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N0KFQ > TODAY 10.11.11 17:23l 41 Lines 1708 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 13850_KB0WSA
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Subj: Today in History - Nov 10
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<VE2PKT<ZL2BAU<N4JOA<KB2VLX<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 111110/1608Z 13850@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.0.4
Nov 10, 1975:
Edmund Fitzgerald sinks in Lake Superior
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinks 17 miles from the entrance to
Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior, taking all 29 crew members with
her.
At the time of its launch in 1958, the 729-foot-long freighter
was the largest and fastest ship on the Great Lakes. The Edmund
Fitzgerald began its last journey on November 9, 1975, carrying
26,116 tons of iron-ore pellets. The next day, the ship and her
crew met a storm with 60 mph winds and waves in excess of 15
feet. Captain Ernest McSorley steered the ship north, heading for
the safety of Whitefish Bay, but the ship's radar failed, and the
storm took out the power to Whitefish Point's radio beacon,
leaving the Fitzgerald traveling blind. In the heavy seas, the
vessel was also taking on a dangerous amount of water. Another
ship, the Anderson, kept up radio contact with the Fitzgerald and
tried to lead it to safety but to no avail.
Just after 7 p.m. on November 10, the Fitzgerald made its last
radio transmission. Presumably, the ship, which was taking on
water, was forced lower and lower into the water until its bow
pitched down into the lake and the vessel was unable to recover.
None of the 29 men aboard survived.
The Edmund Fitzgerald now lies under 530 feet of water, broken in
two sections. On July 4, 1995, the ship's bell was recovered from
the wreck, and a replica, engraved with the names of the crew
members who perished in this tragedy, was left in its place. The
original bell is on display at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
at Whitefish Point in Michigan.
73, K.O. n0kfq
Another old retired guy
E-mail: n0kfq@winlink.org
N0KFQ@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
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