Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Kingsford says it was either contrary wind or they were becalmed. Michel L'Hour, a French government archaeologist who's been called 'Indiana Jones in a diving suit', took part in the excavation and theorised that the rest of the ship was nearby. 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. 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 . Suffering from cold and low on supplies, the men were close to mutiny. All of those people have been wrong including Libert she says. La Salle was convinced that the pilot and crew treacherously sank her and made off with the goods. Already have an account? The Griffin was last seen struggling off Washington Island and was never heard from again. "There was no rudder on the boat," Dykstra said. Tests on the ship part are dated to 1679; close to a year, dating of the wreck is 1632 to 1982. 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. [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. La Salle's prime focus in 1678 was building Le Griffon. The ship was lost in the depths of northern Lake Michigan over 300 years ago. The ship was constructed and launched on Cayuga Creek on the Niagara River as a seven-cannon, 45-ton barque. Welcome to the Coronation! Others say he did not return to Niagara until July. The Griffon was the first European ship ever to sail the Great Lakes. Certainly not not without a lot more information but these are very compelling. With incredible strength, unfailing protective instincts, and a zero-tolerance policy against evil, it is the superhero of mythological creatures. He then charged La Motte with salvage by use of canoes. 'Some say that the native Indians boarded the ship and killed the crew. That would also put their forward progress on 8 January, at about 20 miles (32km) from Niagara. Characteristics Physical Description The British steamship Nisbet Grammer, the largest steel steamer to have foundered in Lake Ontario has been discovered by a team of shipwreck explorers. Mr Libert has also highlighted several details in the wreckage indicative of contemporaneous French design. Local shipwreck explorer Valerie van Heest spent a week on Manitoulin Island in August of 2018 searching for Le Griffon. Rene-Robert Cavelier , Sieur de La Salle was a French explorer in 1679 and he wanted his ship, Le Griffon , to sail the Niagara River, Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan in order to . 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 male wirehaired pointer weighs around 50-70 lb, and the females are around 35-50 lb. Capital News Services articles may be reprinted exclusively by subscribing media organizations. Your comment will appear after being approved. A ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. We hear from the Association of Counties, state court administrator and the president, from Gratiot County, of the Michigan Judges Association. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Single mother faces 170 parking fine after overstaying at McDonald's for just 14 minutes while she treated Public Service Announcement, do NOT watch these ads! Wirehaired pointing griffons are famously known as a 'supreme gundog.'. He also teaches public affairs reporting, international journalism, feature writing and media law and serves as director of the schools Capital News Service. According to Father Louis Hennepin, one of them was caught in a violent storm and never survived, notedthe Daily Mail. La Salle followed the southern shore of the 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. An Antarctic explorer's ship has been discovered 106 years after it sank. Possibly a cannon, hopefully with the date stamped on it.'. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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). On September 18, 1679, the bark Griffon was sent back toward Fort Frontenac (a French trading post and military fort at the mouth of the Cataraqui River where the St. Lawrence River leaves Lake Ontario). 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. A history teacher inspired Libert in school. 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. It would no longer exist. [6] Some of La Salle's associates called this vessel a brigantine; others called it a bark. The 1633 journey left at Downs, England and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts on September 3. . The mythical griffin is a creature of ferocity and nobility. [1] The tumultuous sound of Le Griffon's cannons so amazed the Native Americans that the Frenchmen were able to sleep at ease for the first time in months when they anchored off shore. (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2022/03/charlevoix-couple-offers-theory-on-mysterious-1679-shipwreck/). Libert added the wooden timbers of the ship show no evidence of damage done by fire. 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. La Belle was the ship of French explorer La Salle, lost at Matagorda Bay in 1686. "I didn't go down there with the expectation of seeing a shipwreck I can tell you that," Dykstra told Live Science. 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. 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. [4] When the Seneca again threatened to burn the ship, she was launched earlier than planned in Cayuga Creek channel of the upper Niagara River with ceremony and the roar of her cannons. Sources disagree on how long this delay was. 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. Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. La Salle sent Tonti ahead on 22 July 1679 with a few selected men, canoes, and trading goods to secure furs and supplies. 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. Majestic, strong, and imbued with magic, the griffin is a common heraldic symbol which joins the lion's valor with the eagle's elegance. After disembarking, the ship and the exploration disappeared into history. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook& Google+. It was built with the intention of finding a route across the Great Lakes of North America to reach China and Japan. 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). Zebra mussels cover what may be a griffin on the bow of the ship. [8], Progress on Le Griffon was fraught with problems. REVEALED: Huge sonic boom felt by thousands across the country was caused by RAF Typhoon jets scrambling to Wakey Wakey! 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. The captain lost control of the ship as strong winds blew it away from shore, southward, toward islands in the distance. Great Lakes Exploration Group is not connected to this story or Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe. 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. He was 43. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1649: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery. All Rights Reserved. $19.95 plus $3 S&H. The traders had collected 12,000 pounds (5,400kg) of furs in anticipation of the arrival of Le Griffon. He recounts his hunt and discovery in Le Griffon and the Huron Islands, 1679 (Mission Point Press), written with his wife. They're not going back to the wreckage for a while, so they don't make the site vulnerable to other treasure seekers. La Salle oversaw the laying of Le Griffon's keel and drove her first bolt. About 30 adventurers have claimed to have found the Griffin, usually by happenstance, Baillod said. New York, La Salle gave instructions for Le Griffon to off-load merchandise for him at Mackinac that would be picked up on the return trip. 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. Mobile Reporting Kit [1][4], The site La Salle had selected for building Le Griffon has conclusively been identified as at or near the mouth of Cayuga Creek, at Cayuga Island. (Wikipedia) The age could have proved if the plank came. 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. A ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. A Eurasian griffon vulture can be found throughout Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Iran among other areas. 'It is just a matter of time before we achieve our goal. I was mesmerized by what he was saying. Every one of these shipwreck hunters finds a bone pile and claims its the Griffon.. 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. 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. "When the Griffin left from Wisconsin, headed back to Niagara, it was never heard from again," Porter said. "[1] According to Mr and Mrs Libert, The Griffin is a good match for wreckage found in 2018 near Poverty Island, Lake Michigan. One of the most intriguing is that the wreckage of the Griffon may have been found nearly 100 years ago but went unrecognized. By Michael Havis and Harry Howard For Mailonline, Published: 12:24 GMT, 16 June 2021 | Updated: 13:02 GMT, 16 June 2021. 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. 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 book's title, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679 , indicates the importance the couple places on understanding the location of the Huron Islands in their search. 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. Some say Le Griffon was named for Count Frontenac whose coat of arms was ornamented with the mythical griffin. 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. But even now, the Liberts are prevented by the State of Michigan from conducting an in-depth excavation. 3 Griffon Vulture Amazing Facts. 'What I suspected was a ship was confirmed by me during a dive in September 2018. It was crafted by French explorer Robert de La Salle. Thirty Mile Point is an established location and fits better with the rest of the narrative. [4] Some charged fur traders, and even Jesuits with her destruction. 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. It just sparked my interest and I started researching more and more. In September 1679, French explorers loaded the boat with furs and left Green Bay. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in science writing from NYU. The Atlas may be the oldest confirmed commercial schooner discovered in the Great Lakes. 3. When they arrived there La Motte and Hennepin had not yet returned. They were concerned for their safety in as much that they tried to burn the ship during construction. Editor's Note:In our original version of this story, we inadvertently used video that belonged to Great Lakes Exploration Group, LLC. While they were at times fitted with mast and sails, their primary propulsion was either oars or poles. [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. 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. All of those people have been wrong including Libert she says. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Baillod said he is "99 percent sure" that the wreck is not that of the Griffon. Some said that the Ottawas or Pottawatomies boarded her, murdered her crew, and then burned her. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, 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. [citation needed]. "[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. The Liberts have since published their book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1649: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery.. She was the largest sailing vessel on the Great Lakes up to that time. For the second time, they used a dozen men and ropes to tow Le Griffon over the rapids of the St. Clair River into lower Lake Huron. [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. (Image credit: Father Louis Hennepin Public Domain ). Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Scholastic, Popular Science and Spectrum, a site on autism research. It was the first big ship to sail the Great Lakes. That is simply not true.. 2 is a much sought after shipwreck. 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. The other wreckage has been approximately dated to between 1632 and 1682. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The uneasy truce with the Indians was tested by threats and attempts of sabotage and murder. 'Michel was spot on when he said the main body of the wreck would be within four miles of the bowsprit. [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. A big Beckham birthday! "They lost the ship from sight," Baillod said, "and that's the last anybody has ever seen the Griffin.". The cursed shipwreck, the 'Griffin,' is an incredible find with the history and the tales associated with it till now. 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. Where are the cannons? Several historical and genealogical references show the Griffin making such journeys in 1633 and 1634. Wood can break up. [4] They were navigating Le Griffon through uncharted waters that only canoes had previously explored. The Griffin, a large ship built by Frenchman Rene Robert Cavalli, disappeared on its maiden voyage some 343 years ago. The Griffon was built by La Salle near Niagara Falls and was the first ship to sail on the upper Great Lakes. [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. Lost after 350 years, the cursed ship, The Griffin, went on a voyage that became one of the most legendary disappearances solved in modern times. Griffin was the name of a 17th-century ship known to have sailed between England and English settlements along Massachusetts Bay in British America. News and information from the Michigan State University School of Journalism. the griffon shipwreck facts the griffon shipwreck facts. 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. [1], French explorer Ren Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, sought a Northwest Passage to China and Japan to extend France's trade. Charlevoix couple offers theory on mysterious 1679 shipwreck. Megan SampTickets can be bought online or at Studio C in Okemos. About 1,500 shipwreckshave been found on the bottom of Lake Michigan, Anderson said, and it's unclear whether this one is the Griffin. Several French explores built the exploratory vessel Ren-Robert Cavalier and Sieur de La Salle. Now, treasure hunters who. LeGriffon launched on Aug. 7, 1679, with LaSalle, Father Louis Hennepin and a crew of 32. Dan Scoville, Jim Kennard, Craig Hampton, and Roland Stevens located the steamer thirty miles east of Fair Haven, New York - The Canadian schooner Royal Albert has been discovered in deep water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario near Fair Haven, NY. They moored in quiet water off Squaw Island three miles from Lake Erie waiting for favorable northeast winds. On 6 December, they landed safely on the east bank of the river at about where Lewiston, New York is today. Widely considered the Holy Grail of undiscovered Great Lakes shipwrecks, the Griffon carried no treasure, nor anything. Hennepin said she was named to protect her from the fire that threatened her. 'La Salle was certain that the captain and his men committed mutiny, sank the ship and absconded with all the furs. On a subsequent dive, Dykstra took a magnet with him to help determine the metal composition of the ship. The bowsprit is seen here sticking out of the bed of Lake Michigan, The Liberts are prevented by the State of Michigan from conducting an in-depth excavation of the wreck site, Mr Libert said: 'It is just a matter of time before we achieve our goal. It wanted to sail across Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan through waters only canoes had previously explored. June 3, 2022 . "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?

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