Mr Libert said: 'There are numerous theories as to what happened to The Griffin. Now, treasure hunters who believe they found it, said to have stumbled upon it by accident. The ship disappeared 343 years back on its maiden launch without a trace. REVEALED: Huge sonic boom felt by thousands across the country was caused by RAF Typhoon jets scrambling to Wakey Wakey! [citation needed]. The Griffin sank to the murky depths of. Content is produced by MSU students under the guidance of journalism faculty. The 1633 journey left from Downs, England and landed at Plymouth in Plymouth Colony on September 3. "We like to turn the sonar on and just go to places that we haven't been before, and just try and see what we can find down there," Dykstra said. "It's not a pond net stake. They were driven northwesterly until the evening of 27 August when under a light southerly breeze they finally rounded Bois Blanc Island and anchored in the calm waters of the natural harbor at East Moran Bay off the settlement of Mission St. Ignace, where there was a settlement of Hurons, Ottawas, and a few Frenchmen. She says American marine archaeologists concluded that what Libert claims is the bowsprit was beyond a doubt part of a Native American fishing trap. Other experts insist Liberts absolutely wrong. The Griffon was built by La Salle near Niagara Falls and was the first ship to sail on the upper Great Lakes. They dragged the materials to the mouth of the Niagara, rested and warmed up a few days in an Indian village, then carried the materials single file through the snow to their settlement above the falls. The Wilhelm Gustloff (1945): The deadliest shipwreck in history On January 30, 1945, some 9,000 people perished aboard this German ocean liner after it was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine and . Wirehaired pointing griffons are famously known as a 'supreme gundog.'. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) A debris field at the bottom of Lake Michigan may be the remains of the long-lost Griffin, a vessel commanded by a 17th-century French explorer, said a shipwreck . This book relates the fascinating story of the Griffon, its background, and information about the 22 claims of discovery made in the past 200 years. "Can we call this the Griffin? In the meantime, the duo plans to continue their hunt for the gold bullion. fremont hospital deaths; what happened to tropical tidbits; chris herren speaking fee; boracay braids cultural appropriation; the griffon shipwreck facts. It would be busted up, she said. The straight-line distance is about 75 miles (121km). Because his second account has numerous exaggerations and cases where he credits himself for things that La Salle had done, Hennepin's first account is considered more reliable. Originally searching for lost gold, Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe believe to have foundwhat more than 20 explorersclaim to be the first shipwreck ever to sail Lake Michigan. This was a "great bark" (Hennepin's words) of about 20 tons burden[8] although Tonti's journal says this was a 40-ton vessel. Negotiations with the Senecas were only moderately successful, so when they left the village they still wondered if the natives would permit them to finish their project. Mr Libert said: 'Our extensive research and deciphering of historic documents led us precisely to the resting place of an undiscovered colonial-age ship.'. also was the first ship to sail the Great Lakes. La Salle offered Hennepin the honor of driving the first spike, but Hennepin deferred to his leader. 175 Year Old Great Lakes Atlas Schooner Located in Lake Ontario, Early 1800s Dagger-board Schooner Three Brothers Discovered in Lake Ontario, 1926 Steamship Nisbet Grammer Discovered in Lake Ontario, 158 year old Canadian Schooner Royal Albert Discovered in Lake Ontario, Mid-Nineteenth Century Canadian Schooner Ocean Wave Discovered by Shipwreck Explorers, Major Shipwreck Discovery in Lake Michigan. Now, more than 335years later, the wreck of the Griffon has not definitively been found. In the Great Lakes region, there may be no older and more intriguing historical mystery than the 1679 disappearance of the Griffon, one of French explorer Robert La Salle's ships. A ship that was 'cursed' by native tribesmen has been identified nearly 350 years after it vanished, solving one of America's oldest and most notorious maritime mysteries. Wood can break up. The Griffin, a large ship built by Frenchman Rene Robert Cavalli, disappeared on its maiden voyage some 343 years ago. "The Great Lakes are a time capsule, the fresh water preserves the ship wreck," Porter said. Pictured: Images of the 2018 dive on a wreck found in 2018 near Poverty Island, Lake Michigan. Legions of searchers have tried to track down its. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, "When the Griffin left from Wisconsin, headed back to Niagara, it was never heard from again," Porter said. 'La Salle was certain that the captain and his men committed mutiny, sank the ship and absconded with all the furs. Long a subject of local lore and backed up with some convincing historical archival work and artifacts, including 16th century coins and several bodies, the Mississagi Straits wreck, which local Native oral tradition had named "the whiteman's ship," remains a strong candidate. On a subsequent dive, Dykstra took a magnet with him to help determine the metal composition of the ship. [15] On 19 June 2013, teams of scientists determined the wood pole discovered was not attached to a ship, after it came loose and was placed on the lake bed during an excavation. [1][4], La Salle found some of the 15 men he sent ahead from Fort Frontenac to trade with the Illinois but they had listened to La Salle's enemies who said he would never reach the Straits of Mackinac. But Dykstra and Monroe said they'll wait until they hear the final word. Some said that the Ottawas or Pottawatomies boarded her, murdered her crew, and then burned her. turtix/Shutterstock. Justin Windsor notes that Count Frontenac by 1 August 1673, "had already ordered the construction of a vessel on Ontario to be used as an auxiliary force to Fort Frontenac. Using a state of the art two-man submersible, Josh dives in to find a ship so elusive it's known as "The Holy Grail of Shipwrecks." Their inefficiency at beating to windward made them impractical as sailing vessels, and they were not very safe in open water. [1][4] Several historical and genealogical references show Griffin making such journeys in 1633 and 1634. Le Griffon was the first ship of thousands to disappear in our upper Great Lakes, Libert, president of Great Lakes Exploration Group LLC, told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Several historical and genealogical references show the Griffin making such journeys in 1633 and 1634. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. I left school at 16 with six GCSEs - and became a self-made millionaire. 3. It takes nine months for the puppies to reach the adult weight and can take up to one and a half years for larger dogs to achieve adult weight. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS. In 2011, Michigan-based treasure hunters Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe found a shipwreck as they were searching for the $2 million in gold that, according to local legend, fell from a ferry. La Salle whose full name was the noble-sounding Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Sallewasnt aboard the Griffon. [4] They were navigating Le Griffon through uncharted waters that only canoes had previously explored. The Griffin is used as the symbol for Brisbane Waters Secondary College on the Central Coast of New . Lake Erie covers 2,000 of them, among the highest concentration of wrecks in the world. ', Shipwreck hunters Steve and Kathie Libertset out their case for having discovered the ship in a new book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery, A scan of the wreck taken by the Great Lakes Exploration Group. It would be awesome if true, she says, a story shed love the museum to be able to tell visitors, with the aura of amateur treasure-hunting and Indiana Jones. A teacher from Ottawa named Roy Fleming, in the 1930s through the 1950s, expanded the investigation of this wreck that he firmly believed was the Griffon. Now after more than 40 years of searching, Charlevoix diver Steve Libert says hes 99.99% sure he found the answer, and he tells how in a new book. Darkness like a cloud is ready to envelop you. While some of these were made from a single carved log ("dugout" or "pirogue"), most were bark canoes. Cruise-goers reveal their most terrifying incidents at sea - from watching a ferocious Do YOU know your Adam and Eve from your Ruby Murray? The state of Michigan has rules stipulating that artifacts found on state land, including the land at the bottom of the Great Lakes, are state property. ", 'Fifty-one years later, I am still intrigued by this story.'. There is no conclusive evidence about any of the theories about Le Griffon's loss.[1]. They arrived late on 5 December, but the weather was rough and they did not want to run the surf and outflow of the river at night, so they stayed a few miles off shore. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Le_Griffon&oldid=1121719205, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2020, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from January 2015, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from August 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Disappeared on the return trip of her maiden voyage in 1679, This page was last edited on 13 November 2022, at 19:58. Unless the Legislature acts, local taxpayers would then be saddled with those expenses. He recounts his hunt and discovery in Le Griffon and the Huron Islands, 1679 (Mission Point Press), written with his wife. Loaded with furs in what's now Wisconsin, the Griffon was said to have sunk somewhere in northern Lake Michigan in 1679. Moreover, Baillod said he hasn't heard of anyone looking for the Griffin near the Beaver Island archipelago, which is likely the area mentioned in La Salle's journal, Baillod said. More than 5,000 ship wrecks are scattered throughout the Great Lakes, and Porter said the Le Griffon is the most precious one. It was the first big ship to sail the Great Lakes. Some time later, Hennepin would use this little vessel to sail to Fort Frontenac and again back to Niagara. The sails were merely supplemental for traveling down wind. 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For Mr Libert, it's the realisation of a childhood dream, sparked by a history teacher who told him about the ship. Ghost Ship of the Great Lakes: With Josh Gates, Joan Forsberg, Brendon Baillod, Greg Busch. Majestic, strong, and imbued with magic, the griffin is a common heraldic symbol which joins the lion's valor with the eagle's elegance. They then set the ship on fire. - News and information from student journalists at the Michigan State University School of Journalism, About the Michigan State University School of Journalism, Michigan Chile Investigative Journalism Program, MSU journalism COVID-related reporting guidelines, Upcoming court ruling could impact trial court funding as deadline approaches, Why does your vote matter? Capital News Services articles may be reprinted exclusively by subscribing media organizations. Kids Encyclopedia Facts. From there they struck out across the lake toward the mouth of the Niagara River. They're not going back to the wreckage for a while, so they don't make the site vulnerable to other treasure seekers. Somewhere near present-day Toronto they were frozen in and had to chop their way out of the ice. [12] A number of sunken old sailing ships have been suggested to be Le Griffon but, except for the ones proven to be other ships, there has been no positive identification. La Belle was the ship of French explorer La Salle, lost at Matagorda Bay in 1686. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. On its way back to Niagarafrom Green Bay, the Griffon disappeared with its entire crew and valuable cargo of furs commencing the centuries-long quest to discover its fate. Many explorers have claimed to havefound Le Griffon in the past, but Dykstra and Monroe are the only ones who've foundan actual ship wreck. 'But we can systematically search the bottom using non-intrusive techniques and remote sensing devices for conclusive diagnostic evidence. [4] La Salle dressed in a scarlet cloak bordered with lace and a highly plumed cap, laid aside his arms in charge of a sentinel and attended mass with his crew in the chapel of the Ottawas and then made a visit of ceremony with the chiefs. Libert became instantly fascinated by the Griffon mystery as a 14-year-old student in Dayton, Ohio, where he first heard from a teacher about the missing ship with its figurehead of a griffon, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. Marie. NY 10036. There the crew ignored a warning from local Native Americans not to sail into the lake from the safe harbor at Washington Island because of high wind danger from a massive storm. I thought, I gotta find this ship. The story my history teacher proceeded to tell immediately caught my full attention and like most young men, stirred the imagination of early exploration in an unknown country. But, the Liberts say her final. A ship that was 'cursed' by native tribesmen has been identified nearly 350 years after it vanished, solving one of America's oldest and most notorious maritime mysteries. Libert said some theories are supposed to explain what happened to the vessel. While there have been many theories over the years, there is no clear consensus as to the fate or current location of Le Griffon. The wind did slightly decrease but they drifted slowly all night, unable to find anchorage or shelter. "[5] He also says that at Fort Frontenac in 1676, La Salle "laid the keels of the vessels which he depended on to frighten the English. Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski, and Roland Stevens located the schooner in early July utilizing high resolution On June 20th 1874 the two masted scow schooner Shannon let loose her lines from the coal dock at the port of Oswego. According to Father Louis Hennepin, one of them was caught in a violent storm and never survived, notedthe Daily Mail. Le Griffon rode out a violent storm for four days and then on 18 September, the pilot Luc and five crew sailed under a favorable wind for the Niagara River with a parting salute from a single gun. Thedetails of their findwere recorded in a 2021 book that chronicled their finding of the mysterious wreck. "It's a mystery ship that got in our way," Dykstra said, "and now, we're going for the gold.". Brooklyn celebrates turning 24 by heading out in Paris with wife Nicola Peltz and Nicola Peltz's fans question if 'feud' with mother-in-law Victoria Beckham is REALLY over as she posts Supermarkets strip vape device from stores after being found to be at least 50 per cent over legal nicotine Tragedies of Everest: The adventurers forever frozen in ice after losing their lives scaling the world's 'Why the last-minute delay?' FOR ALPENA, DETROIT, IRON MOUNTAIN, DETROIT, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. 'The Christian Indian's curse rests on you and on your great canoe. THE WRECK OF THE GRIFFON by Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg, published and distributed by Seawolf Communications Inc. 224 pages. Wherever the Griffon is, if its in deep water somewhere, there are cannons near it, she says. Like Le Griffon, the steamship Marquette and Bessemer No. Since its disappearance in 1679, the Griffon has taken on a mythic air. Then they also talk with real people the individual citizens and businesses in communities to get their reactions to whats happening in Lansing. Dykstra said he took photos of old cannons, a sword, and the griffin sculpture, evidence he says reveals the wreck and itsmissing secrets. A bowsprit is the spar that extends forward from the bow. Mr Libert has also highlighted several details in the wreckage indicative of contemporaneous French design. Each November, the East Lansing Film Festival showcases independent films. They added that a bowsprit was found close by in 2001, assuming it is another part that broke off from the ship. Now after more than 40 years of searching, Charlevoix diver Steve Libert says hes 99.99% sure he found the answer, and he tells how in a new book. He was 43. Green and Ken Vrana, the principal of Maritime Heritage Consulting, advocate an independent assessment by professionals. Here are 26 other famous shipwrecks around the world. (Image credit: Father Louis Hennepin Public Domain ). [4] La Salle left Italian officer Henri de Tonti and Father Hennepin in charge while he journeyed to Fort Frontenac to secure replacements for lost supplies. When a strong wind suddenly arose, they could not make it back to the ship. He learned to dive, and the quest was on. Valerie van Heest, a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, says, There have been 30 or more discoveries of the Griffon dating back to early 1800s.