UNESCO estimates that worldwide over 3 million shipwrecks. They also found a part of the ship that they said could be a mussel-covered griffin, the mythical beast carved onto the ship's bow. Shipwreck explorers Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski and A group of maritime history enthusiasts have the announced the discovery of the schooners Peshtigo and St. Andrews, lost in 1878 in northern Lake Michigan. A teacher from Ottawa named Roy Fleming, in the 1930s through the 1950s, expanded the investigation of this wreck that he firmly believed was the Griffon. Images of the severely dilapidated wreckage show it lying on the bed of Lake Michigan, This image shows the ship's keelson - the structure which fastens a ship's floor timbers to its keel. [4] They entered Lake St. Clair on 12 August, the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi, and named the lake after her. But Libert says, Many people believe I continue to cry wolf and contact the press every time we find a wreck claiming them to be the Griffon. Welcome to the Coronation! LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. [Disasters at Sea: 6 Deadliest Shipwrecks]. On the evening of 10th November 1975, Edmund Fitzgerald sank around 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. The Griffin is used as the symbol for Brisbane Waters Secondary College on the Central Coast of New . The loss of the Griffon is one of the great mysteries of the Great Lakes. B. Mansfield reported that this "excited the deepest emotions of the Indian tribes, then occupying the shores of these inland waters". Cathy Green, the executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, is also skeptical, calling it highly unlikely that its the Griffon and nearly impossible to definitively know because of the centuries of damage to shallow water wrecks from ice, storms and rising and falling lake levels. Cathy Green, the executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, is also skeptical, calling it highly unlikely that its the Griffon and nearly impossible to definitively know because of the centuries of damage to shallow water wrecks from ice, storms and rising and falling lake levels. While some of these were made from a single carved log ("dugout" or "pirogue"), most were bark canoes. A griffin (or gryphon) is a chimeric creature, part eagle and part lion. The 2001 discovery of a bowsprit sticking out the lakebed sparked a 10-year legal battle with the State of Michigan, preventing the explorers from excavating for the rest of the ship until 2013. It would no longer exist. In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery, 'Runaway' black hole the size of 20 million suns found speeding through space with a trail of newborn stars behind it, 'Unreal' auroras cover Earth in stunning photo taken by NASA astronaut. It takes nine months for the puppies to reach the adult weight and can take up to one and a half years for larger dogs to achieve adult weight. - News and information from student journalists at the Michigan State University School of Journalism, About the Michigan State University School of Journalism, Michigan Chile Investigative Journalism Program, MSU journalism COVID-related reporting guidelines, Upcoming court ruling could impact trial court funding as deadline approaches, Why does your vote matter? A ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. As noted above, sources give its size as either 20 tons or 40 tons. It dragged anchor and ran aground near Thirty Mile Point on Lake Ontario, where it broke apart. They recovered the anchors, chain, and most of the materials critical for Le Griffon, but most of the supplies and provisions were lost. In the Great Lakes region, there may be no older and more intriguing historical mystery than the 1679 disappearance of the Griffon, one of French explorer Robert La Salles ships. Lost after 350 years, the cursed ship, The Griffin, went on a voyage that became one of the most legendary disappearances solved in modern times. 3. Mr Libert said the evidence suggests that the ship was lost in a storm, A photo from the 2018 dive shows the bowsprit of the ship believed to be The Griffin. A bit of history: The Griffon was built in 1679 and launched that year, believed to be the largest ship on the Great Lakes. While there have been many theories over the years, there is no clear consensus as to the fate or current location of Le Griffon. LaSalle's Griffon has not been found. Several French explores built the exploratory vessel Ren-Robert Cavalier and Sieur de La Salle. Le Griffon was the largest fixed-rig sailing vessel on the Great Lakes up to that time,[3] and led the way to modern commercial shipping in that part of the world. "[1] "They're looking for something else, they find an old ship and they've heard of the Griffin, so they pronounce it the Griffin," Baillod said. turtix/Shutterstock. In July 2010 the Great Lakes Exploration Group issued a press release stating that they, the state of Michigan and France had reached agreement to co-operate in the next phase of an archaeological site assessment for identifying the shipwreck. On 6 December, they landed safely on the east bank of the river at about where Lewiston, New York is today. French explorer Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle built the Griffin in 1679, but it was lost in Lake Michiganthe same year. Experts suspect the ship was lost as a consequence of a severe storm. But Libert says, Many people believe I continue to cry wolf and contact the press every time we find a wreck claiming them to be the Griffon. French historical documents and shipbuilding techniques, colonial-era maps, contemporary reports, what he says is a bowsprit retrieved from the wreckage, carbon-4 dating and underwater photographs of submerged parts of a vessel. In the Spring of 2021, veteran shipwreck hunters Joe Van Wagnen and Mark Gammage located the remains of the passenger/freight Propeller Challenge in northern Lake Huron. [4] She had the figure of a griffin mounted on her jib-boom and an eagle flying above. Where are the cannons? Unexpectedly, a nail attached itself to the magnet, and the treasure hunters only discovered it later, once they were above water. They dragged the materials to the mouth of the Niagara, rested and warmed up a few days in an Indian village, then carried the materials single file through the snow to their settlement above the falls. Ive seen dozens and dozens of 100- to 150-year-old ships, and that is not a 350-year-old ship. New York, Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, These films range from comedies to dramas to long and short films. Green and Ken Vrana, the principal of Maritime Heritage Consulting, advocate an independent assessment by professionals. Alpena County reference. A bowsprit discovered a few miles away in 2001 is another part of the vessel, they claim. The Griffin - or Le Griffon - was a sailing ship built on the Niagara River in the 1670s French explorer Robert de La Salle hoped to use it to find the Northwest Passage to China and Japan It. From there they struck out across the lake toward the mouth of the Niagara River. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Most of the ship remnants were in shallow, not deep water makes the other claims inaccurate. We asked the experts - and their answers will terrify you Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. La Salle offered Hennepin the honor of driving the first spike, but Hennepin deferred to his leader. The ship was constructed and launched on Cayuga Creek on the Niagara River as a seven-cannon, 45-ton barque. That evidence? Wherever the Griffon is, if its in deep water somewhere, there are cannons near it, she says. His wishes and hopes to find the legendary ship were all granted when he, his wife Kathie, and a group of others discovered it on Sept. 10, 2018 in upper Lake Michigan. A bowsprit is the spar that extends forward from the bow. Two divers say they have found "Le Griffon," a 17th-century sailing ship widely considered the "holy grail" of shipwrecks. But members of the Potawatomi tribe brought pieces of the ship to the explorer, including some moldy beaver furs and a pair of sailor's britches, said Baillod, who translated La Salle's journal from French to English. The loss of the Griffon is one of the great mysteries of the Great Lakes. The ship left Conneaut for Port Stanley, Ontario in late morning on Dec. 7, 1909 with a captain and . Inside Prince Harry's finances from when he met Meghan Markle to landing 100M with Netflix and book Spare Royally hard work! La Salle disembarked and on 18 September sent the ship back toward Niagara. Thedetails of their findwere recorded in a 2021 book that chronicled their finding of the mysterious wreck. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? The Griffin, which disappeared on its maiden voyage in 1679, has been called the 'holy grail' for shipwreck hunters probing North America's Great Lakes. Because his second account has numerous exaggerations and cases where he credits himself for things that La Salle had done, Hennepin's first account is considered more reliable. The Griffon was the first European ship ever to sail the Great Lakes. If the state underwater archaeologist were to look at the wreck, he would look for artifacts that could be dated, such as ceramics or glass. She also reports on general science, including archaeology and paleontology. They were open vessels (no deck) made of wood measuring up to about 35 feet (11m) long and capable of carrying three or four tons of cargo. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS. While frozen rivers made traveling easy, finding food was not. the griffon shipwreck facts Western Dental Careers September 20, 2021 | 0 September 20, 2021 | 0 They attempted to sail further upstream, but the current was too strong. Some are thousands of years old. Lawrence. Lake Erie covers 2,000 of them, among the highest concentration of wrecks in the world. Several French explores built the exploratory vessel Ren-Robert Cavalier and Sieur de La Salle. They are schooners, freighters, steamships, tugs and fishing boats, and thanks to the cold, fresh water, many of them are perfectly preserved. The two men did not bring up the nail on purpose, and they plan to return it to the state, said Dean Anderson, the state archaeologist for Michigan. The ship was lost in the depths of northern Lake Michigan over 300 years ago. [4] While work continued on Le Griffon in the spring of 1679 as soon as the ice began to break up along the shores of Lake Erie, La Salle sent out men from Fort Frontenac in 15 canoes laden with supplies and merchandise to trade with the Illinois for furs at the trading posts of the upper Huron and Michigan Lakes. It has become one of the most sought after and perhaps one of the most "found" shipwrecks in the Great Lakes! [citation needed], La Salle arrived on 20 January 1679 from Fort Frontenac with the full rigging, anchors, chains, cordage, and cannon that were transported by barge, then salvaged and dragged 30 miles (48km) overland to the construction site. I have spent over 42 years searching for this most sought-after historic vessel.. For the second time, they used a dozen men and ropes to tow Le Griffon over the rapids of the St. Clair River into lower Lake Huron. ', Shipwreck hunters Steve and Kathie Libertset out their case for having discovered the ship in a new book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery, A scan of the wreck taken by the Great Lakes Exploration Group. 'But we can systematically search the bottom using non-intrusive techniques and remote sensing devices for conclusive diagnostic evidence. The cursed shipwreck, the 'Griffin,' is an incredible find with the history and the tales associated with it till now. While they were at times fitted with mast and sails, their primary propulsion was either oars or poles. Some time later, Hennepin would use this little vessel to sail to Fort Frontenac and again back to Niagara. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Spartan Newsroom [notes 6][pageneeded], After La Salle's departure, Tonti refloated the little brigantine, and attempted to use it for more salvage work at the wreck, but the winter weather prevented success. 2023 www.lenconnect.com. [1][4], The site La Salle had selected for building Le Griffon has conclusively been identified as at or near the mouth of Cayuga Creek, at Cayuga Island. Le Griffon was the first ship of thousands to disappear in our upper Great Lakes, Libert, president of Great Lakes Exploration Group LLC, told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan To Be Weighed By US Supreme Court, San Antonio Couple Allegedly Trained Their Dogs To Be Aggressive Before Air Force Veteran Gets Mauled to Death, Hungary Says Sweden Is Spreading Fake News Concerning Budapest Will Not Help Its NATO Bid, Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval-Ariana Madix Split: Raquel Leviss Admits Doing 1 Thing Amid Affair Rumors. The Griffin disappeared returning from its maiden voyage in 1679 and was last seen struggling in a storm near what is now Washington Island in Wisconsin. It's not clear what led to the ship's sinking more than 340 years ago. [citation needed], After La Salle and Tonti left, the pilot and the rest of the crew were to follow with the supply vessel. "[5] J. C. Mills [4] quotes a letter from La Salle to the Minister of Marine that says, "The fort at Cataraqui (Fort Frontenac) with the aid of a vessel now building, will command Lake Ontario"[4] While no date is given for the letter, the location of Mill's reference to it suggests that it was sent before 1677, perhaps as early as 1675. In the Great Lakes region, there may be no older and more intriguing historical mystery than the 1679 disappearance of the Griffon, one of French explorer Robert La Salle's ships. But the ship vanished while delivering a valuable cargo of furs, amid rumours that she had been cursed by a prophet from the Iroquois tribe. "It's the holy grail of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.". Certainly not not without a lot more information but these are very compelling. [9][pageneeded] They wished to secure a reliable truce lest the natives interfere with their projects. [6] Some of La Salle's associates called this vessel a brigantine; others called it a bark. [1], Upon Le Griffon's safe arrival at St. Ignace, the voyagers fired a salute from her deck that the Hurons on shore volleyed three times with their firearms. Long a subject of local lore and backed up with some convincing historical archival work and artifacts, including 16th century coins and several bodies, the Mississagi Straits wreck, which local Native oral tradition had named "the whiteman's ship," remains a strong candidate. Hennepin said she was named to protect her from the fire that threatened her. The other wreckage has been approximately dated to between 1632 and 1682. 1. But Dykstra and Monroe said they'll wait until they hear the final word. About 30 adventurers have claimed to have found the Griffin, usually by happenstance, Baillod said. The uneasy truce with the Indians was tested by threats and attempts of sabotage and murder. On 27 December 2014, two divers, Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe, announced the discovery of a wreck that they believe is Le Griffon, based on the bowstem, which to some resembles an ornamental griffin. On its return trip from the island, said to be located in the mouth of the body of water which is now known as Green Bay, it vanished with all six crew members and its load of furs. The nonprofit was created in 1997 and remains the longest running film festival in Michigan. ', He continued: 'Both the Seneca and Iroquois felt threatened by the construction and sight of Le Griffon, and felt that it was a threat to the 'Great Spirit. A ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. Dan Scoville, Jim Kennard, Craig Hampton, and Roland Stevens located the steamer thirty miles east of Fair Haven, New York - The Canadian schooner Royal Albert has been discovered in deep water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario near Fair Haven, NY. [1][4], On noon of 25 August they started out northwest with a favoring northerly wind. University Hospitals receives $10 million donation from Ahuja family to support community health center, reach underserved populations, Rousing The Choir of Man makes it a memorable reopening night at Playhouse Square, RTA receives no workable proposals for new railcars, will start search over, Paddleboards and kayaks suddenly in high demand amid supply chain shortage, Cleveland resident accused of starting fire at REBol during downtown riots May 30. Great Lakes Exploration Group is not connected to this story or Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Dykstra said he took photos of old cannons, a sword, and the griffin sculpture, evidence he says reveals the wreck and itsmissing secrets. Bateaux were also common. The Liberts' book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery, is available via Amazon for 24.69. The Liberts say the Griffin is the exact wreck seen in 2018 close to Poverty Island right in Lake Michigan. [1][4], La Salle found some of the 15 men he sent ahead from Fort Frontenac to trade with the Illinois but they had listened to La Salle's enemies who said he would never reach the Straits of Mackinac. Local shipwreck explorer Valerie van Heest spent a week on Manitoulin Island in August of 2018 searching for Le Griffon. Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. Now after more than 40 years of searching, Charlevoix diver Steve Libert says hes 99.99% sure he found the answer, and he tells how in a new book. Ghost Ship of the Great Lakes: With Josh Gates, Joan Forsberg, Brendon Baillod, Greg Busch. He put ashore near present-day Rochester, New York, and arrived at Tagarondies very shortly after La Motte and Hennepin had left. Shipwreck of the SS American Star. About 1,500 shipwreckshave been found on the bottom of Lake Michigan, Anderson said, and it's unclear whether this one is the Griffin. Somewhere near present-day Toronto they were frozen in and had to chop their way out of the ice. We have been on the hunt for over 40 years systematically ferreting out the locations of this widely scattered wreck, he says, referring to his wife Kathie and himself. Now, treasure hunters who believe they found it, said to have stumbled upon it by accident. The Plaque reads: YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Its fate has been a puzzlement for maritime historians for more than three and a half centuries. Alternatively, another . FOR ALPENA, DETROIT, IRON MOUNTAIN, DETROIT, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. Enter the text you see in the image below. The Griffon has not been found, Wayne Lusardi, the state archaeologist in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says bluntly. (Image credit: Father Louis Hennepin Public Domain ). He was 43. [15] On 19 June 2013, teams of scientists determined the wood pole discovered was not attached to a ship, after it came loose and was placed on the lake bed during an excavation. Libert may be a secret agent by day-- he works as a senior defense analyst for the U.S. Navy -- but by night he's a passionate hunter for the old and precious. The wind did slightly decrease but they drifted slowly all night, unable to find anchorage or shelter. That is my question. Le Griffon is reported to be the "Holy Grail" of Great Lakes shipwreck hunters. It would be busted up, she said. Some said that the Ottawas or Pottawatomies boarded her, murdered her crew, and then burned her. The photos were taken in 1997 from the roof of the cofferdam that surrounded the ship and kept it in a semi-dry environment. That is my question. The Griffin was last seen struggling off Washington Island and was never heard from again. The horror of Japan's death railway captured by cartoon: Top secret US mission to scatter Pearl Harbour mastermind Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' They come in contact with the important newsmakers of the day, from the Supreme Court justices and the governor to members of the Legislature and the people who run the state government departments, to lobbyists and public-interest organizations. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. They anchored on the south shore of the island and found it occupied by friendly Pottawatomies and 15 of the fur traders La Salle sent ahead. A bowsprit is the spar that extends forward from the bow. So you want to make a news show? Other experts insist Liberts absolutely wrong. Beneath the cold waves of Lake Michigan rests an aging shipwreck, its wooden planks encrusted with brown-and-gray zebra mussels, that may be the remnants of a 17th-century ship called the Griffin, two Michigan-based treasure hunters say. In this article, the word "ship" is used in its broader sense, not in the technical sense of referring to a vessel with three or more masts rigged with square sails. THE WRECK OF THE GRIFFON by Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg, published and distributed by Seawolf Communications Inc. 224 pages. The ship was a work of art, featuring a majestic griffin (half lion, half eagle) figurehead on its front and an eagle on its stern. Le Griffon, 17th-century sailing ship built by Robert de La Salle may have been found in Lake Michigan 335 years after it disappeared. Creating a fur trade monopoly with the Native Americans would finance his quest and building Le Griffon was an "essential link in the scheme". La Salle seized two of the deserters and sent Tonti with six men to arrest two more at Sault Ste. Justin Windsor notes that Count Frontenac by 1 August 1673, "had already ordered the construction of a vessel on Ontario to be used as an auxiliary force to Fort Frontenac. 2 - The Almiranta, Santo Cristo de San Roman, Nuestra Seora del Rosario y San Jose (Presumably a galleon). For Mr Libert, it's the realisation of a childhood dream, sparked by a history teacher who told him about the ship. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. But the sinking was caused by a storm is the best explanation. Using a state of the art two-man submersible, Josh dives in to find a ship so elusive it's known as "The Holy Grail of Shipwrecks." But, the Liberts say her final resting place is near the Huron Islands in Lake Michigan, northeast of Green Bay.