The first time many people outside of the Great Lakes region of the U.S. heard of the "Edmund Fitzgerald" was when Gordon Lightfoot's haunting ballad "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," appeared on the Billboard charts in 1976. The story of the "Fitz" that follows is taken from the Coast Guard report of the incident. I have attempted to make the report more understandable by us landlubbers by recompiling the report into chronological order and removing some of the minutia data on courses, bearings, etc.. I hope I have done the "Edmund Fitzgerald" story justice.
At approximately 0830, on 9 November, 1975, FITZGERALD commenced loading taconite (iron ore pellets) at Superior, WI. The day was sunny and calm as the FITZGERALD completed loading and fueling at approximately 1415. The crewmembers were observed replacing the hatch covers. No unusual incidents were observed. This is significant since the hatch covers are an area of contention between the Coast Guard and the families of the "Fitzgerald."
FITZGERALD, Capt McSorley at the helm, departed for Detroit at full speed of 16.3 mph. After about two hours, FITZGERALD reached the area near Two Harbors, MN. The SS ARTHUR M. ANDERSON, had departed Two Harbors at 1630 with a cargo similar to FITZGERALD's, was bound for Gary, IN. The SS ARTHUR M. ANDERSON, making turns for a speed of 14.6 mph, joined FITZGERALD at approximately 1700, 9 November. Shortly thereafter, ANDERSON received notice of Gale Warnings. Sometime after 0200 on 10 November, CAPT Cooper of the ANDERSON, contacted CAPT McSorley, on the FITZGERALD, on VHF-FM radiotelephone. Cooper had just received the notification of Storm Warnings which predicted northeast winds of 50 knots. During this conversation, both expressed concern over the deteriorating weather. They agreed to depart from the normal shipping lanes which are at the southern shore of the lake and proceed on a more northeasterly course in order to be in the lee of the Canadian shore.
At 0400, 10 November, the First Mate on ANDERSON, Morgan Clark, came on watch, and the two vessels proceeded along together throughout his watch. Clark was relieved for the 8-12 watch by Third Mate, Bernard Dorobek. At 0953, Dorobek changed course and to stay approximately 25 miles from the Canadian shore, heading southeastward. Watch officers on board ANDERSON observed that FITZGERALD went closer toward the shore before heading south. Because ANDERSON was, in effect, cutting corners, it was able to keep up with the faster FITZGERALD.
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