While diving in Lake Michigan, two men stumbled upon a shipwreck they think is a 1676 French ship named 'Le Griffon,' or The Griffin. "[7] None of these sources ascribe a name to any of these vessels. The 2001 discovery of a bowsprit sticking out the lakebed sparked a 10-year legal battle with the State of Michigan, preventing the explorers from excavating for the rest of the ship until 2013. Cruise-goers reveal their most terrifying incidents at sea - from watching a ferocious Do YOU know your Adam and Eve from your Ruby Murray? Usually depicted as half lion and half eagle, this ancient beast is more than the sum of its parts. It's the only artifact so far to be brought back from the ship wreck. The Mysterious Shipwreck of Le Griffon | Expedition Unknown More than 100 Native American bark canoes gathered around Le Griffon to look at the "big wood canoe". YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Ive seen dozens and dozens of 100- to 150-year-old ships, and that is not a 350-year-old ship. 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. 'It's the holy grail of ship wrecks' Le Griffon, the - WXMI 'The Christian Indian's curse rests on you and on your great canoe. Others say he did not return to Niagara until July. So you want to make a news show? He also teaches public affairs reporting, international journalism, feature writing and media law and serves as director of the schools Capital News Service. [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. The accounts agree that this little vessel played a part in the building of Le Griffon. But even now, the Liberts are prevented by the State of Michigan from conducting an in-depth excavation. With incredible strength, unfailing protective instincts, and a zero-tolerance policy against evil, it is the superhero of mythological creatures. A bowsprit discovered a few miles away in 2001 is another part of the vessel, they claim. 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. In the past griffin was a symbol of strength and dexterity.It often looked after a treasure.. 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. The Griffin is used as the symbol for Brisbane Waters Secondary College on the Central Coast of New . A griffin (or gryphon) is a chimeric creature, part eagle and part lion. 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. All rights reserved. 'But we can systematically search the bottom using non-intrusive techniques and remote sensing devices for conclusive diagnostic evidence. Treasure Hunters Find Mysterious Shipwreck in Lake Michigan A bit of history: The Griffon was built in 1679 and launched that year, believed to be the largest ship on the Great Lakes. 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. The ship was lost in the depths of northern Lake Michigan over 300 years ago. 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. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Alex Murdaugh unanimously found GUILTY of murder of wife and son, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts. The Le Griffon, a barque ship, was carrying bison and furs at the time it disappeared, Libert said. (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 griffin (also called gryphon, gryphen, griffon, griffen, and gryphin), is a legendary creature.It has the head, front legs, and wings of an eagle.The rest of the body looks like a part of a lion.. Unless the Legislature acts, local taxpayers would then be saddled with those expenses. As noted above, sources give its size as either 20 tons or 40 tons. 17th Century Shipwreck of Long-Lost Le Griffon Discovered at - IBT The ship was righted and brought back to the port in Milwaukee and returned to service. Metiomek, an Iroquois prophet, apparently told La Salle: 'Beware! 3. From the web site of Libert's company: "There were plenty of theories of what happened to the flagship. Long-lost shipwreck found in Lake Michigan, explorer says - USA TODAY (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2022/03/charlevoix-couple-offers-theory-on-mysterious-1679-shipwreck/). Archaeology breakthrough as 'cursed' shipwreck discovered after 350 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. 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. Kingsford's text says Thirty-nine Mile Point, but modern charts do not show that name. It dragged anchor and ran aground near Thirty Mile Point on Lake Ontario, where it broke apart. Possibly a cannon, hopefully with the date stamped on it.'. Content is produced by MSU students under the guidance of journalism faculty. The Native Americans told La Salle the crew planned to sail toward the Straits of Mackinac in stormy weather. 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. Baillod said he is "99 percent sure" that the wreck is not that of the Griffon. Laura is the archaeology/history and Life's Little Mysteries editor at Live Science. The mythical griffin is a creature of ferocity and nobility. If it exists in the physical world, we think it will be there in deep water, she says. The ship left Conneaut for Port Stanley, Ontario in late morning on Dec. 7, 1909 with a captain and . Now, more than 335years later, the wreck of the Griffon has not definitively been found. [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. By Michael Havis and Harry Howard For Mailonline, Published: 12:24 GMT, 16 June 2021 | Updated: 13:02 GMT, 16 June 2021. 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. 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. CNS correspondents cover all aspects of Michigan state government. [1][4] Beginning on Christmas Day, 1678, La Motte and Hennepin together with four of their men, went by snowshoe to a prominent Seneca chief who resided at Tagarondies[notes 2] a village about 75 miles (120km) east of Niagara[notes 3] and about 20 miles (32km) south of Lake Ontario. We apologize to Great Lakes Exploration Group for any confusion this may have caused. While they were at times fitted with mast and sails, their primary propulsion was either oars or poles. In any case, Le Griffon was larger than any other vessel on the lakes at the time, and as far as contemporary reports can confirm, the first named vessel. 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. Green and Ken Vrana, the principal of Maritime Heritage Consulting, advocate an independent assessment by professionals. Only then did the Liberts and the Great Lakes Exploration Group discover that the bowsprit was separate from the remainder of the vessel. 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 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. The Griffon was built by La Salle near Niagara Falls and was the first ship to sail on the upper Great Lakes. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. Libert said the book reveals the location of the Huron Islands where Robert La Salles ship, Le Griffon, met her fate. Beneath the cold waves of Lake Michigan rests an aging shipwreck, its wooden planks encrusted with brown-and-gray zebra mussels, that may be the remnants of a 17th-century ship called the Griffin, two Michigan-based treasure hunters say. 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. Shipwreck hunters solve mystery of the missing Griffin: Wreckage of Suffering from cold and low on supplies, the men were close to mutiny. Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. A history teacher inspired Libert in school. 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. 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. [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. [4] They entered Lake St. Clair on 12 August, the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi, and named the lake after her. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, A shipwreck is the remains of a ship that has been wrecked. 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. Capital News Services articles may be reprinted exclusively by subscribing media organizations. The Griffon, built in 1679, sank that same year somewhere in the Great Lakes. She carried a cargo of furs valued at from 50,000 to 60,000 francs ($10,000 $12,000) and the rigging and anchors for another vessel that La Salle intended to build to find passage to the West Indies. "There was no rudder on the boat," Dykstra said. 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. Joe Porter, publisher for Wreck Diving Magazine, has penned articles on famous ship wrecks including the Titanic, but saidthe Griffon is the most fascinating. When a strong wind suddenly arose, they could not make it back to the ship. Join the discussion, Playing Nov. 3-10: East Lansing Film Festivals silver anniversary. While there La Salle selected a site for building Le Griffon. 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. I thought, I gotta find this ship. The story my history teacher proceeded to tell immediately caught my full attention and like most young men, stirred the imagination of early exploration in an unknown country. The photographer was an archaeologist working on the project. 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. Marie. Copyright 2023 HNGN. ", 'Fifty-one years later, I am still intrigued by this story.'. She was the largest sailing vessel on the Great Lakes up to that time. 2 is a much sought after shipwreck. TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan -- Steven J. Libert had been looking for the ship, Le Griffon, for 42 years. All Rights Reserved. "It's the holy grail of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.". (Wikipedia) The age could have proved if the plank came. 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. 'Many believed the Jesuits were responsible for the ship's disappearance. Le Griffon - Wikipedia A couple in Charlevoix . Great Migration: Passengers of the Griffin, 1634 - geni family tree Heres how it works. 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. Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan To Be Weighed By US Supreme Court, San Antonio Couple Allegedly Trained Their Dogs To Be Aggressive Before Air Force Veteran Gets Mauled to Death, Hungary Says Sweden Is Spreading Fake News Concerning Budapest Will Not Help Its NATO Bid, Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval-Ariana Madix Split: Raquel Leviss Admits Doing 1 Thing Amid Affair Rumors. Jupiter and Venus 'kiss' in a stunning planetary conjunction tonight. [1][4] The exact size and construction of Le Griffon is not known. 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. Some say Le Griffon was named for Count Frontenac whose coat of arms was ornamented with the mythical griffin. La Salle whose full name was the noble-sounding Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle wasnt aboard the Griffon. Charlevoix couple offers theory on mysterious 1679 shipwreck. Discovery of French ship Le Griffon in Great Lakes prompts Michigan On the evening of 10th November 1975, Edmund Fitzgerald sank around 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. Below Niagara Falls: first ships on Lake Ontario. 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. "It's a mystery ship that got in our way," Dykstra said, "and now, we're going for the gold.". [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. Thirty Mile Point is an established location and fits better with the rest of the narrative. 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. Le Griffon launched August 7, 1679 from Cayuga Island (Niagara Falls, NY). Treasure Hunters Find Mysterious Shipwreck in Lake Michigan - Yahoo! News 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. 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 crossing Lake Michigan in the 1800s, they told WZZM, a western Michigan news station. Dykstra said he took photos of old cannons, a sword, and the griffin sculpture, evidence he says reveals the wreck and itsmissing secrets. But, the Liberts say her final. Ice flowing down the river threatened to damage their little brigantine and after a cable was broken, they hauled the vessel ashore and into a small ravine for protection. "Can we call this the Griffin? The cargo of furs, estimated at up to $12,000 in value nearly $900,000 (640,000) in today's money likely went to the depths with her. "It's very difficult to access a wreck based on photo and film footage," Anderson said. Addressing his problems long delayed his return to the expedition. REVEALED: Huge sonic boom felt by thousands across the country was caused by RAF Typhoon jets scrambling to Wakey Wakey! 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. 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. $19.95 plus $3 S&H. The entire 29-member crew went down with it in what has become the greatest Great Lakes Shipping Tragedy of all time. 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. It was built with the intention of finding a route across the Great Lakes of North America to reach China and Japan. The cursed shipwreck, the 'Griffin,' is an incredible find with the history and the tales associated with it till now. The unrest of the Seneca and dissatisfied workmen were continually incited by secret agents of merchants and traders who feared La Salle would break their monopoly on the fur trade. An infamous 'cursed' ship that disappeared more than 340 years ago has been found. 'The imagery depicted the keelson and frames,' he said. Using sonar, two treasure hunters found the remains of a shipwreck in Lake Michigan. Its fate has been a puzzlement for maritime historians for more than three and a half centuries. 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. On 23 June 2014, Steve Libert told the Associated Press he believed he found Le Griffon in Lake Michigan after extensive searching, in a debris field near where a wood slab was found the previous year. La Salle followed the southern shore of the lake. We hear from the Association of Counties, state court administrator and the president, from Gratiot County, of the Michigan Judges Association.
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