WHITEFISH POINT, Mich. — "We are holding our own."
The last transmission from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald to the nearby SS Arthur M. Anderson at 7:10 p.m. on Nov. 10, 1975.
The Fitzgerald would sink beneath the waters of Lake Superior a short time later, taking with her the 29 men aboard.
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, immortalized by the Gordon Lightfoot ballad "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", remains the largest ship to sink on the Great Lakes.
48 years later, Nov. 10 has become a day of remembrance for families, sailors and many others in the Great Lakes region.
The story of that fateful night on Lake Superior is told again and again as the 29 men are remembered.
The Timeline of the Edmund Fitzgerald's Last Voyage
Nov. 9, 1975 - 2:15 p.m.
The Edmund Fitzgerald departs from Superior, WI, fully loaded with taconite pellets, heading to Detroit.
Nov. 10, 1975 - 2 a.m.
Nearly 12 hours after the Fitzgerald departed, the National Weather Service upgrades existing gale warnings to storm warnings as winds begin to reach up to 50 knots.
Nov. 10, 1975 - 7 a.m.
The Edmund Fitzgerald radios that it no longer has an ETA for its arrival at Sault Ste. Marie to pass through the Soo Locks due to weather.
Nov. 10, 1975 - 1:40 p.m.
Captain Ernest McSorley of the Fitzgerald tells Captain Cooper of the SS Arthur M. Anderson over the radio that the Fitzgerald has been "rolling some."
Nov. 10, 1975 - 2:45 p.m.
After the winds and seas calming slightly, the winds pick back up and are blowing at over 40 knots again.
Nov. 10, 1975 - 3:30 p.m.
Captain McSorley radios Captain Cooper and tells him that the Fitzgerald is damaged, reporting "a fence rail down, two vents lost or damaged, and a list."
Nov. 10, 1975 - 4:10 p.m.
Captain McSorley again radios Captain Cooper and asks them to "keep track of them and provide navigational assistance" after the Fitzgerald's radars stopped working.
Nov. 10, 1975 - 4:52 p.m.
The Arthur M. Anderson records winds at nearly 60 knots with waves between 12 and 18 feet.
Nov. 10, 1975 - 7:10 p.m.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the Edmund Fitzgerald would have its last communication with the nearby Arthur M. Anderson.
Anderson: "There is a target 19 miles ahead of us, so the target is nine miles on ahead."
Fitzgerald: "Well, am I going to clear?"
Anderson: "Yes, he is going to pass to the west of you."
Fitzgerald: "Well, fine."
Anderson: "Oh, by the way, how are you making out with your problems?"
Fitzgerald: "We are holding our own."
Anderson: "Okay, fine, I will be talking to you later."
Nov. 10, 1975 - 8:32 p.m.
After many attempts to contact the Edmund Fitzgerald, Captain Cooper radios to the Coast Guard Group Sault Ste. Marie and says: "I am very concerned with the welfare of the Steamer Edmund Fitzgerald. He was right in front of us experiencing a little difficulty. He was taking on a small amount of water and none of the upbound ships have passed him. I can see no lights as before and don't have him on radar. I just hope he didn't take a nose dive."
The Crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald
- Ernest McSorley — Captain
- John McCarthy — First mate
- James Pratt — Second mate
- Michael Armagost — Third mate
- David Weiss — Cadet
- Ransom Cundy — Watchman
- Karl Peckol — Watchman
- William Spengler — Watchman
- John Simmons — Senior wheelman
- Eugene O’Brien — Wheelman
- John Poviach — Wheelman
- Paul Riippa — Deckhand
- Mark Thomas — Deckhand
- Bruce Hudson — Deckhand
- George Holl — Chief engineer
- Edward Bindon — First assistant engineer
- Thomas Edwards — Second assistant engineer
- Russell Haskell — Second assistant engineer
- Oliver Champeau — Third assistant engineer
- Ralph Walton — Oiler
- Blaine Wilhelm — Oiler
- Thomas Bentsen — Oiler
- Gordon MacLellan — Wiper
- Robert Rafferty — Steward
- Allen Kalmon — Second cook
- Joseph Mazes — Special maintenance
- Thomas Borgeson — Maintenance man
- Frederick Beetcher — Porter
- Nolan Church — Porter
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald resulted in dozens of safety recommendations to prevent another catastrophe this large on the Great Lakes.
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