Shipwreck Found in Lake Superior, Captain Goes Down With Ship

Everyone knows the phrase "A captain goes down with his ship". Well, that phrase can now be attributed to a shipwreck that has just been discovered in Lake Superior, reportedly having been there since World War 2.

A Joint Effort

Shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain has been conducting research over the last 10 years after Fountain discovered evidence of a shipwreck in a very deep area (650 feet down!) of Lake Superior. After Dan realized he may have come across a ship, he reached out to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) Director of Marine Operations Darryl Ertel.

Together they used Marine Sonic Technology side-scan sonar and were able to confirm it was the shipwrecked SS Arlington. GLSHS Executive Director Bruce Lynn said teamwork "is one of the most important aspects of everything" they do as an organization. This teamwork came to fruition as GLSHS claimed they may have never found the wreck if Dan hadn't informed them of his findings.

The Arlington's Fated Voyage

The story goes that Captain Frederick "Tatey Bug" Burke and the Arlington departed from Port Arthur, Ontario with a load of wheat. On May 1st, a storm started, and despite protests from the first mate, Captain Burke continued course into open water where they had no protection from the brutal waves, and the Chief Engineer sounded the alarm that the Arlington was sinking.

The crew abandoned the ship, being rescued by another nearby ship. The only casualty was Captain Burke, who mysteriously did not abandon the ship. It is not known why a captain with such experience sailed into the storm, nor why he stayed aboard.

Footage of the Wreck

Photos and a video of the wreck have been released by GLSHS, and the findings are incredible. You can find out more about the findings on the Shipwreck Museum's official website.