History of the Edmund Fitzgerald–Loss and Search

History of the Edmund Fitzgerald–Discovery and Exploration

History of the Edmund Fitzgerald

The Edmund Fitzgerald sank on November 10th, 1975, seventeen miles northwest of White Fish Point in Lake Superior. The Fitzgerald, a 729 foot iron-ore carrier, was loaded with 27,300 tons of taconite ore and was headed for Detroit, Michigan. At 2:00 a.m., the Fitzgerald slammed into a severe weather mass. The Fitzgerald’s captain tried to avoid the worst of the storm by steering towards the north. The ship held its own for a while, but the pumps, capable of pumping 14,000 gallons per minute, proved inadequate for the tremendous amounts of water pouring in from the rain, snow, and crashing waves. By 3:30 p.m. the Fitzgerald developed a list. Trailing behind the Fitzgerald was another freighter, the 767 foot Arthur M. Anderson, also trying to survive the storm. At 7:10 p.m. Captain McSorley of the Fitzgerald radioed to the Anderson, calmly saying, “We’re holding our own.” Ten minutes later, the Anderson’s radar showed no image of the Fitzgerald. The vessel had vanished.