My City December 2022

MYHISTORY

Continued from pg. 55

Ships lost during theWhiteHurricane The majority of ships and lives were lost on Lake Huron during the third day of the storm, namely the Isaac M. Scott (28 lives), Charles S. Price (28 lives), John A.McGean (28 lives), Argus (28 lives), Hydrus (25 lives), James Carruthers (22 lives), Regina (20 lives),Wexford (20 lives) and others.The deadliest wrecks on Lake Superior were the Henry B. Smith (23 lives), and the Leafield (18 lives). Of the most notable wrecks of the storm, three vessels have yet to be located.These are the James Carruthers (Huron), Leafield (Superior) and Plymouth (Michigan). With the advancements made in weather prediction and mari time technology, major shipwrecks on the Great Lakes have become a thing of the past. Not since the fabled wreck of the Edmund Fitz gerald on November 10, 1975 has a major freighter been lost on the waters.The Witch of November still claims victims here and there, but possibly never again on the level of the White Hurricane. Quick Facts • Throughout known history, the Great Lakes have claimed over 6,000 ships and approximately 30,000 lives. • The earliest recorded shipwreck was that of Le Griffon on Lake Michigan in 1679. It went down leaving the cove of Green Bay and still hasn’t been recovered. • The deadliest wreck was that ofThe Eastland in 1915. Over 2,500 Western Electric employees boarded the vessel for a short voyage.The ship rolled in its berth, and over 835 souls were lost in Lake Michigan. • There are at least 300 naval planes in the depths of Lake Michigan. • While Lake Superior is the biggest of the Great Lakes, it only ranks fourth in terms of shipwrecks. Of the 550 known wrecks on Superior, more than 200 sank in the area nicknamed “Ship wreck Coast” between Munising and Whitefish Point,MI. • Suspected of sinking the Edmund Fitzgerald, the “Three Sisters” phenomenon occurs when three rogue waves (waves at least double the height of those around them) follow each other close enough as to not allow a ship to recover after being hit before be ing hit again.Most often, ships that encounter theThree Sisters when waves are high are capsized or broken. • Lake Michigan takes the top spot in number of shipwrecks followed by Erie, Huron, Superior and Ontario. u 77

/ stock.adobe.com

Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator