Interestingly enough, someone posted a message on the Lightfoot newsgroup a few days ago about a website dedicated to I believe, great lakes nautical history and I posted a reply, speculating on another possible cause of the Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking. I've posted that reply, as well as the orignal message below.
Original post: "Today in Great Lakes History-May 1.
The Edmund Fitzgerald collided with the Canadian steamer Hochelaga at the mouth of the Detroit River, May 1, 1970, suffering slight damage at hatches 18 and 19."
And my reply: "Wow, hmmmm is right. That last sentence really makes one think. I know that hatch covers have long been one of the primary suspects in the sinking of this great vessel. I believe that the Discovery channel special mentioned that some folks had concluded that the crew was negligent in making sure those covers were sealed properly. Of course, many who knew the members of the Fitz's crew refute that idea, saying that these men would never have been derelict in their duties. I believe that inspection of the wreck in recent years has uncovered marked stress and warping of the covers, which has caused some to theorize that they were not tightened well enough. However, the collision with the steamer and subsequent damage to the hatch covers could explain alot of things and exhonerate the crew. Perhaps the "slight damage" was more severe then first realized. I don't know if repairs where made, but I would assume so. However, if the damage was underestimated to begin with, then its quite possible that not enough restoration was done. I wonder if this great ship sailed for the next five years with the equivalent of a ticking time bomb, the detonator being the storm that she sailed into November 10 of 1975. Yes, hmmmm..certainly is the word(if that is a word) that comes to my mind."
Erica
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