the griffon shipwreck facts

Onboard the ship was furs for trade, and a legend that an Iroquois tribe Shaman or prophet foretold it would be lost to history, reportedthe Express UK. Like Le Griffon, the steamship Marquette and Bessemer No. Their inefficiency at beating to windward made them impractical as sailing vessels, and they were not very safe in open water. Majestic, strong, and imbued with magic, the griffin is a common heraldic symbol which joins the lion's valor with the eagle's elegance. The bowsprit is thespar running out from the bow (front) of a ship), He said: 'My interest began the day my teacher reached over and touched my shoulder, and said out loud in class, "maybe one day, someone in this class will find it. 'The distance of 3.8 miles between the bowsprit and main sections highly suggests the Indians did not sink it either, nor did La Salle's men mutiny and sink the ship. Tornadoes Hit Central US; Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Columbus Ohio Brace For Intense Weather. Le Griffon is considered by some to be the "holy grail of Great Lakes Shipwrecks" largely because it was the first sailing ship to cruise the Great Lakes. It was another vessel used by La Salle and Tonti, however, that was the first loss on 8 January 1679. Now shipwreck hunters Steve and Kathie Libert say they have found the infamous vessel, which was the first to sail the Great Lakes beyond Niagara Falls. Welcome to the Coronation! Suffering from cold and low on supplies, the men were close to mutiny. By 26 August the violence of the gale caused them to "haul down their topmasts, to lash their yards to the deck, and drift at the mercy of storm. Some time later, Hennepin would use this little vessel to sail to Fort Frontenac and again back to Niagara. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. ', 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. La Salle and Father Louis Hennepin set out on the ship during its maiden voyage on August 7am , 1969 along with a crew of 32. The 1633 journey left at Downs, England and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts on September 3. . They discovered a 15-inch slab of blackened wood that might have been a human-fashioned cultural artifact. The exact size and construction of Le Griffon is not known but many researchers believe she was a 45-ton barque. Others say he did not return to Niagara until July. [1][4], The short open-water season of the upper Great Lakes compelled La Salle to depart for Green Bay on 12 September, five days before Tonti's return. 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. Forsberg said several of the bolts. Some say that this vessel was named the Frontenac, while others say the other vessel used on La Salle's expedition was Frontenac. 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. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. It's the only artifact so far to be brought back from the ship wreck. It's not clear what led to the ship's sinking more than 340 years ago. Having lost needed supplies, La Salle left the building of Le Griffon under Tonti's care, and set out on foot to return to Fort Frontenac. Le Griffon was a 40 foot long barque (sailing ship) with 7 cannons. Every one of these shipwreck hunters finds a bone pile and claims its the Griffon.. Libert added the wooden timbers of the ship show no evidence of damage done by fire. (Wikipedia) The age could have proved if the plank came. The wind did slightly decrease but they drifted slowly all night, unable to find anchorage or shelter. La Salle decided to visit the Senecas at Tagarondies himself. The book's title, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679 , indicates the importance the couple places on understanding the location of the Huron Islands in their search. Steve Libert diving on the ship in 2018. The Griffon was the first ship ever to sail the Great Lakes, originally built to haul furs from the Green Bay area to Detroit. The Native Americans told La Salle the crew planned to sail toward the Straits of Mackinac in stormy weather. On 6 December, they landed safely on the east bank of the river at about where Lewiston, New York is today. An Antarctic explorer's ship has been discovered 106 years after it sank. La Salle gave instructions for Le Griffon to off-load merchandise for him at Mackinac that would be picked up on the return trip. "It's not a pond net stake. The uneasy truce with the Indians was tested by threats and attempts of sabotage and murder. On 23 June 2014, Steve Libert told the Associated Press he believed he found Le Griffon in Lake Michigan after extensive searching, in a debris field near where a wood slab was found the previous year. That is simply not true.. Libert says the evidence hes amassed pinpoints where the wreckage of the 40- to 45-ton ship now rests: in shallow water near Poverty Island and Summer Island. All rights reserved. He teaches environmental journalism and serves as director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The figurehead likely isn't the remains of a griffin, he said, but a "big encrustation of zebra mussels," on burned wood. "It's a mystery ship that got in our way," Dykstra said, "and now, we're going for the gold.". Content is produced by MSU students under the guidance of journalism faculty. People remember the cautionary TV commercials from Do not sell or share my personal information. A ship that was 'cursed' by native tribesmen has been identified nearly 350 years after it vanished, solving one of America's oldest and most notorious maritime mysteries. The Plaque reads: More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1649: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery. That evidence? Kingsford says it was either contrary wind or they were becalmed. Le Griffon may have been found by the Great Lakes Exploration Group but the potential remains were the subject of lawsuits involving the discoverers, the state of Michigan, the U.S. federal government, and the Government of France. She carried a cargo of furs valued at from 50,000 to 60,000 francs ($10,000 $12,000) and the rigging and anchors for another vessel that La Salle intended to build to find passage to the West Indies. The accounts agree that this little vessel played a part in the building of Le Griffon. In 2011, Michigan-based treasure hunters Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe found a shipwreck as they were searching for the $2 million in gold that, according to local legend, fell from a ferry. Crude tools, green and wet timbers, and the cold winter months caused slow progress in the construction of Le Griffon. WWII German shipwreck found in Black Sea Airborne laser reveals hidden city in Cambodia The ship, commanded by the French explorer La Salle, was never seen again after setting sail in September. Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. 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. If it exists in the physical world, we think it will be there in deep water, she says. While the journals of Tonti, Hennepin, and LeClercq (participants with La Salle) do mention a little vessel of 10 tons, none of them apply a name to it. Order from www.seawolfcommunications.com or call them at 630-293-8996. by Anonymous - Charlevoix couple offers theory on mysterious 1679 shipwreck. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. Already have an account? But even now, the Liberts are prevented by the State of Michigan from conducting an in-depth excavation. once I broke the surface. That is my question. 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. "There was no rudder on the boat," Dykstra said. Newsroom Calendar Mr Libert has also highlighted several details in the wreckage indicative of contemporaneous French design. [13] Originally discovered in 2001 near Poverty Island, Michigan sonar has shown an object approximately 40 by 18 feet (12.2 by 5.5m) (similar to the dimensions of Le Griffon) located under several feet of sediment. Libert said some theories are supposed to explain what happened to the vessel. La Salle never saw the Griffin again. 'Michel was spot on when he said the main body of the wreck would be within four miles of the bowsprit. We hear from the Association of Counties, state court administrator and the president, from Gratiot County, of the Michigan Judges Association. Jupiter and Venus 'kiss' in a stunning planetary conjunction tonight. 1 Answer. 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. The straight-line distance is about 75 miles (121km). 2 - The Almiranta, Santo Cristo de San Roman, Nuestra Seora del Rosario y San Jose (Presumably a galleon). The Griffon has not been found, Wayne Lusardi, the state archaeologist in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says bluntly. - 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? 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. the griffon shipwreck facts Western Dental Careers September 20, 2021 | 0 September 20, 2021 | 0 On its way back to Niagarafrom Green Bay, the Griffon disappeared with its entire crew and valuable cargo of furs commencing the centuries-long quest to discover its fate. ', The wreck believed to be the Griffin was found near Poverty Island on Lake Michigan. Moreover, Baillod said he hasn't heard of anyone looking for the Griffin near the Beaver Island archipelago, which is likely the area mentioned in La Salle's journal, Baillod said. Le Griffon Shipwreck. La Salle took personal command at this point due to evidence that the pilot was negligent. La Salle followed the southern shore of the lake. "The [American] Indians told the captain not to sail out, to wait the storm out, but he wouldn't listen to them," Baillod said. I have spent over 42 years searching for this most sought-after historic vessel.. They concluded it was likely a bowsprit dating from a ship hundreds of years old, although some think it was a common pound net stake used for fishing nets in the 19th century. (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2022/03/charlevoix-couple-offers-theory-on-mysterious-1679-shipwreck/). "When we had it looked at, they [the archaeologists] could tell that the nail was very old," Dykstra said. Mobile Reporting Kit Possibly a cannon, hopefully with the date stamped on it.'. They arrived late on 5 December, but the weather was rough and they did not want to run the surf and outflow of the river at night, so they stayed a few miles off shore. Other experts insist Liberts absolutely wrong. 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. Acknowledging that French archeologists side with Libert, she asks what they know about Native American fishing practices. [notes 5][pageneeded] When La Salle heard of the loss (through a messenger or one of the natives), he left Niagara and joined in the salvage effort. Below Niagara Falls: first ships on Lake Ontario. 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. At the time, no other wreckage was found, but scientists noted other wreckage may not be far away.[16][17]. Maritime historians best guess, she says, is that it sank between Beaver Island and the southern coast of the Upper Peninsula, possibly within sight of shore between what are now Manistique and Naubinway. (Image credit: Father Louis Hennepin Public Domain ). According to Father Louis Hennepin, one of them was caught in a violent storm and never survived, notedthe Daily Mail. JRN@MSU Code of Ethics La Salle never saw Le Griffon again. New York, They were driven northwesterly until the evening of 27 August when under a light southerly breeze they finally rounded Bois Blanc Island and anchored in the calm waters of the natural harbor at East Moran Bay off the settlement of Mission St. Ignace, where there was a settlement of Hurons, Ottawas, and a few Frenchmen. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW. "[5] He also says that at Fort Frontenac in 1676, La Salle "laid the keels of the vessels which he depended on to frighten the English. 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. An explorer claims to have found the long lost French ship Le Griffon at the bottom of Lake Michigan. The Holy Grail of Great Lakes shipwrecks is Le Griffon, the first European-style ship built by explorer Robert De La Salle that is believed to have sank in Lake Michigan in a storm in 1679.. La Salle seized two of the deserters and sent Tonti with six men to arrest two more at Sault Ste. Zebra mussels cover what may be a griffin on the bow of the ship. No cannons have been found near the site Libert identified. "It's the holy grail of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.". La Belle was the ship of French explorer La Salle, lost at Matagorda Bay in 1686. There are three acceptable English spellings of the word: griffin, griffon and gryphon. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. (Image: Great Lakes Exploration Group via Pen News) The wreck was found near Poverty Island on Lake Michigan, almost 350 years after it vanished. He walked right behind me and put his hand on my shoulder and said, Perhaps someone in this class will find it someday. I was listening to every word, says Libert, now 67. The Griffon was the first European ship ever to sail the Great Lakes. Some sources confuse the two vessels. Josh Gates tackles an enduring maritime mystery, the first ship to be lost in the Great Lakes, the Griffon. 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. "An expedition of historic significance: the search for the elusive, "France claims historic Great Lakes wreck", "Great Lakes Exploration Group, France and Michigan Establish Cooperative Agreement For Shipwreck Exploration", "Divers begin Lake Michigan search for Griffin ship", "Griffin Shipwreck: Wooden Beam Not Attached To Buried Vessel, Researchers Say", "Explorer says Griffin shipwreck may be found", "Treasure hunters find mysterious shipwreck in Lake Michigan", "Four reasons why the Frankfort-area shipwreck can't be the Griffin", "Le Griffon: The Great Lakes' greatest mystery", "If you are in need of a mystery, here is a historic puzzle: What happened to La Salle's Griffon? [4] Some charged fur traders, and even Jesuits with her destruction. So you want to make a news show? Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. These social birds live in vulture colonies. With La Salle back aboard their vessel, the company again sailed west until, about 25 miles (40km) from Niagara, weather checked their progress. While they recognize that conclusive evidence has not been found, the evidence that has been found there fits with what is known of the history of that time and they postulate that if Le Griffon is found elsewhere, that would deepen the mystery of the find by Cullis.[22]. While some of these were made from a single carved log ("dugout" or "pirogue"), most were bark canoes. Tests on the ship part are dated to 1679; close to a year, dating of the wreck is 1632 to 1982. They recovered the anchors, chain, and most of the materials critical for Le Griffon, but most of the supplies and provisions were lost. They sailed from the Straits of Mackinac to an island (either Washington Island or Rock Island)[1] located at the entrance of Green Bay. Several historical and genealogical references show the Griffin making such journeys in 1633 and 1634. His conclusion: The remains of the ship Le Griffon in French sank in shallow water in the Huron Islands of northern Lake Michigan, northeast of Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the loss of all the crew members aboard. When the wind suddenly veered to the southeast they changed course to avoid Presque Isle. The ship was lost on the return leg of her maiden voyage due to a violent boiler A rare daggerboard schooner, Three Brothers, has been discovered in deep water off Oswego, New York by a team of shipwreck enthusiasts. 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. The Griffin - a ship that was 'cursed' by native tribesmen - has been identified nearly 350 years after it vanished, solving one of America's oldest and most notorious maritime mysteries. My interest began the day my teacher reached over and touched my shoulder and said out loud in class, Maybe one day someone in this class will find it.. Its discovery is credited to wreck hunters Stevie and Kathie Libert for the record. 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. 'Father Louis Hennepin said it was lost in a violent storm. [In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery]. It was a calm night and they believed the vessel was securely moored. The widely referenced antique woodcutting of Le Griffon shows her with two masts but many researchers believe she was a 45-ton barque with a single mast with several square sails and 30 to 40 feet (9.1 to 12.2m) long with a 10-to-15-foot (3.0 to 4.6m) beam. Those left behind proceeded with needed building projects. [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. Acknowledging that French archeologists side with Libert, she asks what they know about Native American fishing practices. La Salle disembarked and on 18 September sent the ship back toward Niagara. Richard Gross. The Griffin, a large ship built by Frenchman Rene Robert Cavalli, disappeared on its maiden voyage some 343 years ago. Native tradition holds that The Griffin became a ghost ship, whose crew are sometimes heard chanting as she sails among the clouds on a moonlit night. I was mesmerized by what he was saying. Mr Libert said: 'There are numerous theories as to what happened to The Griffin. 'It is just a matter of time before we achieve our goal. Thedetails of their findwere recorded in a 2021 book that chronicled their finding of the mysterious wreck. That is simply not true.. After disembarking, the ship and the exploration disappeared into history. And, as the curse foretold, La Salle was later murdered during a 1687 expedition by a member of his party. Carbon dating of the bowsprit places suggests an age range within a year of the sinking. "It was a hand-forged nail, which helps date it back to that time period, we feel." [4] La Salle had instructed Hennepin and La Motte to go 75 miles (120km) into wilderness in knee-deep snow on an embassy to the great village of the Seneca tribe, bringing gifts and promises in order to obtain their good will to build "the big canoe" (Le Griffon), but many tribal members did not approve. Le Griffon is considered by some to have been the first ship lost on the Great Lakes. He continued exploring the Mississippi River until his murder in Texas in 1687. Wood can break up. Experts suspect the ship was lost as a consequence of a severe storm. Shipwreck of the SS American Star. The griffin is a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle, and the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion. 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. It would be busted up, she said. The ship disappeared 343 years back on its maiden launch without a trace. 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. An infamous 'cursed' ship that disappeared more than 340 years ago has been found. In September 1679, French explorers loaded the boat with furs and left Green Bay. Lake Erie covers 2,000 of them, among the highest concentration of wrecks in the world. La Salle was convinced that the captain and his crew had staged a coup, destroyed the ship, and seized all of the furs on the boat. LeGriffon launched on Aug. 7, 1679, with LaSalle, Father Louis Hennepin and a crew of 32. Baillod said he is "99 percent sure" that the wreck is not that of the Griffon. 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. Libert said the book reveals the location of the Huron Islands where Robert La Salles ship, Le Griffon, met her fate. The divers said they found Le Griffon in 2011, but are just announcing the discovery because they were consulting experts to confirm it. The Griffon was built by La Salle near Niagara Falls and was the first ship to sail on the upper Great Lakes. It would no longer exist. Cris Kohl and wife Joan Forsberg have conducted over 20 years of research in order to write their new book The Wreck of the Griffon, the explorer La Salles ship that disappeared in 1679 on its return voyage from Lake Michigan. Finding the wreck is the goal of most Great Lakes shipwreck hunters due to the notoriety, and they call it the Holy Grail amongst them.

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