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Wreck hunters plot new expedition to find 17th-century Griffon
National Post ^ | May 27, 2013 | Randy Boswell

Posted on 05/27/2013 12:36:14 PM PDT by Squawk 8888

A team of U.S. wreck hunters, backed by the governments of France and Michigan, has revealed plans to dive next month to a site on the bottom of Lake Michigan, where one of the most important ships in Canadian history — the 17th-century barque Griffon — is believed to be lying in a tomb of sand awaiting conclusive identification.

The first sailing ship on the Great Lakes, the Griffon was built in 1679 near present-day Niagara Falls, Ont., by the famed French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, and symbolized the ambitions of New France to construct and control a vast fur trade empire in the heartland of North America.

But the vessel, long sought-after by marine archeologists and hailed as the “Holy Grail” of Great Lakes shipwrecks, was lost with a load of pelts in a storm on Green Bay — the 150-kilometre-long inlet in western Lake Michigan — during its maiden voyage in September 1679.

La Salle, who led the construction of Fort Frontenac (the future Kingston, Ont.) and would later explore and claim the Mississippi River basin for New France — was the first of many searchers over the centuries to look for the lost Griffon.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpost.com ...


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; US: Michigan; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: canada; france; frederickmonroe; godsgravesglyphs; greenbay; griffon; kevindykstra; lakemichigan; legriffon; michigan; muskegon; niagarafalls; ontario; renerobertcavelier; sieurdelasalle; treasurehunters; wisconsin
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1 posted on 05/27/2013 12:36:14 PM PDT by Squawk 8888
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To: SunkenCiv; Clive; exg; Alberta's Child; albertabound; AntiKev; backhoe; Byron_the_Aussie; ...
To all- please ping me to Canadian topics.

Canada Ping!

2 posted on 05/27/2013 12:37:47 PM PDT by Squawk 8888 (True North- Strong Leader, Strong Dollar)
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To: Squawk 8888

I had one of my physic episodes about this many years back. I think it’s much further south than they think.


3 posted on 05/27/2013 12:43:32 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Squawk 8888

Time for a Molson!


4 posted on 05/27/2013 12:54:50 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (IÂ’m not a Republican, I'm a Conservative! Pubbies haven't been conservative since before T.R.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

O’Keefe’s Extra Old Stock...great big taste!


5 posted on 05/27/2013 1:28:30 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: Nailbiter
But the vessel... was lost with a load of pelts in a storm on Green Bay

I'm thinking the furs got wet...

6 posted on 05/27/2013 1:31:04 PM PDT by IncPen (When you start talking about what we 'should' have, you've made the case for the Second Amendment)
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To: Sacajaweau
I had one of my physic episodes about this many years back.

yes, but if you had a psychic episode instead, it might be more relevant.
7 posted on 05/27/2013 1:35:47 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There's no salvation in politics.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

No....I physically fell on the floor and the book popped open to Madison Wisconsin...voila!!


8 posted on 05/27/2013 1:38:48 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Sacajaweau

Wow, then the new mystery is how a whole ship went from the Great Lakes to a landlocked small lakeover a hundred miles away.


9 posted on 05/27/2013 1:42:58 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There's no salvation in politics.)
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To: Springman; cyclotic; netmilsmom; RatsDawg; PGalt; FreedomHammer; queenkathy; madison10; ...
Interesting Great Lakes history. Screw France, Canada and the US can share this one.

 photo MIPing_zps6ed55a1c.jpg

Michigan legislative action thread
10 posted on 05/27/2013 1:47:37 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Dr. Sivana

And that’s why they’ll never find it.


11 posted on 05/27/2013 1:48:43 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Squawk 8888

About that picture with the article.

Palm trees?


12 posted on 05/27/2013 1:50:15 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Sacajaweau; Dr. Sivana
HAH!

Got cha' on THAT one !

heh heh heh heh heh

13 posted on 05/27/2013 1:55:56 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I can't prove it, but they're true)
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To: cripplecreek

Globull warming ... the pre-curser.


14 posted on 05/27/2013 1:57:01 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I can't prove it, but they're true)
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To: knarf

I guess I will have to go back and retake Physic Ed.


15 posted on 05/27/2013 1:57:44 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There's no salvation in politics.)
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To: cripplecreek
I've seen that picture before...I think it's from Voyages to the New World in 2 volumes...(Something like that)...I have a 1905?? edition...It's LaSalle's voyages etc...I'll have to drag them out.

If you've never seen the Matagorda find of LaBelle....It's fascinating and on the web. Smeone had good instincts on that one.

16 posted on 05/27/2013 1:58:02 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: knarf

Gotcha whata thata? Neener neener


17 posted on 05/27/2013 2:02:36 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Dr. Sivana
Here y'go


18 posted on 05/27/2013 2:04:06 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I can't prove it, but they're true)
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To: Squawk 8888; Hunton Peck; Diana in Wisconsin; P from Sheb; Shady; DonkeyBonker; Wisconsinlady; ...

Old Green Bay ship wreck ping

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.

I want to know why Wisconsin is not included in this recovery effort? I also want to know what condition furs would be after lying at the bottom of Green Bay for 300+ years. I know that loads of timber that were lost in Lake Michigan are in beautiful condition when recovered because the cold water preserves the lumber. But fur????


19 posted on 05/27/2013 2:06:41 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Squawk 8888

They’re going down in about 3 weeks. Let me tell you, that water is COLD. I hope they have warming panels inside their dive suits.

According to Mr. AFTR, there is little bacterial action at Lake Michigan underwater temperatures, and the furs should be fine.


20 posted on 05/27/2013 2:25:39 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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