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See a Great Lakes Maritime salvage operation with photos scanned from the Muskegon Chronicle and put to the tune Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald performed by a local rock band. On Thanksgiving night November 26th 196, the Pride of the Norwegian Merchant Marine the MV Makefjell encountered the Witch of November. The result of warm moist air heading north from the Gulf of Mexic, combine with one or two cold fronts from Canada. This created the Perfect Storm. The ship was carrying pig iron and was supposed to pick up a load of fresh frozen Michigan Cherries at Muskegons Mart Dock which is Muskegon Michigan natural deep water port. The Captain attempted to line up his ship between the North and South piers of the breakwater in gale force winds gusting to Hurricane Force. This blew the ship onto the rocks. With each wav, the ship was picked up and thrown further onto the rocks. The US Coast Guard Cutter Woodbine was called to attach a tow rope to stabilize the ship and prevent it from being damaged by the sharp rocks. This was in vain because the waves driven by gusts of wind like a category 1 hurricane pushed the ship onto the rocks. This caused a 7 foot gash in the hull just below the water line of the #2 cargo bay. Fresh water(the great lakes are not salt bodies) along with mud poured in. The cargo was unloaded and a steel patch was welded underwater. The water pumped out and mud was removed. The gash was covered with Marine concrete. Muskegon did not have tugs big enough to handle the job. Bigger tugs were called in. But they had a rough time also. The ship had settled into the mud of the Michigan bottom. The harder the tugs pulle, the more the mud sucked on the hull of the ship. They pulled so hard that the tow rope over 3 inches in diameter snapped like a rubber band. The Coast Guard was thinking of calling in another coast guard cutter asking the Grand Trunk Western Carferry to assist. Finally after 8 day, the MV was yanked free assisted by her own engine. She was reloaded and picked up its cargo of frozen Michigan Cherries. It then made haste to leave the St Lawrence Sea Way before it closed for the winter. It was already the 1st week of December. Thus ended a once in a lifetime opportunity to view a shipwreck up close!