SS Edmund Fitzgerald 50th Anniversary – Remembering today the twenty-nine crewmen lost aboard the Great Lakes freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which foundered in a sudden and violent storm while crossing Lake Superior on the night of November 10th, 1975 with no survivors. The 13,600 gross ton vessel had served seventeen years hauling taconite iron ore before her final and most famous Detroit bound voyage, her last captain being 63 year old Ernest Michael McSorley who had joined the Fitzgerald in 1972 and was known both for his steady hand as well as for his wide experience with Superior’s notoriously violent weather. An unexpected change in forecast shortly after the freighter’s outset from Superior, Wisconsin however on the afternoon of the 9th quickly escalated into sustained gale force winds and waves as high as 30’ (9m) as the ship made her approach into Whitefish Bay, an often dangerous area which has seen many dozens of wrecks in poor weather.
The Fitzgerald maintained radio contact throughout most of the next morning and into the afternoon, reporting increasingly dire conditions, the loss of two hatch covers and a bad list. McSorley’s last message was received by the freighter Arthur M. Anderson at 7.10 PM, replying to their inquiry into her situation by saying simply “we are holding our own”. Ten minutes later, Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared from radar.
The crew were:
Michael E. Armagost – third mate, 37
Frederick J. Beetcher – porter, 56
Thomas D. Bentsen – oiler, 23
Edward F. Bindon – first assistant engineer, 47
Thomas D. Borgeson – maintenance man, 41
Oliver J. “Buck” Champeau – third assistant engineer, 41
Nolan F. Church – porter, 55
Ransom E. Cundy – watchman, 53
Thomas E. Edwards – second assistant engineer, 50
Russell G. Haskell – second assistant engineer, 40
George J. Holl – chief engineer, 60
Bruce L. Hudson – deck hand, 22
Allen G. Kalmon – second cook, 43
Gordon F. MacLellan – wiper, 30
Joseph W. Mazes – special maintenance man, 59
John H. McCarthy – first mate, 62
Ernest M. McSorley – captain, 63
Eugene W. O’Brien – wheelsman, 50
Karl A. Peckol – watchman, 20
John J. Poviach – wheelsman, 59
James A. Pratt – second mate, 44
Robert C. Rafferty – steward/cook, 62
Paul M. Riippa – deck hand, 22
John D. Simmons – wheelsman, 63
William J. Spengler – watchman, 59
Mark A. Thomas – deck hand, 21
Ralph G. Walton – oiler, 58
David E. Weiss – cadet, 22
Blaine H. Wilhelm – oiler, 52
Painting: “Every Man Knew” by David Conklin, 1995
The song made it unforgettable.