Shipwreck hunters make shocking discovery at the bottom of world’s largest freshwater lake
Shipwreck hunters were left amazed after finding a sunken ship from 1940 in Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS), working with shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain, announced their incredible discovery on February 12, 2024. They found the 244-foot-long bulk carrier, Arlington, resting at a depth of 650 feet, about 35 miles north of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.
The Arlington set sail in April 1940 from Port Arthur, Ontario (now part of Thunder Bay). It was fully loaded with wheat and headed toward Owen Sound, Ontario, under the command of Captain Frederick ‘Tatey Bug’ Burke.
However, the journey quickly turned dangerous.
The Arlington was traveling alongside a larger freighter called the Collingwood when they encountered thick fog followed by a powerful storm. The violent winds and waves made navigation extremely risky.
At first, the ship’s first mate suggested staying close to the Canadian shoreline, where the land would provide some protection from the rough waters. But Captain Burke ignored this advice and ordered the ship to continue on its planned course across the open lake.
Just a few hours later, at 4:30 AM on May 1, 1940, the ship’s chief engineer, Fred Gilbert, sounded the alarm—the Arlington was sinking!
Panic broke out as the crew abandoned ship without waiting for orders from Captain Burke. Most of the crew managed to escape and were rescued by the nearby Collingwood.
But Captain Burke stayed behind.
Witnesses say that just minutes before the Arlington sank, he was last seen near the pilothouse, waving towards the Collingwood as his ship disappeared beneath the waves.
Even though an official investigation was launched after the sinking, no one knows why Captain Burke didn’t leave the ship like the rest of his crew. Was it bravery, duty, or something else? His fate remains a mystery to this day.
The discovery of the Arlington is thanks to teamwork between researcher Dan Fountain and the GLSHS.
Bruce Lynn, the Executive Director of GLSHS, explained:
“These shipwreck searches don’t always lead to anything, but this time, we found something incredible. Thanks to Dan Fountain’s research, we were able to locate the Arlington and uncover a fascinating, and possibly mysterious, story.”
Without their efforts, the Arlington’s story might have remained lost beneath Lake Superior forever. Now, this historic shipwreck provides a glimpse into the past, reminding us of the dangers of the Great Lakes and the bravery of sailors like Captain Burke.
