Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lk Superior today, 10 November 1975

[irisblue]

Link to tweet

[hlthe2b]

1. I always listen to Gordon Lightfoot's famous ballad on this day. So perfectly captures the tragedy

One of the most evocative songs ever written in my opinion.

The above is the live version. I like the slower original version a bit better

[Stinky The Clown]

6. I, too, have always applied the word "evocative" to that song. It stands the hairs up on my neck.

"The searchers all say she'd have made Whitefish Bay had she put 15 more miles behind her."

Things change by instants.

I served on a Minesweeper in the Navy. Iron Men and Wooden Ships we used to say. She had a round bottom and top speed of 16 kts. In 1969 we were TDY in Panama City, FL. As ships are generally safer at sea than in port, we were ordered to sea as a hurricane was headed toward the Gulf Coast. Very fortunately, the storm stayed well west of us as we cruised up and down Florida's west coast. While we were "safe" we took frightening rolls. Seas were well over 20 feet. Another ship on our horizon would literally disappear when we or they fell into a trough Our ship's design roll was 42º. Our clinometer was showing regular 35º to 38º rolls to one side and 15º to the other side. Add in wind and rain squalls and it is frightening in the extreme to be in a storm at sea.

I empathize with any sailors who endured this. The Fitzgerald went down just a few years after my own experience.

Gordon Lightfoot's song so perfectly captured what one experiences. The crew hanging together. The helplessness against nature's awesome power. And the instant things changed.

Short by 15 miles.

Whew . . . .

[demmiblue]

2. Another video (with archival footage):

It always gives me the chills.

[BuddhaGirl]

3. Have always loved this song

He is quite the songwriter...very haunting yet beautiful.

[Buckeyeblue]

4. The Great Lakes are both beautiful and spooky at the same time

[roamer65]

5. I remember seeing the report of the sinking on WNEM that night in 1975.

I was 10 years old and I still remember it.