'She will sink beneath the deep waters and your blood shall stain the hands of those in whom you trusted!'. The Griffin disappeared returning from its maiden voyage in 1679 and was last seen struggling in a storm near what is now Washington Island in Wisconsin. The two treasure hunters were taking measurements of the ship when Dykstra's magnet, tethered to his scuba gear, picked up an object that few people have ever seen: a hand forged nail that dates back to 1679. That is simply not true.. The mythical griffin is a creature of ferocity and nobility. On its way back to Niagara from Green Bay, the Griffon disappeared with its entire crew and valuable cargo of furs commencing the centuries-long quest to discover its fate. It would be busted up, she said. And, as the curse foretold, La Salle was later murdered during a 1687 expedition by a member of his party. Mr Libert said: 'Our extensive research and deciphering of historic documents led us precisely to the resting place of an undiscovered colonial-age ship.'. The exact size and construction of Le Griffon is not known but many researchers believe she was a 45-ton barque. [19][20] Their claim was quickly debunked when Michigan authorities dove down on 9 June 2015 after receiving the coordinates to verify its authenticity. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. [1][4] Beginning on Christmas Day, 1678, La Motte and Hennepin together with four of their men, went by snowshoe to a prominent Seneca chief who resided at Tagarondies[notes 2] a village about 75 miles (120km) east of Niagara[notes 3] and about 20 miles (32km) south of Lake Ontario. 2 is a much sought after shipwreck. They sailed from the Straits of Mackinac to an island (either Washington Island or Rock Island)[1] located at the entrance of Green Bay. Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [4] They entered Lake St. Clair on 12 August, the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi, and named the lake after her. Like Le Griffon, the steamship Marquette and Bessemer No. Local explorer featured on Discovery Channel search for lost shipwreck