The Fitzgerald’s last voyage … via Twitter

Thirty-nine years ago today, I read a news story on a radio station for the first time. The Edmund Fitzgerald was missing on Lake Superior.

The story, thanks in large measure to a popular song, is second only to the sinking of the Titanic when it comes to seafaring lore.

It was loaded with ore from Duluth, heading for Detroit. The song from Gordon Lightfoot said it was going to Cleveland, but Cleveland fit the lyrics better, I suppose.

The ship set out at 4:30 p.m. 39 years ago yesterday, by 3:30 39 years ago today it was in trouble, and by 7:15 pm 39 years ago today, it was gone.

To remember the occasion, the National Weather Service in Marquette is tweeting the weather in “real time” today.