Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald Quiz

Answer: 1957

The keel was laid for the Edmund Fitzgerald on August 7, 1957. She would be the largest ore bulk laker to sail the Great Lakes.

Answer: Big Fitz

Because of her enormous size, the Fitzgerald was known to other sailors as the Big Fitz. The "Big Fitz" would be nearly 800 ft. long and could carry up to 26,600 tons of iron ore. It held the record for the largest freighter on the Great lakes before other 1000 footers came along.

Answer: Great Lakes Engineering Works

Northwestern Mutual Insurance contracted the Great Lakes Engineering Works to design and build the Fitzgerald. The contract was given on February 1, 1957 and the keel was laid that August. Edmund Fitzgerald was launched and christened on June 8, 1958. The ship was named after the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Edmund Fitzgerald.

Answer: taconite

The Fitzgerald had carried taconite. Taconite is processed by grinding the mineral up and then extracting the iron out of it with a large magnet. This is then turned into pellets. The pellets are melted down and made into diferent things from the iron.

Answer: Ernest McSorley

McSorley had taken command of te Fitzgerald in 1972. He had commanded 9 other ships before and was known as the best bad weather captain on the high seas. He had over 40 years of marining on the Great Lakes and oceans. He had planned to retire after this voyage.

Answer: Arthur Anderson

The Arthur Anderson was accompanying the Fitzgerald across Lake Superior when they ran into a fierce winter storm. They were heading for White Fish Bay which was 15 miles off.

Answer: November 10, 1975

The Fitzgerald reported a minor list and some topside damage which included the radar getting knocked out on the afternoon of November 10, 1975. McSorley slowed down so he would be able to pick up signals from the Anderson's radar. They later ran into a fierce storm with wins up to 60 mph.

Answer: "We are holding our own..."

The last communication from the Fitzgerald was McSorley saying to the captain of the Anderson, "We are holding our own." With that, the Fitzgerald disappeared. The Anderson had trouble raising her or even locating her on radar. McSorley sent no distress signal.

Answer: Yes

The Edmun Fitzgerald was found between the dates of November 14-16, 1975; three days after she disappeared from the Anderson's radar. She was found in two pieces with the stern section upside down and at a 90 degree angle from the upright bow. However, the Fitzgerald is buried up to her load lines to be able to tel exactly what could've caused her to go down so quicly.

Some surmise that she may have run aground slightly or ran into a shoal without the knowledge of the crew. There is no way of telling.

Answer: 29

The Fitzgerald sank so quickly that all 29 members of her crew had gone down. Debris such as lifeboats and rafts were recovered, but no sign of bodies.