Mighty FitzMighty Fitz
The Edmund Fitzgerald, a colossal ore carrier, had been fighting her way through a pounding November storm on Lake Superior. Then the Fitz’s radar went out, and she started to take on water. Despite gale-force winds and thirty-foot seas, there was no reason to think the Fitz wouldn’t find safe harbor at Whitefish Point, Michigan. The last words from the Fitz’s captain, Ernest McSorley, was “We are holding our own.” By all indications, the crew had no idea they were in mortal danger before they plunged to Lake Superior’s bottom with no chance to call for help.
Michael Schumacher relates in vivid detail the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, her many years on the waters of the Great Lakes, the fateful final day, the search efforts and investigation, as well as the speculation and controversy that followed in the wake of the disaster. A fitting tribute to one of the largest ships to have sailed the Great Lakes and the men who tragically lost their lives, Mighty Fitz provides a comprehensive look at the most legendary shipwreck on America’s inland waters.
The Edmund Fitzgerald, often called the Titanic of the Great Lakes, sank on November 10, 1975, with no survivors. Because the ship never radioed for help, the exact cause and circumstances of the disaster remain a mystery. Written in narrative style, this account gives background on the ship's previous history and describes the sinking, search efforts, and the investigation. There is special emphasis on the controversy over the Coast Guard report released after the investigation into the accident. Appendices offer a list of the crew members, the lyrics to the commemorative song by Gordon Lightfoot, and a glossary of ship terms. Schumacher has written other historical works. The book was originally published in 2005 by Bloomsbury. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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- Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press, 2012.
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