[8], Meanwhile, La Salle and Henri de Tonti, had departed Fort Frontenac in a second vessel some days after La Motte and Hennepin. The exact size and construction of Le Griffon is not known but many researchers believe she was a 45-ton barque. I was mesmerized by what he was saying. As noted above, sources give its size as either 20 tons or 40 tons. The horror of Japan's death railway captured by cartoon: Top secret US mission to scatter Pearl Harbour mastermind Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Kids Encyclopedia Facts. He was more successful in securing the Indians' tolerance of his proposed "big canoe" and support buildings. 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. Thedetails of their findwere recorded in a 2021 book that chronicled their finding of the mysterious wreck. But Libert says, Many people believe I continue to cry wolf and contact the press every time we find a wreck claiming them to be the Griffon. Green and Ken Vrana, the principal of Maritime Heritage Consulting, advocate an independent assessment by professionals. The Griffin sank to the murky depths of. 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 . FOR ALPENA, DETROIT, IRON MOUNTAIN, DETROIT, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. La Salle was convinced that the captain and his crew had staged a coup, destroyed the ship, and seized all of the furs on the boat. Alternatively, another . 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. JRN@MSU Code of Ethics turtix/Shutterstock. An infamous 'cursed' ship that disappeared more than 340 years ago has been found. They believe the carving is of a mythical creature known as a griffon, half lion and half eagle. But the sinking was caused by a storm is the best explanation. About 30 adventurers have claimed to have found the Griffin, usually by happenstance, Baillod said. One of the most intriguing is that the wreckage of the Griffon may have been found nearly 100 years ago but went unrecognized. A bowsprit discovered a few miles away in 2001 is another part of the vessel, they claim. He learned to dive, and the quest was on. "They're looking for something else, they find an old ship and they've heard of the Griffin, so they pronounce it the Griffin," Baillod said. 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. Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But the wreckage suggests that The Griffin was lost in a storm. Megan SampVoters at the Hannah Community Center share why voting matters to them. According to legend, natives even cursed the ship. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Related Article:Adolf Hitler's Lost German U-Boat Allegedly Has Dead Nazis Aboard Along With Gold, Treasure, Get HNGN's Top Stories Newsletter Everyweek. "It was a hand-forged nail, which helps date it back to that time period, we feel." Alex Murdaugh Trial Ends with Guilty Verdict, Life in Prison Sentence; Ex-Lawyer's Court Exit Caught on Video, Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Diplomat Claims Ukraine War Was Launched Against Us, Sparks Laughter from Crowd, G20 India Leadership Says PM Modi's Stance on Ukraine Is Valid Despite Dissent, Cindy McCain Appointed as New Head of UN World Food Program, Promises To Address Global Humanitarian Needs, PLA Air Force J-11 Fighter Intercepts US Patrol Aircraft in the South China Monitoring Chinese Military, Japan Facing Major Population Headache as Birth Rate Plummets Again. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. La Salle took personal command at this point due to evidence that the pilot was negligent. The loss of the Griffon is one of the great mysteries of the Great Lakes. 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. Le Griffon is considered by some to have been the first ship lost on the Great Lakes. 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. The Griffon has not been found, Wayne Lusardi, the state archaeologist in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says bluntly. While some of these were made from a single carved log ("dugout" or "pirogue"), most were bark canoes. Possible Resting Place of Great Lakes' Most Iconic Shipwreck Unveiled The ship was a work of art, featuring a majestic griffin (half lion, half eagle) figurehead on its front and an eagle on its stern. The furs on board would have cost 640,000 in today's value, sinking with the vessel. She has won multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association for her reporting at a weekly newspaper near Seattle. the griffon shipwreck facts 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 Salles ships. They were concerned for their safety in as much that they tried to burn the ship during construction. They again sounded their way through the narrow channel of the St. Clair River to its mouth where they were delayed by contrary winds until 24 August. Thought the bowsprit discovered about 3.8 miles and the remains of the wreck make the Indian attack not possible, or even a mutinous uprising. She was found by an aircraft belonging to the US Navy on 14th November 1975. 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. It dragged anchor and ran aground near Thirty Mile Point on Lake Ontario, where it broke apart. They discovered a 15-inch slab of blackened wood that might have been a human-fashioned cultural artifact. Several French explores built the exploratory vessel Ren-Robert Cavalier and Sieur de La Salle. The Griffon was built by La Salle near Niagara Falls and was the first ship to sail on the upper Great Lakes. LOCAL COURT FUNDING: A quarter of local trial court funding is set to expire in 2024 or even earlier if the state Supreme Court says judges cant continue to impose costs on convicted criminal defendants. Countless shipwrecks sit beneath the ocean and stranded on land around the world. Enter the text you see in the image below. 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. 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. La Salle disembarked and on 18 September sent the ship back toward Niagara. A Eurasian griffon vulture can be found throughout Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Iran among other areas. WWII German shipwreck found in Black Sea Airborne laser reveals hidden city in Cambodia The ship, commanded by the French explorer La Salle, was never seen again after setting sail in September. La Salle seized two of the deserters and sent Tonti with six men to arrest two more at Sault Ste. Ghost Ship of the Great Lakes: With Josh Gates, Joan Forsberg, Brendon Baillod, Greg Busch. Baillod said he is "99 percent sure" that the wreck is not that of the Griffon. Where to Find the Griffon Vulture. Some say Le Griffon was named for Count Frontenac whose coat of arms was ornamented with the mythical griffin. It's the only artifact so far to be brought back from the ship wreck. Shipwrecks - Time Capsules of Human Civilization : Griffon - blogs Quick Facts about Griffins. A shipwreck is the remains of a ship that has been wrecked. ", La Salle sailed the Griffon through the Great Lakesand crossed into Lake Michigan in an effort to reach the mouth of the Mississippi River, Baillod said. She says American marine archaeologists concluded that what Libert claims is the bowsprit was beyond a doubt part of a Native American fishing trap. $19.95 plus $3 S&H. The Griffin shipwreck at the bottom of Lake Michigan. It is now believed to be the famous ship, 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. Her adventure is set be featured on national television as part of an hour . These films range from comedies to dramas to long and short films. They anchored on the south shore of the island and found it occupied by friendly Pottawatomies and 15 of the fur traders La Salle sent ahead. Ive seen dozens and dozens of 100- to 150-year-old ships, and that is not a 350-year-old ship. US and France battle for rights over shipwreck found in Lake Michigan But Dykstra and Monroe said they'll wait until they hear the final word. The ship was constructed and launched on Cayuga Creek on the Niagara River as a seven-cannon, 45-ton barque. [4] Some charged fur traders, and even Jesuits with her destruction. The 1633 journey left from Downs, England and landed at Plymouth in Plymouth Colony on September 3. Its fate has been a puzzlement for maritime historians for more than three and a half centuries. An explorer claims to have found the long lost French ship Le Griffon at the bottom of Lake Michigan. - 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? Kingsford says it was either contrary wind or they were becalmed. Heres the backstory as Libert tells it: LaSalle built the Griffon as his flagship upriver from Niagara Falls, probably on what is now the Canadian side of the Niagara River. In the past griffin was a symbol of strength and dexterity.It often looked after a treasure.. Mr Libert has also highlighted several details in the wreckage indicative of contemporaneous French design. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Scholastic, Popular Science and Spectrum, a site on autism research. 'It is just a matter of time before we achieve our goal. 'The ship has no indications of fire damage to the wooden remains,' said Mr Libert. [citation needed], After La Salle and Tonti left, the pilot and the rest of the crew were to follow with the supply vessel. Inside Prince Harry's finances from when he met Meghan Markle to landing 100M with Netflix and book Spare Royally hard work! 'We are confident the ship was wrecked due to a severe storm. Libert added the wooden timbers of the ship show no evidence of damage done by fire. Now, more than 335 years later, the wreck of the Griffon has not definitively been found. Some are thousands of years old. Prince Harry shares struggles to be his 'authentic true self' growing up, saying he felt pressures to 'come As Prince Harry says he felt like the film 'the boy in the bubble' before having therapy, who was What will the next pandemic be? It was crafted by French explorer Robert de La Salle. 1. [notes 4][pageneeded] There was some disagreement between La Salle and the ship's pilot, and La Salle and Tonti went ahead on foot to Niagara. The Search for La Salle's Lost Ship 'Le Griffon' Continues ', 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. Editor's Note:In our original version of this story, we inadvertently used video that belonged to Great Lakes Exploration Group, LLC. [notes 5][pageneeded] When La Salle heard of the loss (through a messenger or one of the natives), he left Niagara and joined in the salvage effort. 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. While there La Salle selected a site for building Le Griffon. His conclusion: The remains of the ship Le Griffon in French sank in shallow water in the Huron Islands of northern Lake Michigan, northeast of Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the loss of all the crew members aboard. 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. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook& Google+. When he and Monroe later reviewed the video, they realized it might be the Griffin. 5 Michigan Locations Associated with Creepy Urban Legends [In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery]. Griffon, oldest Great Lakes shipwreck, under Lake Michigan somewhere Michigan Urban Legends to Tell Around the Campfire That is my question. 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. 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. On 6 December, they landed safely on the east bank of the river at about where Lewiston, New York is today. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Unless the Legislature acts, local taxpayers would then be saddled with those expenses. Great Lakes Exploration Group is not connected to this story or Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe. They are considered to be symbolic of power . The loss of the Griffon is one of the great mysteries of the Great Lakes. [notes 1], Before 1673, the most common vessel on the lakes was the canoe. They're not going back to the wreckage for a while, so they don't make the site vulnerable to other treasure seekers. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations. Barge 129 was found in Lake Superior, 35 miles off Vermilion Point in 650 feet of water. When they arrived there La Motte and Hennepin had not yet returned. 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.