Shown here in 1971, the Edmund Fitzgerald- lost with all 29 crew on Lake Superior in a white hurricane of November 10, 1975

Shown here in 1971, the Edmund Fitzgerald- lost with all 29 crew on Lake Superior in a white hurricane of November 10, 1975
Photo Credit: wikimedia-greenmars

History: Nov 10, (1913, 1975) the deadly Great Lakes gales

That good ship and crew was a bone to be chewed                                                                                                                                  When the gales of November came early ( Edmund Fitzgerald by G Lightfoot)

The bitter winter storms of November across the Great Lakes are legendary for their ferocity. Each of the huge lakes have wrecks littering the bottom from unfortunate ships caught on the water in the face of the storms.

Thanks to a song by Canadian Gordon Lightfoot, one of the best known tragedies occurred on November 10, 1975.

On that day, one of the famous storms tore across the lakes, another driving cold blizzard  taking with it the bulk ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald and all of her 29 man crew.  Some 222 metres long, “Fitz” was one of the biggest ships plying the Great Lakes.  Heavily laden, the long ship had only 11 feet (3.3m) of freeboard as the winds whipped up waves of 16 feet (5m). It is suspected that a series of waves up 30 feet swept over the ship, their sheer weight driving the bow under from which the doomed ship never recovered.

The tragedy of the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, pales with another “white hurricane” in 1913.

This infamous storm lasted several days and only on the 10th of November did it pass.

Over 270 lives lost, dozens of ships sunk of damaged

It was so powerful it sank or damaged ships on four of the five Great Lakes.

SS Hydrus sunk in the storm with its crew of 24 in Lake Huron. The wreck was located in 2015
SS Hydrus sunk in the storm with its crew of 24 in Lake Huron. The wreck was located in 2015 © University of Detroit Mercy Fr. Edward J. Dowling, S.J. Marine Historical Collection -wikimedia

The vicious storm began to gather strength on the 6th of November that year as two different storms approached the lakes.

By the 8th severe weather warnings were issued, with winds up to 90 km/h tore across the lakes. But then a false lull occurred and encouraged traffic to head out once again. The winds began to pick up as another storm system headed up from the south. The winds began shifting around the lakes and picked up in some areas to well over 100km/h and driving snow.

SS Charles S Price, 524 ft long, carrying coal was another victim of the storm lost with all 28 crew.
SS Charles S Price, 524 ft long, carrying coal was another victim of the storm lost with all 28 crew. © Lake Erie Yesterdays- Ohio Link Digital Resource Commons

Massive waves of up to and over 30 feet (10m) were reported swamping and overturning any of the unfortunate ships still out on the water. Others dragged or broke anchors and were driven ashore.

The overturned hull of the Charles S Price. The ship remained afloat for a week after the storm before sinking. It was only identified after the storm passed and a diver could read the name of the ship
The overturned bow of the Charles S Price. The ship remained afloat for a week after the storm before sinking. It was only identified after the storm passed and a diver could go under to read the name of the ship © istorical Collection of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, U.S.A.

By the time the deadly gales had passed,  12 ships had foundered,  and about 30 others were driven ashore and wrecked or severely damaged.

Cargo ship Wexford, sunk in 1913, located upright on the bottom near Grand Bend Ontario in 2000
Cargo ship SS Wexford, carrying wheat was sunk in 1913 with all hands, Located upright on the bottom near Grand Bend Ontario in 2000 in Lake Huron © Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, BGSU /wikimedia

Over 270 sailors lost their lives in the most deadly of November gales on the vast Great Lakes.

Bodies from the Wexford washed ashore near Goderich Ontario.
Nov 11, 1913, Bodies from the Wexford washed ashore near Goderich Ontario. Over 270 saliors lost their lives in the November 1913 storm © Institute for Great Lakes Research, Bowling Green State University.

Partial list of November gale victims on the Great Lakes

  • 1919, Nov 6  SS Myron, Lake Superior, 17 of 18 crew lost
  • 1940 Nov 11, SS Anna C Minch, Lake Michigan,  all 24 crew lost
  • 1940 Nov 11, SS William B Davock, L Michigan, driven ashore, all 32 crew lost
  • 1958 Nov 18, SS Carl D Bradley, Lake Michigan, 33 of 35 crew lost
  • 1966 Nov 29, SS Daniel J Morrell, Lake Huron, 28 of 29 crew lost

Additional information -sources

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