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. The Griffon was the first ship ever to sail the Great Lakes, originally built to haul furs from the Green Bay area to Detroit. La Salle took personal command at this point due to evidence that the pilot was negligent. Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. The ship was constructed and launched on Cayuga Creek on the Niagara River as a seven-cannon, 45-ton barque. Eric Freedman is professor of journalism and former associate dean of International Studies and Programs. Acknowledging that French archeologists side with Libert, she asks what they know about Native American fishing practices. 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. An explorer claims to have found the long lost French ship Le Griffon at the bottom of Lake Michigan. They made their way around Long Point, Ontario, constantly sounding as they went through the first moonless, fog-laden night to the sound of breaking waves and guided only by La Salle's knowledge of Galine's crude, 10-year-old chart. He put ashore near present-day Rochester, New York, and arrived at Tagarondies very shortly after La Motte and Hennepin had left. I'm a vet, and here are five dog breeds most prone to cancer - including Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers, Prince Andrew chuckles as he encounters female jogger on way to his weekly Windsor horse-riding trip. Wirehaired pointing griffons are famously known as a 'supreme gundog.'. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Sources disagree on how long this delay was. Two divers say they have found "Le Griffon," a 17th-century sailing ship widely considered the "holy grail" of shipwrecks. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [4], Le Griffon may or may not be considered the first ship on the Great Lakes, depending on what factors one deems necessary to qualify a vessel for that designation. La Salle and Father Louis Hennepin set out on the ship during its maiden voyage on August 7am , 1969 along with a crew of 32. 'We are confident the ship was wrecked due to a severe storm. They believe the carving is of a mythical creature known as a griffon, half lion and half eagle. The couples book shares details of how they believed the ship sank near the Huron Islands, a group of small, rocky islands northeast of Green Bay. Now shipwreck hunters Steve and Kathie Libert say they have found the infamous vessel, which was the first to sail the Great Lakes beyond Niagara Falls. But the explorer ran out of money, so he disembarked with the other expedition leaders, leaving the ship and its crew to pay off his debts with furs. 'Many believed the Jesuits were responsible for the ship's disappearance. The wreck's discoverers agree that more evidence is needed. A ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. Shipwrecks - HISTORY The ship was righted and brought back to the port in Milwaukee and returned to service. [8], Meanwhile, La Salle and Henri de Tonti, had departed Fort Frontenac in a second vessel some days after La Motte and Hennepin. La Salle never saw the Griffin again. [4] Some charged fur traders, and even Jesuits with her destruction. While there have been many theories over the years, there is no clear consensus as to the fate or current location of Le Griffon. "It's not a pond net stake. Copyright 2023, Michigan State University. Over the years there have been 22 claims of the discovery of the Griffon. The traders had collected 12,000 pounds (5,400kg) of furs in anticipation of the arrival of Le Griffon. It's a 300-year-old mystery that Carlson and his diving partner, Steve Libert, are determined to solve. [19][20] Their claim was quickly debunked when Michigan authorities dove down on 9 June 2015 after receiving the coordinates to verify its authenticity. More than 5,000 ship wrecks are scattered throughout the Great Lakes, and Porter said the Le Griffon is the most precious one. 2 - The Almiranta, Santo Cristo de San Roman, Nuestra Seora del Rosario y San Jose (Presumably a galleon). [notes 6][pageneeded], After La Salle's departure, Tonti refloated the little brigantine, and attempted to use it for more salvage work at the wreck, but the winter weather prevented success. Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum | Edmund Fitzgerald | Great Lakes [6][8][11][pageneeded] There the keel was laid on 26 January 1679. I was mesmerized by what he was saying. Laura is the archaeology/history and Life's Little Mysteries editor at Live Science. After Le Griffon was launched, she was rigged with sails and provisioned with seven cannon of which two were brass. Possibly a cannon, hopefully with the date stamped on it.' He noted that the wreck is near the western Michigan coast, not near Beaver Island, the area mentioned in La Salle's journal. Creating a fur trade monopoly with the Native Americans would finance his quest and building Le Griffon was an "essential link in the scheme". "[6] H. W. Beckwith says that in September 1678, La Salle "already had three small vessels on Lake Ontario, which he had made use of in a coasting trade with the Indians. Now, more than 335 years later, the wreck of the Griffon has not definitively been found. [1][2], Hennepin's first account says she was a vessel of about 45 tons; his second says 60 tons. The Liberts say the Griffin is the exact wreck seen in 2018 close to Poverty Island right in Lake Michigan. "The [American] Indians told the captain not to sail out, to wait the storm out, but he wouldn't listen to them," Baillod said. Steve Libert diving on the ship in 2018. They come in contact with the important newsmakers of the day, from the Supreme Court justices and the governor to members of the Legislature and the people who run the state government departments, to lobbyists and public-interest organizations. 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. 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. 'Cursed' ship found 340 years after vanishing, experts claim as wreck [1][4], The short open-water season of the upper Great Lakes compelled La Salle to depart for Green Bay on 12 September, five days before Tonti's return. But, the Liberts say her final. New York, People remember the cautionary TV commercials from Do not sell or share my personal information. Newsroom Calendar The mythical griffin is a creature of ferocity and nobility. He was 43. Several historical and genealogical references show Griffin making such journeys in 1633 and 1634. Until there is an expedition (to the site) with politically unaligned professionals, I will not weigh in one way or another, said Vrana, whose nonprofit group has consulted with Libert. Their mission was to begin selecting a site for the construction of Le Griffon and to erect necessary structures for shelter, storage, and defense. A party from the Iroquois tribe who witnessed the launching were so impressed by the "large floating fort" that they named the French builders Ot-kon, meaning "penetrating minds", which corresponds to the Seneca word Ot-goh, meaning supernatural beings or spirits. Alpena County reference. That is simply not true.. 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. The Griffin (Le Griffon) was a sailing ship built byRen-Robert Cavelier in 1679 that mysteriously disappeared during its maiden voyage on the Great Lakes. Characteristics Physical Description A history teacher inspired Libert in school. La Salle offered Hennepin the honor of driving the first spike, but Hennepin deferred to his leader. It was built with the intention of finding a route across the Great Lakes of North America to reach China and Japan. Griffin is an English East India Company ship which sank in Sulu Sea near Basilan Island in 1761. Experts suspect the ship was lost as a consequence of a severe storm. Already have an account? Le Griffon mysteriously went missing in 1679 and no one knows what happened between the time it was last seen until it was discovered three years ago, Libert said. University Hospitals receives $10 million donation from Ahuja family to support community health center, reach underserved populations, Rousing The Choir of Man makes it a memorable reopening night at Playhouse Square, RTA receives no workable proposals for new railcars, will start search over, Paddleboards and kayaks suddenly in high demand amid supply chain shortage, Cleveland resident accused of starting fire at REBol during downtown riots May 30. The Griffin is used as the symbol for Brisbane Waters Secondary College on the Central Coast of New . ', He continued: 'Both the Seneca and Iroquois felt threatened by the construction and sight of Le Griffon, and felt that it was a threat to the 'Great Spirit. Charlevoix diver claims to find 'holy grail' of Great Lakes shipwrecks The Holy Grail of Great Lakes shipwrecks is Le Griffon, the first European-style ship built by explorer Robert De La Salle that is believed to have sank in Lake Michigan in a storm in 1679.. He learned to dive, and the quest was on. He learned to dive, and the quest was on. The griffin is featured on one side of coins minted in Abdera, Greece. Her adventure is set be featured on national television as part of an hour . A couple in Charlevoix . The divers said they found Le Griffon in 2011, but are just announcing the discovery because they were consulting experts to confirm it. By Jack Timothy Harrison. Marine researcher, shipwreck historian says Manitoulin has solid claim If the state underwater archaeologist were to look at the wreck, he would look for artifacts that could be dated, such as ceramics or glass. Marie. Lawrence. 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. [Shipwrecks Gallery: Secrets of the Deep]. [citation needed], La Salle arrived on 20 January 1679 from Fort Frontenac with the full rigging, anchors, chains, cordage, and cannon that were transported by barge, then salvaged and dragged 30 miles (48km) overland to the construction site. All Rights Reserved. Thirty Mile Point is an established location and fits better with the rest of the narrative. Joe Porter, publisher for Wreck Diving Magazine, has penned articles on famous ship wrecks including the Titanic, but saidthe Griffon is the most fascinating. MICHIGAN -- Le Griffon, a well known ship that sunk in Lake Michigan during the 17th century, has been hiding at the depths of the lake for more than 300 years. He and his wife set 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. But members of the Potawatomi tribe brought pieces of the ship to the explorer, including some moldy beaver furs and a pair of sailor's britches, said Baillod, who translated La Salle's journal from French to English. Jupiter and Venus 'kiss' in a stunning planetary conjunction tonight. Order from www.seawolfcommunications.com or call them at 630-293-8996. by Anonymous - the griffon shipwreck facts. ', The wreck believed to be the Griffin was found near Poverty Island on Lake Michigan. 'The ship has no indications of fire damage to the wooden remains,' said Mr Libert. When they arrived there La Motte and Hennepin had not yet returned. With incredible strength, unfailing protective instincts, and a zero-tolerance policy against evil, it is the superhero of mythological creatures. Explorer Won't Budge on Shipwreck Mystery - ABC News While the journals of Tonti, Hennepin, and LeClercq (participants with La Salle) do mention a little vessel of 10 tons, none of them apply a name to it. These films range from comedies to dramas to long and short films. Tornadoes Hit Central US; Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Columbus Ohio Brace For Intense Weather. The Griffin was last seen struggling off Washington Island and was never heard from again. [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. Griffin was the name of a 17th-century ship known to have sailed between England and English settlements along Massachusetts Bay in British America. He also teaches public affairs reporting, international journalism, feature writing and media law and serves as director of the schools Capital News Service. As for the pieces of wreckage Libert photographed, they cant be the Griffons because they would have broken to bits long, long ago if theyd been in shallow water battered by storms and ice for more than three centuries, van Heest says. 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. US and France battle for rights over shipwreck found in Lake Michigan Libert said the book reveals the location of the Huron Islands where Robert La Salles ship, Le Griffon, met her fate. But the latest finding, made popular again by Wreck Diving Magazine in its latest issue, holds a number of clues about the ship's past. Possible Resting Place of Great Lakes' Most Iconic Shipwreck Unveiled Wood can break up. Treasure hunters find mysterious shipwreck in Lake Michigan If it exists in the physical world, we think it will be there in deep water, she says. The wind did slightly decrease but they drifted slowly all night, unable to find anchorage or shelter. La Salle whose full name was the noble-sounding Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle wasnt aboard the Griffon. Archaeology breakthrough as 'cursed' shipwreck discovered after 350 The Griffon has not been found, Wayne Lusardi, the state archaeologist in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says bluntly. 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. A big Beckham birthday! [1], French explorer Ren Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, sought a Northwest Passage to China and Japan to extend France's trade. The Griffin, or gryphon, is a mythological creature with the body, hind legs, and tail of a lion and the wings, front talons, and head of an eagle. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Michigan Urban Legends to Tell Around the Campfire An Indian prophet called Metiomek of the Iroquois said legend had cursed the ship before it left; he told its owner La Salle it would sink deep water. 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. The wreck lies in Lake Michigan. Le Griffon was the largest fixed-rig sailing vessel on the Great Lakes up to that time,[3] and led the way to modern commercial shipping in that part of the world. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, [1][4] The exact size and construction of Le Griffon is not known. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. On 27 December 2014, two divers, Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe, announced the discovery of a wreck that they believe is Le Griffon, based on the bowstem, which to some resembles an ornamental griffin. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. They were open vessels (no deck) made of wood measuring up to about 35 feet (11m) long and capable of carrying three or four tons of cargo. They're not going back to the wreckage for a while, so they don't make the site vulnerable to other treasure seekers. Then they also talk with real people the individual citizens and businesses in communities to get their reactions to whats happening in Lansing. B. Mansfield reported that this "excited the deepest emotions of the Indian tribes, then occupying the shores of these inland waters". Has The Le Griffon been found? - Shipwreck World A griffin (or gryphon) is a chimeric creature, part eagle and part lion. Content is produced by MSU students under the guidance of journalism faculty. The vessel was loaded with furs so that they could be used to pay the French explorer and Griffon's master, Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle's creditors. 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. He continued exploring the Mississippi River until his murder in Texas in 1687. I left school at 16 with six GCSEs - and became a self-made millionaire. The nail, which has since been observed by historians, is believed to have been on the ship at the time of it's disappearance, being hauled for building purposes. The vessel dragged its anchor for about nine miles to the east before grounding and breaking up near present-day Thirty Mile Point. More than 100 Native American bark canoes gathered around Le Griffon to look at the "big wood canoe". The griffin is a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle, and the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion. In July 2010 the Great Lakes Exploration Group issued a press release stating that they, the state of Michigan and France had reached agreement to co-operate in the next phase of an archaeological site assessment for identifying the shipwreck. (Wikipedia) The age could have proved if the plank came. 'What I suspected was a ship was confirmed by me during a dive in September 2018. [4] She had the figure of a griffin mounted on her jib-boom and an eagle flying above. While frozen rivers made traveling easy, finding food was not. Mr Libert said: 'Our extensive research and deciphering of historic documents led us precisely to the resting place of an undiscovered colonial-age ship.'. 1. Since its disappearance in 1679, the Griffon has taken on a mythic air. We asked the experts - and their answers will terrify you Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. The comments below have not been moderated. La Salle oversaw the laying of Le Griffon's keel and drove her first bolt. 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. Cathy Green, the executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, is also skeptical, calling it highly unlikely that its the Griffon and nearly impossible to definitively know because of the centuries of damage to shallow water wrecks from ice, storms and rising and falling lake levels. The Wreck of the Griffon - Shipwreck World She also reports on general science, including archaeology and paleontology. ", 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. 'But we can systematically search the bottom using non-intrusive techniques and remote sensing devices for conclusive diagnostic evidence. Megan SampTickets can be bought online or at Studio C in Okemos. 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. Unexpectedly, a nail attached itself to the magnet, and the treasure hunters only discovered it later, once they were above water. The male wirehaired pointer weighs around 50-70 lb, and the females are around 35-50 lb. But even now, the Liberts are prevented by the State of Michigan from conducting an in-depth excavation. [1][4] 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. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. A bowsprit is the spar that extends forward from the bow. 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. The Mysterious Shipwreck of Le Griffon | Expedition Unknown 17,600 views May 8, 2019 The Griffon, a ship built by famed explorer Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, sailed out of Lake. 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. They recovered the anchors, chain, and most of the materials critical for Le Griffon, but most of the supplies and provisions were lost. 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. Below Niagara Falls: first ships on Lake Ontario. 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. In January of 1679, the Griffon's building party arrived at the mouth of Cayuga Creek on the Niagara River (about a mile from my high school) where the ship would be built.
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