Shipwreck society announces new WWII era find in Lake Superior
WHITEFISH POINT — The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced on Monday the discovery of the 244-foot bulk carrier Arlington in over 600 feet of water around 35 miles north of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
According to a press release from the historical society (GLSHS), shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain has been studying remote sensing data in the search for shipwrecks in Lake Superior over the last 10 years. After coming across a particularly deep anomaly, he reached out to the society for help in identifying 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 Technology side-scan sonar over the anomaly and determined that it was a shipwreck. Later, ROV dives positively identified the submerged hulk as the Arlington.
"One of the most important aspects of everything we do as an organization involves the concept of teamwork. This goes for our operations at Whitefish Point, as well as on the water aboard the David Boyd. We are lucky to have so many dedicated shipwreck historians and researchers as friends of GLSHS,” said GLSHS Executive Director Bruce Lynn. ”And this was absolutely demonstrated when Negaunee resident Dan Fountain approached us with a potential target near the Copper Harbor area of Lake Superior. 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. 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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On its last fateful voyage, the Arlington left Port Arthur, Ontario on April 30, 1940 fully loaded with wheat en route to Owen Sound, Ontario. The ship was under the command of Captain Frederick “Tatey Bug” Burke.
Dense fog during the day turned into a storm at night, and the Arlington began to take on water.
According to the historical society, the Arlington’s first mate Junis Macksey ordered a course to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would have provided some cover from wind and waves, but Burke countermanded the order, and ordered his ship back on its course across the open lake. At around 4:30 a.m. on May 1, chief engineer Fred Gilbert sounded the alarm as the Arlington started to sink. Out of fear for their lives, and without orders from Burke, the crew began to abandon ship on their own.
With the exception of Burke, everyone was able to get off of the Arlington and make it to the safety of the nearby freighter Collingwood.
According to a May 2, 1940 article in the Cheboygan Daily Tribune, “Although the Arlington crew attempted to prevail upon their captain to leave the ship, he refused to do so.”
Historical society officials said much speculation surrounded the Arlington’s sinking at the time, especially involving Burke’s behavior in its final moments. Reports indicate that he was near the pilothouse of the ship and waved at the Collingwood minutes before the Arlington sank to the bottom of Lake Superior.
"It’s exciting to solve just one more of Lake Superior’s many mysteries, finding Arlington so far out in the lake,” said Fountain. “I hope this final chapter in her story can provide some measure of closure to the family of Captain Burke."
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Shipwreck society announces new WWII era find in Lake Superior
