[13] Originally discovered in 2001 near Poverty Island, Michigan sonar has shown an object approximately 40 by 18 feet (12.2 by 5.5m) (similar to the dimensions of Le Griffon) located under several feet of sediment. 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. [In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery]. 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. The furs on board would have cost 640,000 in today's value, sinking with the vessel. [4] They entered Lake St. Clair on 12 August, the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi, and named the lake after her. Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. In the meantime, the duo plans to continue their hunt for the gold bullion. General Ubilla's New Spain Fleet was composed of: 1 - The Capitana, Nuestra Seora de Regla, San Dimas y San Francisco Javier (Presumably a galleon). Thirty Mile Point is an established location and fits better with the rest of the narrative. La Salle took personal command at this point due to evidence that the pilot was negligent. 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.. Only about 375 of Lake Erie's wrecks have been found. [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. 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. [14] After years of legal squabbles the Michigan Department of Natural Resources issued a permit, and on 16 June 2013, an underwater pit was dug allowing US and French archeologists to examine the object for the first time. REVEALED: Huge sonic boom felt by thousands across the country was caused by RAF Typhoon jets scrambling to Wakey Wakey! 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. Rather, it may be the remnants of a tugboat that was scrapped after "steam engines became more economical to operate," said Brendon Baillod, a Great Lakes historian who has written scholarly papers on the Griffin. 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. When the wind suddenly veered to the southeast they changed course to avoid Presque Isle. "They lost the ship from sight," Baillod said, "and that's the last anybody has ever seen the Griffin.". 2 is a much sought after shipwreck. 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. Comment why voting matters to you at the end of this story. Alternatively, another . "An expedition of historic significance: the search for the elusive, "France claims historic Great Lakes wreck", "Great Lakes Exploration Group, France and Michigan Establish Cooperative Agreement For Shipwreck Exploration", "Divers begin Lake Michigan search for Griffin ship", "Griffin Shipwreck: Wooden Beam Not Attached To Buried Vessel, Researchers Say", "Explorer says Griffin shipwreck may be found", "Treasure hunters find mysterious shipwreck in Lake Michigan", "Four reasons why the Frankfort-area shipwreck can't be the Griffin", "Le Griffon: The Great Lakes' greatest mystery", "If you are in need of a mystery, here is a historic puzzle: What happened to La Salle's Griffon? The two men did not bring up the nail on purpose, and they plan to return it to the state, said Dean Anderson, the state archaeologist for Michigan. On 6 December, they landed safely on the east bank of the river at about where Lewiston, New York is today. JRN@MSU Code of Ethics 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. Mr Libert said: 'There are numerous theories as to what happened to The Griffin. The captain lost control of the ship as strong winds blew it away from shore, southward, toward islands in the distance. Usually depicted as half lion and half eagle, this ancient beast is more than the sum of its parts. The ship disappeared 343 years back on its maiden launch without a trace. With La Salle back aboard their vessel, the company again sailed west until, about 25 miles (40km) from Niagara, weather checked their progress. The straight-line distance is about 75 miles (121km). Its discovery is credited to wreck hunters Stevie and Kathie Libert for the record. 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. According to historical sources, the vessel left England carrying packs of clothing and private trade on its way to Canton, China where it was loaded with cargo composed mostly of tea. The Atlas may be the oldest confirmed commercial schooner discovered in the Great Lakes. Cris Kohl and wife Joan Forsberg have conducted over 20 years of research in order to write their new book The Wreck of the Griffon, the explorer La Salles ship that disappeared in 1679 on its return voyage from Lake Michigan. The Le Griffon, a barque ship, was carrying bison and furs at the time it disappeared, Libert said. Those left behind proceeded with needed building projects. Hennepin's journal says 32 leagues (converts to 96 miles (154km)), but his figure is an estimate made while snowshoing through the country. Every one of these shipwreck hunters finds a bone pile and claims its the Griffon.. For Mr Libert, it's the realisation of a childhood dream, sparked by a history teacher who told him about the ship. Where are the cannons? He then charged La Motte with salvage by use of canoes. Le Griffon is considered by some to have been the first ship lost on the Great Lakes. once I broke the surface. [8], Meanwhile, La Salle and Henri de Tonti, had departed Fort Frontenac in a second vessel some days after La Motte and Hennepin. The Griffin is used as the symbol for Brisbane Waters Secondary College on the Central Coast of New . Tornadoes Hit Central US; Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Columbus Ohio Brace For Intense Weather. The Liberts' book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery, is available via Amazon for 24.69. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations. [4] La Salle had instructed Hennepin and La Motte to go 75 miles (120km) into wilderness in knee-deep snow on an embassy to the great village of the Seneca tribe, bringing gifts and promises in order to obtain their good will to build "the big canoe" (Le Griffon), but many tribal members did not approve. Kingsford's text says Thirty-nine Mile Point, but modern charts do not show that name. Navagio Beach in Greece is famous for its shipwreck. 'Some say that the native Indians boarded the ship and killed the crew. Shipwreck of the SS American Star. That evidence? We have been on the hunt for over 40 years systematically ferreting out the locations of this widely scattered wreck, he says, referring to his wife Kathie and himself. 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. He recounts his hunt and discovery in Le Griffon and the Huron Islands, 1679 (Mission Point Press), written with his wife. Wirehaired pointing griffons are famously known as a 'supreme gundog.'. Maritime historians best guess, she says, is that it sank between Beaver Island and the southern coast of the Upper Peninsula, possibly within sight of shore between what are now Manistique and Naubinway. Shipwrecks are found either beached on land or sunken to the seabed of a body of water. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Finding the wreck is the goal of most Great Lakes shipwreck hunters due to the notoriety, and they call it the Holy Grail amongst them. A Eurasian griffon vulture can be found throughout Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Iran among other areas. A 'cursed' shipwreck which sank almost 350 years ago has been identified in one of North America's Great Lakes, bringing to an end a maritime mystery. Le Griffon is reported to be the "Holy Grail" of Great Lakes shipwreck hunters. That is simply not true.. The Griffon was the first European ship ever to sail the Great Lakes. La Salle never saw Le Griffon again. Griffin was the name of a 17th-century ship known to have sailed between England and English settlements along Massachusetts Bay in British America. That is my question. 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. also was the first ship to sail the Great Lakes. 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. At noon the waves ran so high, and the lake became so rough, as to compel them to stand in for land. 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. Wherever the Griffon is, if its in deep water somewhere, there are cannons near it, she says. 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 trying to chart a path from Great Lakes in North America to China and Japan if a route is there. While there have been many theories over the years, there is no clear consensus as to the fate or current location of Le Griffon. 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. (Image: Great Lakes Exploration Group via Pen News) The wreck was found near Poverty Island on Lake Michigan, almost 350 years after it vanished. The sails were merely supplemental for traveling down wind. Keen to get away from the neighbours? THE WRECK OF THE GRIFFON by Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg, published and distributed by Seawolf Communications Inc. 224 pages. 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. When they arrived there La Motte and Hennepin had not yet returned. TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan -- Steven J. Libert had been looking for the ship, Le Griffon, for 42 years. 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 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. The Ruppell's griffon vulture is Critically Endangered. I have spent over 42 years searching for this most sought-after historic vessel.. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. The wreck's discoverers agree that more evidence is needed. My interest began the day my teacher reached over and touched my shoulder and said out loud in class, Maybe one day someone in this class will find it.. 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. The figurehead likely isn't the remains of a griffin, he said, but a "big encrustation of zebra mussels," on burned wood. They recovered the anchors, chain, and most of the materials critical for Le Griffon, but most of the supplies and provisions were lost. Libert may be a secret agent by day-- he works as a senior defense analyst for the U.S. Navy -- but by night he's a passionate hunter for the old and precious. Le Griffon set off on 7 August with unfurled sails, a 34-man crew, and a salute from her cannon and musketry. She also reports on general science, including archaeology and paleontology. (Wikipedia) The age could have proved if the plank came. 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. Le Griffon is considered by some to be the "holy grail of Great Lakes Shipwrecks" largely because it was the first sailing ship to cruise the Great Lakes. 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). 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.. Le Griffon Shipwreck. 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. Heres how it works. Mr Libert then spent two years sifting through satellite imagery before he made a breakthrough. It was a calm night and they believed the vessel was securely moored. Libert said some theories are supposed to explain what happened to the vessel. Arriving at Fort Frontenac in late September, he had neither the time for nor the interest in building a vessel at Fort Frontenac to transport building materials, some of which he had recently obtained in France, to a site above Niagara Falls where he could build his new ship. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. [citation needed], In July 1679, La Salle directed 12 men to tow Le Griffon through the rapids of the Niagara River with long lines stretched from the bank. 'Michel was spot on when he said the main body of the wreck would be within four miles of the bowsprit. 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. [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. 'She will sink beneath the deep waters and your blood shall stain the hands of those in whom you trusted!'. In September 1679, French explorers loaded the boat with furs and left Green Bay. By 26 August the violence of the gale caused them to "haul down their topmasts, to lash their yards to the deck, and drift at the mercy of storm. Lawrence. 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. A bowsprit discovered a few miles away in 2001 is another part of the vessel, they claim. They may be deliberate or accidental. The divers who discovered the wreck believe it to be the Griffin, an exploration ship laden with furs, cannon, muskets and shipyard supplies that went down in a storm in 1679 in Lake Michigan, on . One candidate is a wreck at the western end of Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, with another wreck near Escanaba, Michigan, also proposed. Welcome to the Coronation! But, the Liberts say her final. But the ship vanished while delivering a valuable cargo of furs, amid rumours that she had been cursed by a prophet from the Iroquois tribe. "[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. 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. 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. LeGriffon launched on Aug. 7, 1679, with LaSalle, Father Louis Hennepin and a crew of 32. Kingsford says it was either contrary wind or they were becalmed. Here are 26 other famous shipwrecks around the world. La Salle was convinced that the pilot and crew treacherously sank her and made off with the goods. These films range from comedies to dramas to long and short films. No cannons have been found near the site Libert identified. 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. La Salle seized two of the deserters and sent Tonti with six men to arrest two more at Sault Ste. 'The ship has no indications of fire damage to the wooden remains,' said Mr Libert. It was the first big ship to sail the Great Lakes. Newsroom Calendar The griffin was a favourite decorative motif in the ancient Middle Eastern and Mediterranean lands. Enter the text you see in the image below. Its fate has been a puzzlement for maritime historians for more than three and a half centuries. Decking, permanent masts, and bearing a name are a few of the criteria one might use. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. We apologize to Great Lakes Exploration Group for any confusion this may have caused. 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. 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. 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. The cursed shipwreck, the 'Griffin,' is an incredible find with the history and the tales associated with it till now. The Griffin shipwreck at the bottom of Lake Michigan. Is Joe Biden Sick? While there La Salle selected a site for building Le Griffon. [1], Upon Le Griffon's safe arrival at St. Ignace, the voyagers fired a salute from her deck that the Hurons on shore volleyed three times with their firearms. 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. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook& Google+. Ever since I was a junior high schooler in Dayton, Ohio, Ive been interested in this ship, Libert said. 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. Countless shipwrecks sit beneath the ocean and stranded on land around the world. While some of these were made from a single carved log ("dugout" or "pirogue"), most were bark canoes. Wherever the Griffon is, if its in deep water somewhere, there are cannons near it, she says. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW. There is reason, however, to question his assertion. From the web site of Libert's company: "There were plenty of theories of what happened to the flagship.