Or the Jesuits had something to do with the disappearance. Le Griffon launched August 7, 1679 from Cayuga Island (Niagara Falls, NY). Le Griffon is considered by some to have been the first ship lost on the Great Lakes. "[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. From there they struck out across the lake toward the mouth of the Niagara River. [19][20] Their claim was quickly debunked when Michigan authorities dove down on 9 June 2015 after receiving the coordinates to verify its authenticity. Talia Lakritz. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 2023 www.lenconnect.com. Majestic, strong, and imbued with magic, the griffin is a common heraldic symbol which joins the lion's valor with the eagle's elegance. Other experts insist Liberts absolutely wrong. There are three acceptable English spellings of the word: griffin, griffon and gryphon. Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. Some are thousands of years old. Green and Ken Vrana, the principal of Maritime Heritage Consulting, advocate an independent assessment by professionals. I have spent over 42 years searching for this most sought-after historic vessel.. Marine researcher, shipwreck historian says Manitoulin has solid claim He was 43. According to Father Louis Hennepin, one of them was caught in a violent storm and never survived, notedthe Daily Mail. The ancient origins of the legendary griffin | Ancient Origins The Griffin, a large ship built by Frenchman Rene Robert Cavalli, disappeared on its maiden voyage some 343 years ago. 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. Griffin shipwreck: Scientists say timber in Lake Michigan centuries old The Holy Grail of Great Lakes shipwrecks is Le Griffon, the first European-style ship built by explorer Robert De La Salle that is believed to have sank in Lake Michigan in a storm in 1679.. 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. 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. Underwater Archaeologists May Have Discovered the Oldest Shipwreck in Le Griffon: The Great Lakes' greatest mystery - Detroit Free Press 'But we can systematically search the bottom using non-intrusive techniques and remote sensing devices for conclusive diagnostic evidence. 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. 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. "The [American] Indians told the captain not to sail out, to wait the storm out, but he wouldn't listen to them," Baillod said. Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. 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! 'The distance of 3.8 miles between the bowsprit and main sections highly suggests the Indians did not sink it either, nor did La Salle's men mutiny and sink the ship. It takes nine months for the puppies to reach the adult weight and can take up to one and a half years for larger dogs to achieve adult weight. The horror of Japan's death railway captured by cartoon: Top secret US mission to scatter Pearl Harbour mastermind Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' [18] Steve and Kathie Libert have since published a book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands - 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery (Mission Point Press, 2021). The exact size and construction of Le Griffon is not known but many researchers believe she was a 45-ton barque. Steve Libert, from the Great Lakes Exploration Group, said he is 99.9% certain . The divers said they found Le Griffon in 2011, but are just announcing the discovery because they were consulting experts to confirm it. He learned to dive, and the quest was on. Below Niagara Falls: first ships on Lake Ontario. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook& Google+. The wind did slightly decrease but they drifted slowly all night, unable to find anchorage or shelter. On 27 December 2014, two divers, Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe, announced the discovery of a wreck that they believe is Le Griffon, based on the bowstem, which to some resembles an ornamental griffin. "When the Griffin left from Wisconsin, headed back to Niagara, it was never heard from again," Porter said. La Salle offered Hennepin the honor of driving the first spike, but Hennepin deferred to his leader. Le Griffon may have been found by the Great Lakes Exploration Group but the potential remains were the subject of lawsuits involving the discoverers, the state of Michigan, the U.S. federal government, and the Government of France. He teaches environmental journalism and serves as director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. Charlevoix couple offers theory on mysterious 1679 shipwreck. Alpena County reference. Its fate has been a puzzlement for maritime historians for more than three and a half centuries. Pictures show the bow of the ship with a carved sculpture. New York, [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. La Salle took personal command at this point due to evidence that the pilot was negligent. 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.. It was built by the French explorer Ren Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, with a view to finding a route through the lakes to China and Japan. 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. [6][8][11][pageneeded] There the keel was laid on 26 January 1679. 2 - The Almiranta, Santo Cristo de San Roman, Nuestra Seora del Rosario y San Jose (Presumably a galleon). Long-lost shipwreck found in Lake Michigan, explorer says - USA TODAY ', He continued: 'Both the Seneca and Iroquois felt threatened by the construction and sight of Le Griffon, and felt that it was a threat to the 'Great Spirit. Carbon dating of the bowsprit places suggests an age range within a year of the sinking. Charlevoix diver claims to find 'holy grail' of Great Lakes shipwrecks He arrived there nearly starved only to find that his detractors had succeeded in stirring up doubt and opposition with his creditors. Where are the cannons? Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). 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. State archaeologists reviewed the footage, and "They've been very diligent to say, 'This is really interesting; these are some neat pictures,'" Dykstra said. "[7] None of these sources ascribe a name to any of these vessels. Some sources confuse the two vessels. (Image: Great Lakes Exploration Group via Pen News) The wreck was found near Poverty Island on Lake Michigan, almost 350 years after it vanished. "[5] He also says that at Fort Frontenac in 1676, La Salle "laid the keels of the vessels which he depended on to frighten the English. Every one of these shipwreck hunters finds a bone pile and claims its the Griffon.. Many explorers have claimed to havefound Le Griffon in the past, but Dykstra and Monroe are the only ones who've foundan actual ship wreck. But the latest finding, made popular again by Wreck Diving Magazine in its latest issue, holds a number of clues about the ship's past. The Griffin sank to the murky depths of. Kingsford says it was either contrary wind or they were becalmed. We asked the experts - and their answers will terrify you Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. The uneasy truce with the Indians was tested by threats and attempts of sabotage and murder. The Liberts have since published their book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1649: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery.. Possibly a cannon, hopefully with the date stamped on it.'. More than 5,000 ship wrecks are scattered throughout the Great Lakes, and Porter said the Le Griffon is the most precious one. The Wilhelm Gustloff (1945): The deadliest shipwreck in history On January 30, 1945, some 9,000 people perished aboard this German ocean liner after it was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine and . The British steamship Nisbet Grammer, the largest steel steamer to have foundered in Lake Ontario has been discovered by a team of shipwreck explorers. It was a calm night and they believed the vessel was securely moored. They may be deliberate or accidental. Ghost Ship of the Great Lakes: With Josh Gates, Joan Forsberg, Brendon Baillod, Greg Busch. June 3, 2022 . To skeptics who doubt Liberts identification of the wreckage, he responds, The clues are there., Van Heest says the books account of the expedition from the Niagara River to Lake Michigan has the facts down, but once we get to the story of the supposed bowsprit it all falls apart because its not a bowsprit.. [1][4], On noon of 25 August they started out northwest with a favoring northerly wind. La Salle and Father Louis Hennepin set out on the ship during its maiden voyage on August 7am , 1969 along with a crew of 32. While they were at times fitted with mast and sails, their primary propulsion was either oars or poles. Crude tools, green and wet timbers, and the cold winter months caused slow progress in the construction of Le Griffon. In September 1679, French explorers loaded the boat with furs and left Green Bay. [citation needed], After La Salle and Tonti left, the pilot and the rest of the crew were to follow with the supply vessel. "The Great Lakes are a time capsule, the fresh water preserves the ship wreck," Porter said. The ship disappeared 343 years back on its maiden launch without a trace. CNS correspondents cover all aspects of Michigan state government. Alternatively, another . Here's how to watch. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Ive seen dozens and dozens of 100- to 150-year-old ships, and that is not a 350-year-old ship. La Salle never saw Le Griffon again. They discovered a 15-inch slab of blackened wood that might have been a human-fashioned cultural artifact. Several French explores built the exploratory vessel Ren-Robert Cavalier and Sieur de La Salle. 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 . Pictured: Some of the wreckage. 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. Le Griffon (French pronunciation:[l if], The Griffin) was a sailing vessel built by Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in 1679. Capital News Services articles may be reprinted exclusively by subscribing media organizations. Shipwreck Facts for Kids - Kiddle [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 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 Salle's ships. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) A debris field at the bottom of Lake Michigan may be the remains of the long-lost Griffin, a vessel commanded by a 17th-century French explorer, said a shipwreck . NY 10036. 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. Le Griffon set off on 7 August with unfurled sails, a 34-man crew, and a salute from her cannon and musketry. Hennepin said she was named to protect her from the fire that threatened her. 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. fremont hospital deaths; what happened to tropical tidbits; chris herren speaking fee; boracay braids cultural appropriation; the griffon shipwreck facts. A ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. Metiomek, an Iroquois prophet, apparently told La Salle: 'Beware! 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The accounts agree that this little vessel played a part in the building of Le Griffon. Is Joe Biden Sick? Libert said the book reveals the location of the Huron Islands where Robert La Salles ship, Le Griffon, met her fate. 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. When they arrived there La Motte and Hennepin had not yet returned. Updated. He learned to dive, and the quest was on. [15] On 19 June 2013, teams of scientists determined the wood pole discovered was not attached to a ship, after it came loose and was placed on the lake bed during an excavation. 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. It is now believed to be the famous ship, 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. While diving in Lake Michigan, two men stumbled upon a shipwreck they think is a 1676 French ship named 'Le Griffon,' or The Griffin. The straight-line distance is about 75 miles (121km). Several historical and genealogical references show the Griffin making such journeys in 1633 and 1634. Lake Michigan Triangle claims Great Lakes shipwrecks and plane crash "If you take the picture of the carving of the griffon and overlay it on what these gentleman have, it's very compelling," Porter said. LOCAL COURT FUNDING: A quarter of local trial court funding is set to expire in 2024 or even earlier if the state Supreme Court says judges cant continue to impose costs on convicted criminal defendants. 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. It was built with the intention of finding a route across the Great Lakes of North America to reach China and Japan. Their sonar caught a mass below, and Dykstra dove into the water to take video. He was planning to map the Great Lakes, initially thinking they might be a connecting gateway to the Orient. 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. Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. I was mesmerized by what he was saying. Their mission was to begin selecting a site for the construction of Le Griffon and to erect necessary structures for shelter, storage, and defense. The two treasure hunters were taking measurements of the ship when Dykstra's magnet, tethered to his scuba gear, picked up an object that few people have ever seen: a hand forged nail that dates back to 1679. The loss of the Griffon is one of the great mysteries of the Great Lakes. La Salle decided to visit the Senecas at Tagarondies himself.