A Rogue Wave? The "Three Sisters" Theory

S.S Edmund Fitzgerald

     The S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, at 730 feet long and 75 feet wide, was the largest vessel on the Great Lakes from her launch in 1958 until 1972.  “Mighty Fitz” was a 26,600 ton cargo vessel that carried iron ore and coal on Lake Superior between the U.S. and Canada.  She sank in a storm on November 10, 1975 with all 29 hands on board. The demise of the Fitzgerald is arguably the most intriguing disaster in the history of shipping on the Great Lakes.  The indisputable factor in this tragedy is undoubtedly the weather but the details of the sinking remain uncertain.  Everyone seems to have their own theory. 

Memorial to the Lost Crew

     One theory is the “Three Sisters”.   That night, Captain J. B. Cooper of the Arthur M. Anderson encountered seas as high as 35 feet and reported three huge waves headed in the direction of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  The theory says that the sisters merged to create a huge rogue wave which swamped the Fitzgerald.  She sank 17 miles north-northwest of the light station at Whitefish Bay, Mi. in 530 feet of water then broke in half when she struck the bottom.
     The 200 pound bronze ship's bell was recovered July 4th, 1995 and is on display in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Bay as a memorial to her 29 lost crewmen.