Karl The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald: The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee. Nov. 10th is the anniversary of the 1975 wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald — 729 feet-long, 75 feet in breadth, 39 feet in depth, weighing 13,632 gross tons — an ore bulk carrier with a capacity of 25,000 tons. When it was launched on June 7 1958, at the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan, Fitzgerald was the largest ship on the Great Lakes. Here’s misty, water-colored video of the launch.
The “Queen of the Great Lakes” sank in the eastern end of Lake Superior during a fierce storm — including snow squalls — that pounded the ship with 30-foot waves. The crew of 29 men perished; without witnesses, a definitive reason has never been determined. A Coast Guard report suggested that faulty hatches failed to keep water out of the ship’s cargo holds, though others believe the ship struck an uncharted shoal and took on water. A documentary created and aired by the Discovery Channel concluded the loss was due to freak waves that overwhelmed the faulty hatches.
After the wreck, the Rev. Richard Ingalls went to Mariners’ Church in Detroit and rang its bell 29 times, once for each life lost. The church continues to hold an annual memorial, which includes reading the names of the crewmen and ringing the church bell. Here’s video of Rev. Ingalls recounting that night. More than 250 people gathered at the church for the 40th anniversary, which was expanded to remember victims from all tragedies on the Great Lakes. And here’s a remembrance from a brother of one of the lost crew members.
At the request of family members surviving her crew, Fitzgerald’s 200 lb. bronze bell was recovered by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society in 1995, as a joint project with the National Geographic Society, Canadian Navy, Sony Corporation, and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The bell is now on display in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Here’s a brief video from one of the underwater explorations of the wreck. Fmr newsman Larry Elliot recalls the remote expedition. And here is a story from one of the two scuba divers to ever reach the sunken hull. Throw in the 3-D animation, and you’ll feel just like Bill Paxton.
The song by Gordon Lightfoot spent 21 straight weeks on the pop charts, peaking at No. 2. Here, Lightfoot discusses writing the song, and the lyrics he’s changed. And here are six cover versions. (PS: Ken King — who has lived on the U.P. of Michigan, says the gales of November are quite something.)
Broken Social Scene visits World Cafe.
Carriers covers Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ “Look At Miss Ohio.”
Krill shares “Secret Language.”
Credit Electric shares “Cross.”
Black Belt Eagle Scout shares “Fantasy.”
The Number Ones looks at Drake and 21 Savage‘s solid superstar team-up “Jimmy Cooks.”
The 100 Best Indie Albums, according to Pitchfork. And The Replacements’ Let It Be is missing.
Paul McCartney: Baby, You’re A Rich Man (according to Forbes).
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DC Studios: James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-CEOs after the Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Here’s Gunn’s spin.
Russell Brand is sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.
Ridley Scott will have to accept his lifetime Oscar remotely.
Olivia Cooke, on her wild Slow Horses return, House of the Dragon’s fans and overcoming burnout.
Nicolas Cage still claims he is relieved that Spider-Noir got canceled.
Dustin Hoffman in the Criterion Closet is… something.
Janusz Kaminski, the Polish Cameraman Who Taught Hollywood How to See.
Donnie Dunagan, who provided the voice of Bambi for the original Disney classic and acted alongside Basil Rathbone and Boris Karloff in two films before being awarded three Purple Hearts as a U.S. Marine, has died. He was 92.
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Summoning the Beasts.
Animals greeting their favorite person.
Cats & Dogs, living together…
