Two divers say they have found "Le Griffon," a 17th-century sailing ship widely considered the "holy grail" of shipwrecks. "When the Griffin left from Wisconsin, headed back to Niagara, it was never heard from again," Porter said. On its way back to Niagara from Green Bay, the Griffon disappeared with its entire crew and valuable cargo of furs commencing the centuries-long quest to discover its fate. The exact place where the Griffon was constructed is marked by a boulder and historical plaque at 9317 Buffalo Avenue, just north of the city marina. 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. [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. [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. But, the Liberts say her final resting place is near the Huron Islands in Lake Michigan, northeast of Green Bay. [1] The French flag flew above the cabin placed on top of the main deck that was elevated above the hull. Libert became instantly fascinated by the Griffon mystery as a 14-year-old student in Dayton, Ohio, where he first heard from a teacher about the missing ship with its figurehead of a griffon, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. [In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery]. La Salle gave instructions for Le Griffon to off-load merchandise for him at Mackinac that would be picked up on the return trip. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 'Some say that the native Indians boarded the ship and killed the crew. It would be awesome if true, she says, a story shed love the museum to be able to tell visitors, with the aura of amateur treasure-hunting and Indiana Jones. The ship left Conneaut for Port Stanley, Ontario in late morning on Dec. 7, 1909 with a captain and . 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. 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. It's not clear what led to the ship's sinking more than 340 years ago. La Belle was the ship of French explorer La Salle, lost at Matagorda Bay in 1686. Alpena County reference. By Jack Timothy Harrison. [1], French explorer Ren Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, sought a Northwest Passage to China and Japan to extend France's trade. Now, treasure hunters who believe they found it, said to have stumbled upon it by accident. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS. They reached Niagara again on 14 January. Since its disappearance in 1679, the Griffon has taken on a mythic air. La Salle never saw the Griffin again. [21], There has yet to be any consensus regarding the location of the shipwreck of Le Griffon. He arrived there nearly starved only to find that his detractors had succeeded in stirring up doubt and opposition with his creditors. 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. Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. 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. Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. [18] Steve and Kathie Libert have since published a book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands - 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery (Mission Point Press, 2021). Decking, permanent masts, and bearing a name are a few of the criteria one might use. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Jupiter and Venus 'kiss' in a stunning planetary conjunction tonight. '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. For Mr Libert, it's the realisation of a childhood dream, sparked by a history teacher who told him about the ship. 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. 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. It would no longer exist. Le Griffon, 17th-century sailing ship built by Robert de La Salle may have been found in Lake Michigan 335 years after it disappeared. Zebra mussels cover what may be a griffin on the bow of the ship. The two treasure hunters were taking measurements of the ship when Dykstra's magnet, tethered to his scuba gear, picked up an object that few people have ever seen: a hand forged nail that dates back to 1679. 2023 www.lenconnect.com. That is simply not true.. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook& Google+. 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. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. I was mesmerized by what he was saying. 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. [4], Le Griffon may or may not be considered the first ship on the Great Lakes, depending on what factors one deems necessary to qualify a vessel for that designation. The Mysterious Shipwreck of Le Griffon | Expedition Unknown 17,600 views May 8, 2019 The Griffon, a ship built by famed explorer Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, sailed out of Lake. Editor's Note:In our original version of this story, we inadvertently used video that belonged to Great Lakes Exploration Group, LLC. Eric Freedman is professor of journalism and former associate dean of International Studies and Programs. 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. The loss of the Griffon is one of the great mysteries of the Great Lakes. Pictured: Some of the wreckage. This was a "great bark" (Hennepin's words) of about 20 tons burden[8] although Tonti's journal says this was a 40-ton vessel. [1][4], Father Hennepin wrote that Le Griffon was lost in a violent storm. Is Joe Biden Sick? It dragged anchor and ran aground near Thirty Mile Point on Lake Ontario, where it broke apart. According to Mr and Mrs Libert, The Griffin is a good match for wreckage found in 2018 near Poverty Island, Lake Michigan. As the eagle was considered the 'king of the birds', and the lion the 'king of the beasts', the griffin was perceived as a powerful and majestic creature. They added that a bowsprit was found close by in 2001, assuming it is another part that broke off from the ship. Using sonar, two treasure hunters found the remains of a shipwreck in Lake Michigan. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The wreck's discoverers agree that more evidence is needed. Historian J. However, 36 years later in 1911, the Rosabelle was found again overturned and floating with no sign of any . [1][2], Hennepin's first account says she was a vessel of about 45 tons; his second says 60 tons. These films range from comedies to dramas to long and short films. La Salle was convinced that the pilot and crew treacherously sank her and made off with the goods. Until there is an expedition (to the site) with politically unaligned professionals, I will not weigh in one way or another, said Vrana, whose nonprofit group has consulted with Libert. 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]. The male wirehaired pointer weighs around 50-70 lb, and the females are around 35-50 lb. A 'cursed' shipwreck which sank almost 350 years ago has been identified in one of North America's Great Lakes, bringing to an end a maritime mystery. Related Article:Adolf Hitler's Lost German U-Boat Allegedly Has Dead Nazis Aboard Along With Gold, Treasure, Get HNGN's Top Stories Newsletter Everyweek. 'The Christian Indian's curse rests on you and on your great canoe. At noon the waves ran so high, and the lake became so rough, as to compel them to stand in for land. Lake Erie covers 2,000 of them, among the highest concentration of wrecks in the world. A bowsprit is the spar that extends forward from the bow. It was a calm night and they believed the vessel was securely moored. More than 5,000 ship wrecks are scattered throughout the Great Lakes, and Porter said the Le Griffon is the most precious one. Le Griffon set off on 7 August with unfurled sails, a 34-man crew, and a salute from her cannon and musketry. Now, more than 335years later, the wreck of the Griffon has not definitively been found. But, the Liberts say her final. The furs on board would have cost 640,000 in today's value, sinking with the vessel. La Salle returned to the area in 1682, to try again to locate the Mississippi's mouth. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? The griffin is a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle, and the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion. Hennepin said she was named to protect her from the fire that threatened her. 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. On the evening of 10th November 1975, Edmund Fitzgerald sank around 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. A history teacher inspired Libert in school. The divers who discovered the wreck believe it to be the Griffin, an exploration ship laden with furs, cannon, muskets and shipyard supplies that went down in a storm in 1679 in Lake Michigan, on . If it exists in the physical world, we think it will be there in deep water, she says. Police raid online sensation shop Wakey Wines looking for drugs as owner famous for his Prime Not so shipshape! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Megan SampTickets can be bought online or at Studio C in Okemos. [1][4], On noon of 25 August they started out northwest with a favoring northerly wind. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. Experts suspect the ship was lost as a consequence of a severe storm. MICHIGAN -- Le Griffon, a well known shipthat sunk inLake Michigan during the 17th century, has been hiding at the depths of the lake for more than 300 years. All rights reserved. UNESCO estimates that worldwide over 3 million shipwrecks. "There was no rudder on the boat," Dykstra said. Countless shipwrecks sit beneath the ocean and stranded on land around the world. Barge 129 was found in Lake Superior, 35 miles off Vermilion Point in 650 feet of water. ", La Salle sailed the Griffon through the Great Lakesand crossed into Lake Michigan in an effort to reach the mouth of the Mississippi River, Baillod said. 'La Salle was certain that the captain and his men committed mutiny, sank the ship and absconded with all the furs. So, if the Griffons final resting place isnt where Libert believes it to be, where is it? It would be awesome if true, she says, a story shed love the museum to be able to tell visitors, with the aura of amateur treasure-hunting and Indiana Jones. "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. To skeptics who doubt Liberts identification of the wreckage, he responds, The clues are there., Van Heest says the books account of the expedition from the Niagara River to Lake Michigan has the facts down, but once we get to the story of the supposed bowsprit it all falls apart because its not a bowsprit.. They moored in quiet water off Squaw Island three miles from Lake Erie waiting for favorable northeast winds. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). [19][20] Their claim was quickly debunked when Michigan authorities dove down on 9 June 2015 after receiving the coordinates to verify its authenticity. They are considered to be symbolic of power . Some said that the Ottawas or Pottawatomies boarded her, murdered her crew, and then burned her. Only about 375 of Lake Erie's wrecks have been found. In the past griffin was a symbol of strength and dexterity.It often looked after a treasure.. Copyright 2023 HNGN. [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. This Virtual History Talk will feature Valerie van Heest, who's a Michigan historian, underwater explorer, and author, talking about the facts and legends surrounding the Le Griffon shipwreck . The ship disappeared 343 years back on its maiden launch without a trace. [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. At 42.5 inches tall, the "Pisa Griffin" is the largest bronze medieval Islamic sculpture on the planet and was made in the 11th Century CE. They were concerned for their safety in as much that they tried to burn the ship during construction. Mr Libert believes the Griffin was caught in a four-day storm and the bowsprit, which was held in place only by wooden wedges, broke off before the rest of the ship sank. Metiomek, an Iroquois prophet, apparently told La Salle: 'Beware! Shipwreck of the SS American Star. 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. Capital News Services articles may be reprinted exclusively by subscribing media organizations. 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. 175 Year Old Great Lakes Atlas Schooner Located in Lake Ontario, Early 1800s Dagger-board Schooner Three Brothers Discovered in Lake Ontario, 1926 Steamship Nisbet Grammer Discovered in Lake Ontario, 158 year old Canadian Schooner Royal Albert Discovered in Lake Ontario, Mid-Nineteenth Century Canadian Schooner Ocean Wave Discovered by Shipwreck Explorers, Major Shipwreck Discovery in Lake Michigan.
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