Shipwreck hunters FINALLY discover historic vessel that mysteriously sank with its captain in 650ft of water in Lake Superior 84 YEARS AGO - as they share stunning underwater footage

A WWII-era ship has been discover at the bottom of Lake Superior nearly 84 years after it vanished during a ferocious storm.

In a news release, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) announced the discovery of the 244-foot bulk carrier Arlington.

The ship was found north of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, buried beneath 650 feet of water.

The historical society’s interest was piqued when shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain detected an abnormality while combing through remote sensing data.

In 2023, Fountain joined GLSHS Director of Marine Operations Darryl Ertel and the crew of the R/V David Boyd as they inspected the anomaly with sonar, finding that it was indeed a shipwreck.

A WWII-era ship was discovered at the bottom of Lake Superior, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced in a news release

The 244-foot bulk carrier, named the Arlington, went missing in May 1940 after it sank during a violent storm

The ship was carrying wheat to Owen Sound, Ontario from Port Arthur

Later dives positively identified the submerged craft as the Arlington. The discovery came nearly eight and a half decades after it sailed off from Port Arthur, Ontario, carrying wheat to Owen Sound.

Commanding the Arlington was Frederick ‘Tatey Bug’ Burke, who had embarked on many prior voyages across Lake Superior.

The crew was met with rolling fog and even encountered a larger freighter, the Collingwood, as they began to cross the water.

But a storm began to build once night fell, pummeling both ships. Water began to accumulate inside the Arlington.

Junis Macksey, the ship’s first mate, ordered that they reroute to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would provide some defense against the furious wind and roaring waves.

In a move that is still questioned by historians today, Burke ordered the ship back on course.

At around 4:30 am on May 1st, 1940, Chief Engineer Fred Gilbert sounded the alarm: the ship was going under.

When the captain failed to provide orders to abandon ship, the crew began to jump overboard on their own.

After the ship’s captain, Frederick ‘Tatey Bug’ Burke, bizarrely refused to reroute to avoid a storm, the Arlington went under

Everyone survived and was brought aboard a nearby ship, with the exception of Burke. Researcher Dan Fountain hopes the discovery will bring ‘closure’ to his descendants

Murky underwater footage shows the ship sitting partially upright

The Arlington remained mostly intact, even eight and a half decades after its disappearance

Everyone made it onboard the Collingwood, with the exception of Burke, whose erratic behavior remains a mystery.

‘Why did he go down with his ship…when he easily could have been saved like the rest of his crew?’ GLSHS wrote in the release. ‘The fact is no one will ever know the answer.’

Reports indicate the captain waved at the Collingwood from near the pilothouse of his ship, moments before it was swallowed by the deep.

There it sat for years, partially upright and largely intact, accumulating coral and marine life.

Murky underwater footage released by GLSHS shows a diver skirting the Arlington’s rusty hull, revealing that some features have been perfectly preserved.

Teamwork was essential in the discovery, according to GLSHS Executive Director Bruce Lynn.

‘This was absolutely demonstrated when Marquette resident Dan Fountain approached us with a potential target near the Copper Harbor area of Lake Superior,’ Lynn said.

‘We are lucky to have so many dedicated shipwreck historians and researchers as friends of GLSHS.’

GLSHS operates the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum out of Whitefish Point Light Station in Michigan (pictured)

The nonprofit’s executive director says teamwork played a huge role in the discovery of the historical craft

The organization was founded in 1978 by a group of divers, teachers and educators looking to explore historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior

The organization was founded in 1978 by a coalition of divers, teachers and educators looking to explore historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior.

The nonprofit operates the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and U.S. Weather Bureau Building, both situated on historic properties.

Fountain, whose instincts led to the discovery of the ship, said he was simply excited to solve the mystery.

‘I hope this final chapter in her story can provide some measure of closure to the family of Captain Burke,’ the Marquette man added.

His work is far from over. Since the ship was confirmed to be the Arlington, Fountain has been trying to trace descendants of the crew in Ontario.

‘These targets don’t always amount to anything…but this time it absolutely was a shipwreck. A wreck with an interesting, and perhaps mysterious story,’ Lynn said.

‘Had Dan not reached out to us, we might never have located the Arlington…and we certainly wouldn’t know as much about her story as we do today.’

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