In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a group of shipwreck explorers have uncovered a merchant vessel that sank in Lake Superior in 1940. Tragically, the captain was lost in the storm that caused the ship’s demise.

On Monday, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and shipwreck expert Dan Fountain revealed the finding of the bulk carrier Arlington, measuring 244 feet (74 meters) in length, in 650 feet (200 meters) of water. The ship was located approximately 35 miles (60 kilometers) north of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

On April 30, 1940, the Arlington departed from Port Arthur, Ontario with a full cargo of wheat and sailed towards Owen Sound, Ontario. The ship was under the leadership of Captain Frederick “Tatey Bug” Burke, who had extensive experience sailing on the Great Lakes.

The Arlington and Collingwood, two ships traveling across Lake Superior, faced challenges in the form of thick fog and a storm at night. As a result, the Arlington began to fill with water.

The first mate of the ship directed the Arlington to follow a path along the Canadian North Shore in order to seek protection from the wind and waves. However, Burke overruled this decision and instructed the ship to continue across the open lake, according to the discoverers.

On May 1, 1940 at an early hour, the Arlington started to descend into the water and the chief engineer alerted the crew. In a statement, the crew explained that they left the ship without instruction from Captain Burke due to their fear for their safety.

All members of the crew successfully reached the Collingwood, except for Burke who was aboard the Arlington. According to reports, he was last spotted near the pilothouse, waving at the Collingwood, just moments before his ship disappeared into the lake.

According to the shipwreck society, it is impossible to determine why Burke behaved the way he did before his ship sank.

Fountain stated that it is thrilling to uncover another one of Lake Superior’s numerous mysteries by discovering Arlington in such a remote location within the lake. They hope that this last part of her story can bring some closure to Captain Burke’s family.

The Arlington was discovered thanks to Fountain, a resident of Negaunee, Michigan, who has been conducting remote sensing in Lake Superior in search of shipwrecks for about a decade, said Bruce Lynn, executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.

Lynn stated that Fountain brought forth a potential target near the northern end of the Keweenaw Peninsula, and the Arlington was found last year by the group.

The stated targets may not always be fruitful, but in this instance, it was undoubtedly a disaster. The wreck holds an intriguing and potentially enigmatic narrative,” he stated. “Without Dan’s communication, we may have never discovered the Arlington.”

Source: wral.com