So, if the Griffons final resting place isnt where Libert believes it to be, where is it? It has become one of the most sought after and perhaps one of the most "found" shipwrecks in the Great Lakes! One of the most intriguing is that the wreckage of the Griffon may have been found nearly 100 years ago but went unrecognized. From the web site of Libert's company: "There were plenty of theories of what happened to the flagship. Alex Murdaugh Trial Ends with Guilty Verdict, Life in Prison Sentence; Ex-Lawyer's Court Exit Caught on Video, Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Diplomat Claims Ukraine War Was Launched Against Us, Sparks Laughter from Crowd, G20 India Leadership Says PM Modi's Stance on Ukraine Is Valid Despite Dissent, Cindy McCain Appointed as New Head of UN World Food Program, Promises To Address Global Humanitarian Needs, PLA Air Force J-11 Fighter Intercepts US Patrol Aircraft in the South China Monitoring Chinese Military, Japan Facing Major Population Headache as Birth Rate Plummets Again. ', 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. Heres the backstory as Libert tells it: LaSalle built the Griffon as his flagship upriver from Niagara Falls, probably on what is now the Canadian side of the Niagara River. Several French explores built the exploratory vessel Ren-Robert Cavalier and Sieur de La Salle. "Can we call this the Griffin? [4] La Salle dressed in a scarlet cloak bordered with lace and a highly plumed cap, laid aside his arms in charge of a sentinel and attended mass with his crew in the chapel of the Ottawas and then made a visit of ceremony with the chiefs. 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. [1] The French flag flew above the cabin placed on top of the main deck that was elevated above the hull. 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. "When we had it looked at, they [the archaeologists] could tell that the nail was very old," Dykstra said. 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. Some say Le Griffon was named for Count Frontenac whose coat of arms was ornamented with the mythical griffin. Mr Libert said: 'I believe the state feels we are encroaching upon their sovereignty and feels we are nothing more than treasure hunters intruding on the rights of academia and archaeologists. The ship was lost in the depths of northern Lake Michigan over 300 years ago. Their inefficiency at beating to windward made them impractical as sailing vessels, and they were not very safe in open water. The cargo of furs, estimated at up to $12,000 in value nearly $900,000 (640,000) in today's money likely went to the depths with her. Charlevoix couple offers theory on mysterious 1679 shipwreck. (Image credit: Father Louis Hennepin Public Domain ). The Atlas may be the oldest confirmed commercial schooner discovered in the Great Lakes. The entire 29-member crew went down with it in what has become the greatest Great Lakes Shipping Tragedy of all time. Copyright 2023, Michigan State University. Talia Lakritz. Because the wind was strong from the north, they sailed close to the north shore of the lake, putting in for the nights in various bays along the way. Historian J. Thought the bowsprit discovered about 3.8 miles and the remains of the wreck make the Indian attack not possible, or even a mutinous uprising. Around 4:00pm the Shannon passed Oswego light and headed out into the lake. On its maiden voyage, it sailed across Lake Erie, up the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, and across Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. He and his wife set 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 ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. I have spent over 42 years searching for this most sought-after historic vessel.. He was planning to map the Great Lakes, initially thinking they might be a connecting gateway to the Orient. Widely considered the Holy Grail of undiscovered Great Lakes shipwrecks, the Griffon carried no treasure, nor anything. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in science writing from NYU. Sources disagree on how long this delay was. The Griffin, a large ship built by Frenchman Rene Robert Cavalli, disappeared on its maiden voyage some 343 years ago. Le Griffon - meaning 'The Griffin' - vanished during its maiden voyage in 1679 in one of the oldest and most notorious maritime mysteries in US history. Shipwreck of the SS American Star. 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. They then set the ship on fire. The cursed shipwreck, the 'Griffin,' is an incredible find with the history and the tales associated with it till now. The Great Lakes hold the secrets of about 8,000 shipwrecks. A 2015 book The Wreck of the Griffon by Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg argues that the best "discovery" proposed to date remains the 1898 find by Albert Cullis, lighthouse keeper on the western edge of Manitoulin Island in northern Lake Huron. The Griffon was the first ship ever to sail the Great Lakes, originally built to haul furs from the Green Bay area to Detroit. A bowsprit is the spar that extends forward from the bow. Quick Facts about Griffins. More than 5,000 ship wrecks are scattered throughout the Great Lakes, and Porter said the Le Griffon is the most precious one. The Griffin is used as the symbol for Brisbane Waters Secondary College on the Central Coast of New . As for the pieces of wreckage Libert photographed, they cant be the Griffons because they would have broken to bits long, long ago if theyd been in shallow water battered by storms and ice for more than three centuries, van Heest says. Tests on the ship part are dated to 1679; close to a year, dating of the wreck is 1632 to 1982. The Griffon has not been found, Wayne Lusardi, the state archaeologist in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says bluntly. 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. Since its disappearance in 1679, the Griffon has taken on a mythic air. They sailed from the Straits of Mackinac to an island (either Washington Island or Rock Island)[1] located at the entrance of Green Bay. 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. Other experts insist Liberts absolutely wrong. There is an excellent book written by Cris Kohl on the Griffon and the various discovery claims. The mythical griffin is a creature of ferocity and nobility. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). But the sinking was caused by a storm is the best explanation. 2 is a much sought after shipwreck. While there La Salle selected a site for building Le Griffon. The griffin was a favourite decorative motif in the ancient Middle Eastern and Mediterranean lands. Marie. 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. THE WRECK OF THE GRIFFON by Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg, published and distributed by Seawolf Communications Inc. 224 pages. "It's not a pond net stake. [8], La Salle's men first had to build their lodging and then guard against the Iroquois who were hostile to this invasion of their ancient homeland. Mr Libert then spent two years sifting through satellite imagery before he made a breakthrough. [In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery]. "It's the holy grail of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.". [1] They reached the mouth of the Detroit River on 10 August 1679 where they were greeted by three columns of smoke signaling the location of Tonti's camp whom they received on board. Heres how it works. Zebra mussels cover what may be a griffin on the bow of the ship. Loaded with furs in what's now Wisconsin, the Griffon was said to have sunk somewhere in northern Lake Michigan in 1679. "We like to turn the sonar on and just go to places that we haven't been before, and just try and see what we can find down there," Dykstra said. It would no longer exist. Wirehaired pointing griffons are famously known as a 'supreme gundog.'. The Le Griffon, a barque ship, was carrying bison and furs at the time it disappeared, Libert said. Mr Libert has also highlighted several details in the wreckage indicative of contemporaneous French design. [6] Some of La Salle's associates called this vessel a brigantine; others called it a bark. The griffin (also called gryphon, gryphen, griffon, griffen, and gryphin), is a legendary creature.It has the head, front legs, and wings of an eagle.The rest of the body looks like a part of a lion.. Ive seen dozens and dozens of 100- to 150-year-old ships, and that is not a 350-year-old ship. No cannons have been found near the site Libert identified. 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. The wind did slightly decrease but they drifted slowly all night, unable to find anchorage or shelter. 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. [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). Where to Find the Griffon Vulture. fremont hospital deaths; what happened to tropical tidbits; chris herren speaking fee; boracay braids cultural appropriation; the griffon shipwreck facts. The traders had collected 12,000 pounds (5,400kg) of furs in anticipation of the arrival of Le Griffon. Majestic, strong, and imbued with magic, the griffin is a common heraldic symbol which joins the lion's valor with the eagle's elegance. Kids Encyclopedia Facts. Their mission was to begin selecting a site for the construction of Le Griffon and to erect necessary structures for shelter, storage, and defense. [8], Meanwhile, La Salle and Henri de Tonti, had departed Fort Frontenac in a second vessel some days after La Motte and Hennepin. According to historical sources, the vessel left England carrying packs of clothing and private trade on its way to Canton, China where it was loaded with cargo composed mostly of tea. 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. (Wikipedia) The age could have proved if the plank came. One candidate is a wreck at the western end of Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, with another wreck near Escanaba, Michigan, also proposed. 'Father Louis Hennepin said it was lost in a violent storm. Lawrence. Only about 375 of Lake Erie's wrecks have been found. Its discovery is credited to wreck hunters Stevie and Kathie Libert for the record. Suffering from cold and low on supplies, the men were close to mutiny. La Salle decided to visit the Senecas at Tagarondies himself. 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. [1], French explorer Ren Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, sought a Northwest Passage to China and Japan to extend France's trade. 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. With La Salle back aboard their vessel, the company again sailed west until, about 25 miles (40km) from Niagara, weather checked their progress. About 30 adventurers have claimed to have found the Griffin, usually by happenstance, Baillod said. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. There are three acceptable English spellings of the word: griffin, griffon and gryphon. Crude tools, green and wet timbers, and the cold winter months caused slow progress in the construction of Le Griffon. 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. Hennepin's journal says 32 leagues (converts to 96 miles (154km)), but his figure is an estimate made while snowshoing through the country. 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. Libert added the wooden timbers of the ship show no evidence of damage done by fire. 'Many believed the Jesuits were responsible for the ship's disappearance. It was the first big ship to sail the Great Lakes. Several historical and genealogical references show the Griffin making such journeys in 1633 and 1634. Wherever the Griffon is, if its in deep water somewhere, there are cannons near it, she says. On a subsequent dive, Dykstra took a magnet with him to help determine the metal composition of the ship. Its fate has been a puzzlement for maritime historians for more than three and a half centuries. Below Niagara Falls: first ships on Lake Ontario. Joe Porter, publisher for Wreck Diving Magazine, has penned articles on famous ship wrecks including the Titanic, but saidthe Griffon is the most fascinating. Lake Erie covers 2,000 of them, among the highest concentration of wrecks in the world. The divers said they found Le Griffon in 2011, but are just announcing the discovery because they were consulting experts to confirm it. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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..
New Edition Heartbreak Tour Dates,
Luxury Homes With Basketball Court,
Articles T
