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50th Anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald: 11-10-75

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Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,335
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I saw this on YouTube a few days ago. Has some interviews I had never seen with the captain of the Arthur Anderson who was right behind the Fitz when it disappeared from radar. The Anderson, FWIW, stayed in service until 2017.

One result of the wreck was a change in culture on the lakes. Until then, all the captains were hard nosed, would sail into almost any weather to make sure the load got delivered on time, and as a result, a freighter was lost about every ten years, but since then, safety and caution are much more the norm, and there have been no further major sinkings of freighters on the lakes.

I will say the description of the storm they got caught in was sobering, 90 MPH winds and 30 to 40 foot waves, it is amazing no other ships sank.


Gales of November
 
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Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,335
22,169
113
Another interesting tidbit is that Lightfoot started writing his famous song just a week or two after the wreck, long before all the details were known

But he got one thing 100% right:

Superior never gave up its dead.

They never recovered a single body and none ever surfaced or washed up on shore.

(The family members opposed any efforts to search the wreck.They felt like it was a tomb and should not be disturbed)
 
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LeOtis Merriweather

Freshman
Feb 23, 2007
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Tskware said:
What is the name?
Click to expand...
Not sure if he is referring to the same book, but I just finished the audiobook version of “Gales of November” by John U. Bacon. The first part of the book was an overview of the Great Lakes shipping industry. I found it interesting. The book was just released last month.

Not related to the Fitzgerald, but Mr. Bacon has taught at a couple of universities, including University of Michigan. I saw an interview where he said that he twice gave a failing grade to a five star athlete. He questioned whether he would be able to do that in the NIL era.
 
Blu-ish

Blu-ish

All-Conference
Nov 10, 2019
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LeOtis Merriweather said:
Not sure if he is referring to the same book, but I just finished the audiobook version of “Gales of November” by John U. Bacon. The first part of the book was an overview of the Great Lakes shipping industry. I found it interesting. The book was just released last month.

Not related to the Fitzgerald, but Mr. Bacon has taught at a couple of universities, including University of Michigan. I saw an interview where he said that he twice gave a failing grade to a five star athlete. He questioned whether he would be able to do that in the NIL era.
Click to expand...
I am convinced grades are no longer an issue in college sports. I have dealt with the transfer process between schools toward a degree. It was not a straight forward process. It makes me wonder how is it possible for an athlete to attend four schools in four years and maintain eligibility.
 
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luv2hit63

All-Conference
Jun 10, 2010
566
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Anyone have a guess of how the ship got her name?

The insurance agent that wrote the policy for the vessel, his wife’s name was Edmund Fitzgerald.
 
Catman100

Catman100

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
6,910
10,175
96
Always been amazed by this.
Did the ship flip over?
Did it get swallowed up by a rogue wave and not come back up to the surface?
How did it sink so fast that nobody surfaced in a life jacket or got on a lifeboat?
 
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luv2hit63

All-Conference
Jun 10, 2010
566
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Tskware said:
Maybe I'm missing the sarcasm, but was actually named for the president of the insurance company that built her
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Sorry for the misinformation. It’s been several years since I heard that. I got my individuals mixed up. Thanks for clarifying.
 
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