It would no longer exist. 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. Countless shipwrecks sit beneath the ocean and stranded on land around the world. [citation needed], On 18 November 1678, after just over a month of preparations at Fort Frontenac, La Salle dispatched Captain La Motte and Father Louis Hennepin together with 15 men and supplies in a vessel of 10 tons. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. The "holy grail" of Great Lakes shipwrecks disappeared 339 years ago They fly at an altitude of 4,900 and 11,500 feet. Metiomek, an Iroquois prophet, apparently told La Salle: 'Beware! [8], Meanwhile, La Salle and Henri de Tonti, had departed Fort Frontenac in a second vessel some days after La Motte and Hennepin. 'But we can systematically search the bottom using non-intrusive techniques and remote sensing devices for conclusive diagnostic evidence. Le Griffon (French pronunciation:[l if], The Griffin) was a sailing vessel built by Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in 1679. All rights reserved (About Us). 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 Salles ships. Shipwreck hunters solve mystery of the missing Griffin: Wreckage of Keen to get away from the neighbours? ', The wreck believed to be the Griffin was found near Poverty Island on Lake Michigan. [8], La Salle's men first had to build their lodging and then guard against the Iroquois who were hostile to this invasion of their ancient homeland. the griffon shipwreck facts. 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. She says American marine archaeologists concluded that what Libert claims is the bowsprit was beyond a doubt part of a Native American fishing trap. La Salle gave instructions for Le Griffon to off-load merchandise for him at Mackinac that would be picked up on the return trip. Editor's Note:In our original version of this story, we inadvertently used video that belonged to Great Lakes Exploration Group, LLC. The nail, which has since been observed by historians, is believed to have been on the ship at the time of it's disappearance, being hauled for building purposes. B. Mansfield reported that this "excited the deepest emotions of the Indian tribes, then occupying the shores of these inland waters". The ship was righted and brought back to the port in Milwaukee and returned to service. Ive seen dozens and dozens of 100- to 150-year-old ships, and that is not a 350-year-old ship. Some time later, Hennepin would use this little vessel to sail to Fort Frontenac and again back to Niagara. 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 Salles ships. Francis Parkman says that by 1677, "four vessels of 25 to 40 tons had been built for the lake Ontario and the river St. Baillod said he is "99 percent sure" that the wreck is not that of the Griffon. Van Heest responds, Most people that are not dreamers say that for it to still exist, it must be in deep water not affected by ice and storms.. They were trying to chart a path from Great Lakes in North America to China and Japan if a route is there. "Expedition Unknown" Ghost Ship of the Great Lakes (TV Episode 2019 Crude tools, green and wet timbers, and the cold winter months caused slow progress in the construction of Le Griffon. Where are the cannons? 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Several French explores built the exploratory vessel Ren-Robert Cavalier and Sieur de La Salle. The griffin was a favourite decorative motif in the ancient Middle Eastern and Mediterranean lands. 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.. The two men did not bring up the nail on purpose, and they plan to return it to the state, said Dean Anderson, the state archaeologist for Michigan. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Le Griffon, a barque ship, was carrying bison and furs at the time it disappeared, Libert said. According to Mr and Mrs Libert, The Griffin is a good match for wreckage found in 2018 near Poverty Island, Lake Michigan. 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. [4] When the Seneca again threatened to burn the ship, she was launched earlier than planned in Cayuga Creek channel of the upper Niagara River with ceremony and the roar of her cannons. Hennepin said she was named to protect her from the fire that threatened her. 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. [citation needed]. 175 Year Old Great Lakes Atlas Schooner Located in Lake Ontario, Early 1800s Dagger-board Schooner Three Brothers Discovered in Lake Ontario, 1926 Steamship Nisbet Grammer Discovered in Lake Ontario, 158 year old Canadian Schooner Royal Albert Discovered in Lake Ontario, Mid-Nineteenth Century Canadian Schooner Ocean Wave Discovered by Shipwreck Explorers, Major Shipwreck Discovery in Lake Michigan. La Salle and Father Louis Hennepin set out on the Le Griffon's maiden voyage on August 7, 1679 with a crew of 32, sailing across Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan through uncharted waters that only canoes had previously explored. Other experts insist Liberts absolutely wrong. One of the most intriguing is that the wreckage of the Griffon may have been found nearly 100 years ago but went unrecognized. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. Mr Libert believes the Griffin was caught in a four-day storm and the bowsprit, which was held in place only by wooden wedges, broke off before the rest of the ship sank. My interest began the day my teacher reached over and touched my shoulder and said out loud in class, Maybe one day someone in this class will find it.. The Liberts' book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery, is available via Amazon for 24.69. It's the only artifact so far to be brought back from the ship wreck. I have spent over 42 years searching for this most sought-after historic vessel.. Zebra mussels cover what may be a griffin on the bow of the ship. Unexpectedly, a nail attached itself to the magnet, and the treasure hunters only discovered it later, once they were above water. 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. The Griffin (Le Griffon) was a sailing ship built byRen-Robert Cavelier in 1679 that mysteriously disappeared during its maiden voyage on the Great Lakes. These films range from comedies to dramas to long and short films. [In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery]. LANSING Historical mysteries may take decades, even centuries, to solve if ever. About 1,500 shipwreckshave been found on the bottom of Lake Michigan, Anderson said, and it's unclear whether this one is the Griffin. The Griffin disappeared returning from its maiden voyage in 1679 and was last seen struggling in a storm near what is now Washington Island in Wisconsin. Those left behind proceeded with needed building projects. [1][4], La Salle found some of the 15 men he sent ahead from Fort Frontenac to trade with the Illinois but they had listened to La Salle's enemies who said he would never reach the Straits of Mackinac. Forsberg said several of the bolts. LaSalle's Griffon has not been found. Marie. 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"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. The Griffin is used as the symbol for Brisbane Waters Secondary College on the Central Coast of New . State archaeologists reviewed the footage, and "They've been very diligent to say, 'This is really interesting; these are some neat pictures,'" Dykstra said. 1 Answer. THE WRECK OF THE GRIFFON by Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg, published and distributed by Seawolf Communications Inc. 224 pages. Mr Libert then spent two years sifting through satellite imagery before he made a breakthrough. Now, treasure hunters who. Navagio Beach in Greece is famous for its shipwreck. 4 Famous Shipwrecks Still Waiting to be Discovered - HISTORY Finding the wreck is the goal of most Great Lakes shipwreck hunters due to the notoriety, and they call it the Holy Grail amongst them. Armament: 50 iron cannons total. But other experts aren't convinced that the wreck is the Griffin. We hear from the Association of Counties, state court administrator and the president, from Gratiot County, of the Michigan Judges Association. What's Happening in Northern Michigan: Oryana Cooking Class, Le Griffon Usually depicted as half lion and half eagle, this ancient beast is more than the sum of its parts. The British steamship Nisbet Grammer, the largest steel steamer to have foundered in Lake Ontario has been discovered by a team of shipwreck explorers. Suffering from cold and low on supplies, the men were close to mutiny. The furs on board would have cost 640,000 in today's value, sinking with the vessel. 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. Cathy Green, the executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, is also skeptical, calling it highly unlikely that its the Griffon and nearly impossible to definitively know because of the centuries of damage to shallow water wrecks from ice, storms and rising and falling lake levels. There's no way," Henriksen said. Some said that the Ottawas or Pottawatomies boarded her, murdered her crew, and then burned her. The comments below have not been moderated. Le Griffon. It would be busted up, she said. Sources disagree on how long this delay was. The 1633 journey left from Downs, England and landed at Plymouth in Plymouth Colony on September 3. Thirty Mile Point is an established location and fits better with the rest of the narrative. Richard Gross. But the ship vanished while delivering a valuable cargo of furs, amid rumours that she had been cursed by a prophet from the Iroquois tribe. French explorer Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle built the Griffin in 1679, but it was lost in Lake Michiganthe same year. $19.95 plus $3 S&H. It was built with the intention of finding a route across the Great Lakes of North America to reach China and Japan. While frozen rivers made traveling easy, finding food was not. Pictured: Some of the wreckage. That is simply not true.. 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. He continued exploring the Mississippi River until his murder in Texas in 1687. Alternatively, another . Now shipwreck hunters Steve and Kathie Libert say they have found the infamous vessel, which was the first to sail the Great Lakes beyond Niagara Falls. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Welcome to the Coronation! Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. Griffin was the name of a 17th-century ship known to have sailed between England and English settlements along Massachusetts Bay in British America. Griffin (ship) - Wikipedia And, as the curse foretold, La Salle was later murdered during a 1687 expedition by a member of his party. Its discovery is credited to wreck hunters Stevie and Kathie Libert for the record. - News and information from student journalists at the Michigan State University School of Journalism, About the Michigan State University School of Journalism, Michigan Chile Investigative Journalism Program, MSU journalism COVID-related reporting guidelines, Upcoming court ruling could impact trial court funding as deadline approaches, Why does your vote matter? La Salle took personal command at this point due to evidence that the pilot was negligent. Inside Prince Harry's finances from when he met Meghan Markle to landing 100M with Netflix and book Spare Royally hard work! "It's a mystery ship that got in our way," Dykstra said, "and now, we're going for the gold.". 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. Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Island on the Niagara River and was armed with seven cannons. [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. 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. Your comment will appear after being approved. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The Griffon has not been found, Wayne Lusardi, the state archaeologist in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says bluntly. Thought the bowsprit discovered about 3.8 miles and the remains of the wreck make the Indian attack not possible, or even a mutinous uprising. Legions of searchers have tried to track down its. Some say that this vessel was named the Frontenac, while others say the other vessel used on La Salle's expedition was Frontenac. Tonti learned of a plan to burn the ship before it could be launched, so he launched ahead of schedule and Le Griffon entered the waters in early May 1679. Charlevoix couple offers theory on mysterious 1679 shipwreck