Episode 7: Edmund Fitzgerald

Not all tales of ships on the lakes come from a time of corsets and petticoats.

Some of our most famous and tragic stories are much more modern than that, and stick with us more notably because of the impact from falling so close to home. In 1976 Gordon Lightfoot released a folk ballad that reached the number one slot in Canada and the number two slot in the U -S on billboard charts. The song was nominated for two grammy awards, song of the year, and best Male pop vocal performance. A keen yachtsman, Lightfoot grew up sailing on the great lakes. So deeply touched by the news of the sinking of an ore carrier on Lake Superior in the November of 1975, he wanted to memorialise the crew and their lives lost.


Show Notes

[2:00] About the Edmund Fitzgerald

The Edmund Fitzegerald was built in 1958. She was 729 feet - the maximum possible size to be able to navigate the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway. She was designed to carry just shy of twenty six thousand tons of iron ore - during the summer months. They increased her load line three times, in 69, 71, and 73 following surveys by the U-S Coast Guard - she could sail three feet deeper than originally designed, increasing her cargo carrying capacity.
At launch, The Edmund Fitzgerald was known as the pride of the American flag - because of size and carrying capacity. Naturally, being American, bigger is always better.

[2:50] Earnest McSorley

Earnest McSorley was a well seasoned mariner.  He had over 40 years experience on the great lakes, and had been a captain for 37 of those. He came to be captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1972. She was his tenth vessel he took command of, and planned to retire after the summer season in seventy five.

[3:10] Her final Departure

When she departed from port that November the Edmund Fitzgerald carried 228 more tones of ore than shew was originally licenced.She was headed for Detroit, her last trip of the season. The weather forecast for that evening called for a storm to pass to the south of lake superior, but later on, meteorologists revised it. Gale warnings went out - but Edmund Fitzgerald had already departed port.

[3:37] The Witch of November

By 1 am on the 10th, the Witch of Novemeber - a term used for those early winter storms on the great lakes, rolled in. Captain McSorley reported waves of 10 feet and wind at 60 miles per hour. The Edmund Fitzgerald slowed and changed course in an attempt to seek shelter off the coast of Ontario.

[3:50] Hours into the Storm Edmund Fitzgerald Radios into Headquarters

At around 7 am, 6 hours after the storm’s onset, the Edmund Fitzgerald radioed to head office that they were experiencing worsening weather and would be delayed coming into port. By 1 pm, now 12 hours gone by, Captain McSorely reported a wave height increase to 12 feet and the ship was “rolling some”.

[4:13] The Snow Sets In

Then, it began to snow. The sister ship to the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Arthur M Anderson had been sailing in tandem with The Edmund Fitzgerald. The Radars on the Edmund Fitzgerald had gone out, and Captain McSorely requested the Arther M Anderson stay close to them, to help report to them any obstacles seen on their radar. But when the snow hit, the Arther M Anderson lost all sight of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

[4:44] The Big Blow

It would later be known as the big blow - and 12 ships would go down that night.

[5:10] Final Words from the Edmund Fitzgerald

When the Arthur M Anderson radioed the Edmund Fitzgerald to see how they were doing, Captain McSorley replied “ we are holding our own”. That was the last heard from the Edmund Fitzgerald. By 7:15 pm she was gone from radar visibility and no longer responding to any radio calls.

[5:40] Arthur M Anderson reports Edmund Fitzgerald Missing

It wasn’t until 9 pm the Arthur M Anderson was able to get a hold of the Coast Guard to express their concern for the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew. They reported her missing and the coast guard instructed them to start looking for survivors.

[6:00] Search and Attempted Rescue

By 11 pm a search plane arrived on the scene, later joined by a helicopter.  The coast guard also dispatched a search and rescue vessel from Duluth, but it took them an an entire day to arrive to the search area. The parties searched for survivors for 3 days, but they found none. The only debris that surfaced included some lifejackets and a lifeboat.

[6:15] What’s left of the Edmund Fitzgerald

On the 14 of November searchers finally found the wreckage of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The ship and her crew sank only 15 nautical miles from the shelter of Whitefish Harbour.

[6:54] Why the Edmund Fitzgerald Sank

There are many theories on the cause of the wreck. Of course the first reason is rogue waves, the November Witch known for her intensity. The second theory as to the cause of the wreck is shoaling. Another theory now, disproved, discussed damaged cargo hatches. The final theory is simple.  Structural failure.

[8:44] Why they Sailed in November

With all of the evidence and knowledge to the dangers of sailing on the great lakes in a storm, you might think there would be more precautions to heading out in November. But, historically, November was a very busy month on the great lakes. This was the last month possible to trade before the winter ice set it, making the lakes impassable. Even though storms in November were relatively common, profit for owners held far greater priority than safety of the crew.

[9:20] The Mariner’s Church in Detroit

At the mariner’s church in Detroit, the bell still tolls in memory of that fateful day. 29 times for all the mariners on board the Edmund Fitzgerald, and a thirtieth time for all other lives lost to the great lakes..

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FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EDMUND FITZGERALD

Listen to the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot on Spotify


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