Posted on 08/07/2007 10:24:07 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Joe Rasch and his two daughters, Emily and Elizabeth, were looking for agates on the Lake Superior coastline last Friday. Instead, they found a piece of history -Â a life ring from the Edmund Fitzgerald. Rasch admits he didn't realize what he found when he first saw the orange ring lying under a with pine tree that had fallen. Only when his daughter Emily read the words on the ring, it hit him. "It was pretty hard to read," Emily said. "I saw the Ed pretty good, then Fitz, so." They made the discovery near the Keweenau Peninsula, about 200 miles from where the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in November 1975. Rasch said he gets chills whenever he carries the ring, and doesn't believe it was a coincidence. "It was time for it to be found," he told 24 Hour News 8, "for people to be reminded of all 29 people who went down and the power of Lake Superior. It wasn't that long ago." Rasch, an apple farmer... and his family plan to donate it to the museum, which already has one ring from the ship... on November 10, the 32nd anniversary of the Fitzgerald's sinking.
(Excerpt) Read more at woodtv.com ...
Agree 100%.
"They may have broke deep and took water" is a reference to the theory that she grounded on Five Fathom Shoal earlier in the day, and that the water seeping into the holds was what did her in. And though Lightfoot does say "good ship and true" (at least on the Gord's Gold 2 version) it really should be "good ship and crew."
Interesting stuff on the type of vessel the Edmund Fitzgerald was http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_freighter
ping
Thanks for the great thread. Living near the Great Lakes all my life, that song always was pretty special; and very sad.
Edmund Fitzgerald life ring not realThat life ring from the Edmund Fitzgerald found a few weeks ago? Well, it's not.
read by Rachel Ruiz
WOOD-TV
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum confirmed the ring is not the real thing, even though they originally believed it to be.
The ring is believed to have been stolen from a cottage in Eagle River a few years ago, and it was those cottage owners who painted the words "Edmund Fitzgerald" on it.
Joe Rasch, who with his daughters found the ring while on vacation earlier this month, said he's disappointed and he'll probably hang it in his shed.
Thanks for the update real kind to include everyone who responded on it. I got something out of the thread and a link to a good song and video thanks to TFFKAMN.
Thanks again.
My pleasure, you’re most welcome.
You’re quite welcome. The ring may be fake, but the disaster was (tragically) quite real. And at least this non-story reminded people about that gruesome night on Superior, and about the terrible risks our Merchant Marine takes in delivering cargo.
reminded people about that gruesome night on Superior, and about the terrible risks our Merchant Marine takes in delivering cargo.
So very true.
Thanks for the update. The good news is that all eyes were on the UP for a few minutes. On a summer when we in North Carolina are looking a temperatures in the 100’s again this week, it’s nice to think back to my summers growing up in Upper Michigan when I could take a dip in a cool clear water lake anytime I wanted to.
“Fake but accurate”? :-)
;’)
You’re most welcome.
Oh, life PRESERVER!
I really thought they were talking about some mystical ‘70s fad item, like a mood ring.
“Life ring”. OK.
This story has been “debunked” as not having come from the Edmund Fitzgerald. It was a life ring from a lake front cabin that the owner “decorated” with the name of the Edmund Fitzgerald. At some point that life ring was stolen and ended up in the lake. At least that is what is being reported on some boating message boards.
At least it wasn’t the Edmund Fitzgerald “Life Partner” ring. :-)
What a truly tragic find that would be!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.