oil tanker in 1943 and actually saw action in WW II (she has three battle stars, I think.) In 1961, she was converted to a straight deck bulk carrier with the addition of 228 feet of mid section. Her original name was Marquette.

[Fantasywriter]

Tell me about it. My dad as a 36 ft fishing boat [wkends only; it was his hobby] and my mom would get seasick by the time he got it backed out of its mooring. My brother & I never got sick at all. Go figure.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Well, that’s fascinating. Now, is Zeitel of German or Yiddish origin?

[Lazamataz]

Germish.

[cyclotic]

I’ll bet I’m the only person on the East Coast with a painting by James Clary of the Fitz in her last moments hanging in my living room.

[Fantasywriter]

What I should have said is that it doesn’t explain how it could have all occurred at once so early in the day.

Or does it? Can you give me the cliff notes version? It’s been a while since I read the critiques.