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Old 08-01-2006, 05:48 AM   #1
Jesse Joe
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I was wondering as anyone, posting here, ever saw that great ship, before it went down, November 10, 1975.

Windsor or Michigan folks. Daylight Matty, aren't you in Windsor, Ontario. Maybe your dad or relatives may have seen this giant, "iron ore carrier," in action, during her glorious days? JESSE.





http://www.mhsd.org/fleet/O/On-Colum...d-robinson.jpg

[ August 01, 2006, 06:59: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]
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Old 08-01-2006, 06:03 AM   #2
TheWatchman
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Here is a link where you can hear the Captain of the Arthur M. Anderson reporting the loss of the Fitz. It's erie, but very interesting.
http://www.boatnerd.com/fitz/ or the direct link to the sound file. http://www.boatnerd.com/fitz/search.ra

Also, if you've never visited, http://www.ssefo.com is a wealth of Fitz info.
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Old 08-01-2006, 06:05 AM   #3
Jesse Joe
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Hi Watchman,I saw many pictures of it. But did someone actually see this ship,(Live) maybe someone who worked on it...Jesse.

[ August 01, 2006, 06:58: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]
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Old 08-01-2006, 06:07 AM   #4
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The ssefo site is much more than just pics. Anything you could possiby want to know about it is there.

I know a guy who did some welding on the structure of the Fitz when it was docked for repairs one winter.
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Old 08-01-2006, 06:11 AM   #5
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Old 08-01-2006, 06:31 AM   #6
Jesse Joe
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Yes I agree Watchman, it is a great site. Thanks for the info.
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Old 08-01-2006, 08:33 AM   #7
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Jesse Joe,
I saw the Fitz, both in action at the Twin Ports harbor on Lake Superior and in dry dock for maintenance in the town I grew up in (Superior, Wisconsin.) That's the port she departed from that afternoon in November of 1975 on what would be her last voyage, loaded down with taconite pellets.
There is no describing just how huge those iron boats are, or how big that Lake is...she is respected in fair weather, feared in bad. I love the lake, in all of her changing moods, but even when out there on a beautiful sunny day, the wise person is aware of how fast she can change, and how dangerous she can be.
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Old 08-01-2006, 09:07 AM   #8
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My dad owned a cottage on Lake Michigan in Door County Wisconsin. Whenever one of the huge freighters would go by I would get the binoculars and see what the name of the ship was. I saw the Fitz, and the Anderson numerous times and also her sister ship (the name escapes me now). When I heard the Fitz went down I could not belive it.

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Old 08-01-2006, 10:08 AM   #9
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by TheWatchman:
Here is a link where you can hear the Captain of the Arthur M. Anderson reporting the loss of the Fitz. It's eerie, but very interesting.
http://www.boatnerd.com/fitz/ or the direct link to the sound file. http://www.boatnerd.com/fitz/search.ra

He sounded so calm, how horrible for all of them. You are right it is eerie.
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Old 08-01-2006, 10:50 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally posted by TheWatchman:
It's erie, but very interesting.
[quote]Originally posted by brink-:
Quote:
He sounded so calm, how horrible for all of them. You are right it is eerie.
No No Deb and Al it was Lake Superior
strange spelling corrections going on here too
John
this remains my absolute favo(u)rite fitz picture


[ August 01, 2006, 15:45: Message edited by: johnfowles ]
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Old 08-01-2006, 12:39 PM   #11
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ha-ha John That is a great picture.
I lived in Finland MN when the Fitz went down, I am sure I probably had seen it at some point, but when you live there they are so commonplace that you don't pay much attention after a while.
I remember when it went down, all the tv stations we received were from Duluth so I was able to get a lot of the information as it was coming out. I heard at one point that someone from California had a ham radio and said they heard the distress call, but I have never been able to track that down again. At the time it was said that the signals can "skip" and that it wasn't that unusual to have happen. But, as I said I have not been able to verify that in the years since.
the shipwreck museum has some prints for sale that were co signed by Gord.
I agree John, that is a great picture, do you have that one?
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Old 08-01-2006, 12:44 PM   #12
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Boy John, Is that ever a beauty of a pic. That's gonna go on my desktop. The portrait isn't sign you dont know who the artist is?

Mouse, Brink, and Pony man, thanks for sharing your stories of The Fitz. That's exactly what I was asking for. There's got to be more...

Also Watchman who talk to a guy that welded on the famous ship. You did not share what that guy had to say, Im sure he had some good memories of the Fitzgerald...Jesse.

[ August 01, 2006, 15:56: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]
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Old 08-01-2006, 01:02 PM   #13
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I asked him about it sinking and he said that it was very common to skimp on tightening down the hatches where the taconite was carried. He said it was a very time consuming job and a lot of people did not bolt them down tight which would allow water to seep in. Like he said, nobody knows for sure but this was experience with the hatches (which is one of the theories).

I don't remember any stories specifically about the Fitz, or where it was in port when he welded on it, but was amazed at his stories of welding inside of them. They take a lot of stress and abuse out there on the lakes.
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Old 08-01-2006, 01:08 PM   #14
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I remember when it went down, Walter Cronkite mentioned it on the evening news. I guess the tragedy of it all didn't strike me until I heard the song, though.
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Old 08-01-2006, 01:11 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jesse -Joe:
Boy John, Is that ever a beauty of a pic. That's gonna go on my desktop. The portrait isn't sign you dont know who the artist is?
...Jesse.
I found it by what else a google image search it was on this page
http://pet-portraits.net/edmund_fitzgerald_prints.html
from the ordering info on that page
Last Light"

Edition Size --- 500
Prints --- $65.00
and no I only have the digital picture but $65.00 is reasonable IMHO
Image Size --- 13.5" x 17.5"
Size when matted --- 18" 24
But the artist is very reticent about telling who he is only that his home town is Port Huron Michigan
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Old 08-01-2006, 01:17 PM   #16
Jesse Joe
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I would surely imagine they do, take a lot of stress and abuse Watchman. Thank's for sharing this. Imagine that guy eh, when he heard of the tragedy, on lake Superior, Nov 10,1975. Havin work on it , and probably knew a lot of the guys on it.

Thank goodness for Gord writing that beautiful song...Jesse.
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Old 08-01-2006, 04:00 PM   #17
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Right on John, Sorry we typed at the same time. I just now saw your answer on the portrait. I went check the site, there's another one but you picked the best one.
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