MICHIGAN -- Le Griffon, a well known shipthat sunk inLake Michigan during the 17th century, has been hiding at the depths of the lake for more than 300 years. No villain can mess with the griffin! THE WRECK OF THE GRIFFON by Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg, published and distributed by Seawolf Communications Inc. 224 pages. However, 36 years later in 1911, the Rosabelle was found again overturned and floating with no sign of any . That would also put their forward progress on 8 January, at about 20 miles (32km) from Niagara. But other experts aren't convinced that the wreck is the Griffin. Le Griffon is considered by some to have been the first ship lost on the Great Lakes. The fate of the Le Griffon offers many intriguing mysteries to those interested in shipwrecks, most notably the fact that the ship's discovery has not been confirmed. 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. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The griffin was a favourite decorative motif in the ancient Middle Eastern and Mediterranean lands. [4] While work continued on Le Griffon in the spring of 1679 as soon as the ice began to break up along the shores of Lake Erie, La Salle sent out men from Fort Frontenac in 15 canoes laden with supplies and merchandise to trade with the Illinois for furs at the trading posts of the upper Huron and Michigan Lakes. Acknowledging that French archeologists side with Libert, she asks what they know about Native American fishing practices. 3. The Griffin - or Le Griffon - was a sailing ship built on the Niagara River in the 1670s French explorer Robert de La Salle hoped to use it to find the Northwest Passage to China and Japan It. Le Griffon may have been found by the Great Lakes Exploration Group but the potential remains were the subject of lawsuits involving the discoverers, the state of Michigan, the U.S. federal government, and the Government of France. As the eagle was considered the 'king of the birds', and the lion the 'king of the beasts', the griffin was perceived as a powerful and majestic creature. There is an excellent book written by Cris Kohl on the Griffon and the various discovery claims. Alpena County reference. All of those people have been wrong including Libert she says. "It's not a pond net stake. The furs on board would have cost 640,000 in today's value, sinking with the vessel. The ship was righted and brought back to the port in Milwaukee and returned to service. 'But we can systematically search the bottom using non-intrusive techniques and remote sensing devices for conclusive diagnostic evidence. Van Heest responds, Most people that are not dreamers say that for it to still exist, it must be in deep water not affected by ice and storms.. The remains of the 300-year-old ship known as Le Griffon the first European vessel known to have traversed the waters of the upper Great Lakes have proved so tricky to find as to become the stuff of legends, even prompting Atlas Obscura to dub the wreck the "white whale for Great Lakes shipwreck hunters."The location of the ship's final resting place isn . His wishes and hopes to find the legendary ship were all granted when he, his wife Kathie, and a group of others discovered it on Sept. 10, 2018 in upper Lake Michigan. 'Many believed the Jesuits were responsible for the ship's disappearance. Editor's Note:In our original version of this story, we inadvertently used video that belonged to Great Lakes Exploration Group, LLC. 'It is just a matter of time before we achieve our goal. From there they struck out across the lake toward the mouth of the Niagara River. 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. Order from www.seawolfcommunications.com or call them at 630-293-8996. by Anonymous - Menu viscount royal caravan. Now, treasure hunters who. TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan -- Steven J. Libert had been looking for the ship, Le Griffon, for 42 years. There is no conclusive evidence about any of the theories about Le Griffon's loss.[1]. Michigan state maritime archaeologist Wayne R. Lusardi presented evidence that the wreck was, in fact, a tugboat due to its 90-foot (27m) length and presence of a steam boiler. REVEALED: Huge sonic boom felt by thousands across the country was caused by RAF Typhoon jets scrambling to Wakey Wakey! The Griffin - 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.. Kingsford's text says Thirty-nine Mile Point, but modern charts do not show that name. Libert says the evidence hes amassed pinpoints where the wreckage of the 40- to 45-ton ship now rests: in shallow water near Poverty Island and Summer Island. Libert said some theories are supposed to explain what happened to the vessel. Loaded with furs in what's now Wisconsin, the Griffon was said to have sunk somewhere in northern Lake Michigan in 1679. 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 . On its way back to Niagara from Green Bay, the Griffon disappeared with its entire crew and valuable cargo of furs commencing the centuries-long quest to discover its fate. Newsroom Calendar 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. 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. The Ruppell's griffon vulture is Critically Endangered. the griffon shipwreck facts the griffon shipwreck facts. 'She will sink beneath the deep waters and your blood shall stain the hands of those in whom you trusted!'. 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 . The straight-line distance is about 75 miles (121km). French historical documents and shipbuilding techniques, colonial-era maps, contemporary reports, what he says is a bowsprit retrieved from the wreckage, carbon-4 dating and underwater photographs of submerged parts of a vessel. He recounts his hunt and discovery in Le Griffon and the Huron Islands, 1679 (Mission Point Press), written with his wife. Others say he did not return to Niagara until July. The British steamship Nisbet Grammer, the largest steel steamer to have foundered in Lake Ontario has been discovered by a team of shipwreck explorers. The accounts agree that this little vessel played a part in the building of Le Griffon. At 42.5 inches tall, the "Pisa Griffin" is the largest bronze medieval Islamic sculpture on the planet and was made in the 11th Century CE. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. La Salle whose full name was the noble-sounding Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle wasnt aboard the Griffon. When a strong wind suddenly arose, they could not make it back to the ship. But even now, the Liberts are prevented by the State of Michigan from conducting an in-depth excavation. Addressing his problems long delayed his return to the expedition. All Rights Reserved. Updated. Laura is the archaeology/history and Life's Little Mysteries editor at Live Science. The Griffin, which disappeared on its maiden voyage in 1679, has been called the 'holy grail' for shipwreck hunters probing North America's Great Lakes. The exact size and construction of Le Griffon is not known but many researchers believe she was a 45-ton barque. He continued exploring the Mississippi River until his murder in Texas in 1687. "[5] J. C. Mills [4] quotes a letter from La Salle to the Minister of Marine that says, "The fort at Cataraqui (Fort Frontenac) with the aid of a vessel now building, will command Lake Ontario"[4] While no date is given for the letter, the location of Mill's reference to it suggests that it was sent before 1677, perhaps as early as 1675. La Salle and Father Louis Hennepin set out on Le Griffon's maiden voyage on 7 August 1679 with a crew of 32, sailing across Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan through uncharted waters that only canoes had previously explored. Other experts insist Liberts absolutely wrong. After launching, it sailed the Niagara River to Lake Ontario, onward to Lake Erie, then by way of the St. Clair River to Lake Huron and northward to St. Ignace, the Straits of Mackinac and, finally, Lake Michigan. The exact size and construction of Le Griffon is not known but many researchers believe she was a 45-ton barque. Countless shipwrecks sit beneath the ocean and stranded on land around the world. Bateaux were also common. It dragged anchor and ran aground near Thirty Mile Point on Lake Ontario, where it broke apart. 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. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The ship left Conneaut for Port Stanley, Ontario in late morning on Dec. 7, 1909 with a captain and . "There was no rudder on the boat," Dykstra said. Stunning gem-covered gold earrings discovered in 800-year-old hoard in Germany, Jurassic Worlds bizarre, scythe-clawed dinosaur couldn't have been a slasher, study confirms, Insect that flings pee with a butt catapult is 1st known example of 'superpropulsion' in nature, Lab-grown minibrains will be used as 'biological hardware' to create new biocomputers, scientists propose, Otherworldly 'fairy lantern' plant, presumed extinct, emerges from forest floor in Japan, Cosmic rays reveal 'hidden' 30-foot-long corridor in Egypt's Great Pyramid, The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5', Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Baillod said he is "99 percent sure" that the wreck is not that of the Griffon. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The Griffin disappeared returning from its maiden voyage in 1679 and was last seen struggling in a storm near what is now Washington Island in Wisconsin. The divers said they found Le Griffon in 2011, but are just announcing the discovery because they were consulting experts to confirm it. In this article, the word "ship" is used in its broader sense, not in the technical sense of referring to a vessel with three or more masts rigged with square sails. The widely referenced antique woodcutting of Le Griffon shows her with two masts but many researchers believe she was a 45-ton barque with a single mast with several square sails and 30 to 40 feet (9.1 to 12.2m) long with a 10-to-15-foot (3.0 to 4.6m) beam. Tonti learned of a plan to burn the ship before it could be launched, so he launched ahead of schedule and Le Griffon entered the waters in early May 1679. [4] They entered Lake St. Clair on 12 August, the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi, and named the lake after her. Divers and shipwreck enthusiasts have spent years trying to piece together clues from the ship's last days to. Ever since I was a junior high schooler in Dayton, Ohio, Ive been interested in this ship, Libert said. "It's the holy grail of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.". That evidence? 'The Christian Indian's curse rests on you and on your great canoe. They moored in quiet water off Squaw Island three miles from Lake Erie waiting for favorable northeast winds. An Antarctic explorer's ship has been discovered 106 years after it sank. Ghost Ship of the Great Lakes: With Josh Gates, Joan Forsberg, Brendon Baillod, Greg Busch. While some of these were made from a single carved log ("dugout" or "pirogue"), most were bark canoes. 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. But the sinking was caused by a storm is the best explanation. Some said that the Ottawas or Pottawatomies boarded her, murdered her crew, and then burned her. She says American marine archaeologists concluded that what Libert claims is the bowsprit was beyond a doubt part of a Native American fishing trap. On 8 January 1679, the pilot and crew decided to spend the night ashore where they could light a fire and sleep in some warmth. By Michael Havis and Harry Howard For Mailonline, Published: 12:24 GMT, 16 June 2021 | Updated: 13:02 GMT, 16 June 2021. Zebra mussels cover what may be a griffin on the bow of the ship. As noted above, sources give its size as either 20 tons or 40 tons. Welcome to the Coronation! It would be busted up, she said. It's not clear what led to the ship's sinking more than 340 years ago. He says that the ship must have been caught in a four-day storm, where the ship part found farther away would have broken off due to a powerful storm. This ship was 471 tons. On its return trip from the island, said to be located in the mouth of the body of water which is now known as Green Bay, it vanished with all six crew members and its load of furs. No cannons have been found near the site Libert identified. 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. Some sources confuse the two vessels. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. James Mansfield[1] says that in the fall of 1678, La Salle built a vessel of about 10 tons burden at Fort Frontenac and that this vessel, named Frontenac, was the first real sailing vessel on the Great Lakes; specifically, on Lake Ontario (which some at the time called Lac de Frontenac). 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. So, if the Griffons final resting place isnt where Libert believes it to be, where is it? About 1,500 shipwreckshave been found on the bottom of Lake Michigan, Anderson said, and it's unclear whether this one is the Griffin. The 1633 journey left at Downs, England and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts on September 3. . When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? 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. ', 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. He walked right behind me and put his hand on my shoulder and said, Perhaps someone in this class will find it someday. I was listening to every word, says Libert, now 67. Green and Ken Vrana, the principal of Maritime Heritage Consulting, advocate an independent assessment by professionals. Shipwreck explorers, Jim Kennard and Roger Pawlowski located the shipwreck utilizing a high resolution Rochester, New York The battered remains of the Canadian schooner Ocean Wave, which capsized and eventually sank from a sudden and violent squall, has been found in the depths of Lake Ontario.