Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The (Toledo) Blade September 25, 1980 Divers Explore Wreck Of Edmund Fitzgerald By Mike Steere Blade Staff Writer SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - For the first time since the lake freighter Ed- mund Fitzgerald went to its watery grave in November, 1975, the wreckage has been explored by divers in eastern Lake Superior. Using a miniature submarine, divers from Capt. Jacques Cousteau's research vessel Calypso went down more than 500 feet and photographed the wreckage about 4 a.m. Wednesday. In the spring of 1976, the Fitzgerald was extensively photographed by the U.S. Coast Guard as part of its official inquiry into the sinking. Television pictures taken at that time showed the ship in two pieces about 170 feet apart on the muddly lake bottom. Findings Parallel Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Captain Cousteau, said this morning that his re- searchers' findings closely parallel a coast guard investigation of the wreck concluded in 1977. He said that his divers' 30 minutes on the lake bottom turned up no new clues as to what caused the ore carrier, among the largest and more modern on the lakes, to sink. The coast guard's investigation ap- pears to be "extremely accurate," Mr. Cousteau said, adding that his men noted only a few discrepancies in their ob- servations with composite drawings of the wreck made from coast guard un- derwater photography in May, 1976. The coast guard's underwater survey was made with a remote-controlled un- manned device. The Cousteau expedition's dive Wednesday was the first time human beings explored the wreck. A report issued by the coast guard pointed to flooding caused by leaking or damaged cargo-hatch covers as the probable cause for the vessel's destruc- tion. The Lake Carriers' Association sharp- ly attacked the coast guard's conclusions and issued a report saying that the Fitzgerald probably sank because it grounded on a shoal several hours be- fore it plunged to the bottom. The divers brought no artifacts to the surface from the wreck, and no bodies were seen. None of the crewman's bodies was recovered after the vessel's sinking, which left only a few fragments of flotsam on the surface. Mr. Cousteau said it would take eight whole days of good weather to complete investigation of the wreck, which would mean spending up to several months in the area. "We were lucky to have three hours of good weather." Wednesday's early-morning dive was cut short because of deteriorating weather conditions. The Calypso will not return to the Fitzgerald. The Calypso's two-man diving disk en- countered no problems in making the descent to more than 500 feet. Mr. Cousteau said the disk divers explored and filmed only the forward portion of the ship. The Fitzgerald has settled somewhat more deeply into the soft, muddy lake bottom, Mr. Cousteau concluded after comparing what his divers saw and coast guard pictures. Calypso crew members were said to be pleased with their dive Wednesday, but film taken during the trip was yet to be developed and reviewed by early this morning. Mr. Cousteau said that film clips from his Lake Superior dive would be shown to the press here this after- noon. The 729-foot lake freighter took 29 persons to their deaths, including 7 from northwest Ohio. The ship sank so sud- denly that no distress call was believed transmitted. The Fitzgerald's master, Capt. Ernest McSorley, a merchant seaman on the lakes 43 years, was a resident of Ottawa Hills. The freighter was a frequent caller in the Port of Toledo. ===========================================================================