The Griffon

Figure 2.1

The Griffon was the very first ship ever to set sail on the Great Lakes and also was the first ship lost as well. Built in 1679 on the coast of Lake Erie, she was made to both participate in the fur trade and for exploration.

Figure 2.2

On August 7, 1679 the Griffon headed for Green Bay, WI with 32 men on board, among whom was the famous explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, who was spearheading the journey. After reaching its destination, the Griffon picked up a load of at least $10,000 worth of furs, while La Salle himself disembarked to explore more of Lake Michigan. On September 18, 1679, the ship left for Niagara, carrying her cargo of furs and crew of six. That was the last time that the ship was ever seen.

Figure 2.3

There have been many theories to explain why the Griffon vanished without a trace, ranging from storms, to mutiny, to even Native American attack. But none have been proven. However, this doesn’t mean that there have not been sightings of the lost ship. In the late 1800s, a lighthouse keeper in Manitoulin Island claimed that he discovered several skeletons in a cave, surrounded by French coins and brass buttons. Did these skeletons belong to the lost crew? Unfortunately, by the time the connection was found, these artifacts disappeared forever, sold to tourists as souvenirs.

Figure 2.4

Regardless of the reason behind the Griffon’s disappearance, there have been many sightings of the ill-fated vessel amidst generations of mariners, sailing across Lake Michigan with full sails, only to vanish as they went in for a closer look. Although a wreck was found back in 2014, it turned out to be a misidentification, meaning that the Griffon is still out there.

Figure 2.1Title: "LE GRIFFON"Creator: Father Louis HennepinSubject: "The Griffon"Description: "A woodcut engraving of Le Griffon"Resource type: "Image"Format: "JPEG"Language: English Source: "https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le-griffon.jpg" originally from the defunct "http://archives.record-eagle.com/2006/apr/18griffin.htm"
Figure 2.2 Title: "RENE-ROBERT CAVELIER, SIEUR DE LA SALLE: EXPLORER"Creator: La Salle-Griffon ProjectSubject: "Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle"Description: "A Portrait of Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle"Resource type: "Image"Format: "JPEG"Language: English Source: "http://greatlakesexploration.org/about.htm"
Figure 2.3 Title: "MINDEMOYA CAVE"Creator: Rockgarden Terrace ResortSubject: "Mindemoya Cave"Description: "A photograph of the inside of Mindemoya Cave on Manitoulin Island, though this may not be the cave where the skeletons were found"Coverage: "Manitoulin Island"Resource type: "Image"Format: "JPEG"Language: English Source: "http://www.rockgardenresort.on.ca/rockgardenterrace/mindemoyacave.html"
Figure 2.4Title: "GRIFFON"Creator: Capt. Bud RobinsonSubject: "The Griffon"Description: "A painting depicting the Griffon on a stormy sea"Resource type: "Image"Format: "JPEG"Language: English Source: "http://marineimages.50megs.com/photo3_6.html"