The wreck of a World Conflict II-era freighter has been found in over 600 ft of water round 35 miles north of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.
Over the past 7 years, shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain has been learning distant sensing knowledge within the seek for shipwrecks in Lake Superior. After coming throughout a very deep anomaly, he reached out to the Nice Lakes Shipwreck Historic Society (GLSHS) for assist in figuring out the potential wreck. In 2023 GLSHS Director of Marine Operations, Darryl Ertel, Fountain and crew of the R/V David Boyd, towed a Marine Sonic Know-how side-scan sonar over the anomaly and shortly realized and it was in-fact a shipwreck. Later ROV dives positively recognized the submerged hulk the 244-foot bulk provider Arlington.
On April 30, 1940, the Arlington left Port Arthur, Ontario absolutely loaded with wheat en route Owen Sound, Ontario. She was underneath command of Captain Fredrick “Tatey Bug” Burke, a seasoned veteran of the lakes. Dense fog greeted the Arlington and a bigger freighter, the Collingwood, as they made their method throughout Lake Superior. Because the day turned to nighttime the fog become a storm and battered each ships. The Arlington began to tackle water. The Arlington’s first mate, Junis Macksey, ordered a course to hug the Canadian North Shore, which might have offered some cowl from wind and waves, however Captain Burke countermanded the order…and ordered his ship again on its course throughout the open lake. On Might 1 at round 4:30am Chief Engineer, Fred Gilbert, sounded the alarm, because the Arlington began to sink. Out of worry for his or her lives, and with out orders from Captain Burke, the crew started to desert ship on their very own. Fortunately, everybody safely acquired off the Arlington and made it to the protection of the Collingwood…everybody however Captain “Tatey Bug” Burke.
Arlington (Picture: Nice Lakes Shipwreck Historic Society)
An investigation, and far hypothesis adopted the sinking of the Arlington and the odd habits of its grasp. Why did he go down along with his ship…when he simply may have been saved like the remainder of his crew? The actual fact is nobody will ever know the reply. Experiences point out that he was close to the pilothouse of his ship and waved on the Collingwood minutes earlier than his ship went to the deep, 650-feet to the underside of Lake Superior.
Teamwork was essential to the invention. “One of the crucial vital points of every thing we do as a company includes the idea of teamwork. This goes for our operations at Whitefish Level, in addition to on the water aboard the David Boyd. We’re fortunate to have so many devoted shipwreck historians and researchers as buddies of GLSHS.” Stated GLSHS Government Director, Bruce Lynn.” And this was completely demonstrated when Marquette resident Dan Fountain approached us with a possible goal close to the Copper Harbor space of Lake Superior. These targets do not all the time quantity to something…however this time it completely was a shipwreck. A wreck with an fascinating, and maybe mysterious story. Had Dan not reached out to us, we’d by no means have positioned the Arlington…and we definitely would not know as a lot about her story as we do at present.”
“It’s thrilling to resolve only one extra of Lake Superior’s many mysteries.” Stated shipwreck researcher, Dan Fountain. “Discovering Arlington to this point out within the lake, I hope this closing chapter in her story can present some measure of closure to the household of Captain Burke.”
