Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society finds WWII-era shipwreck, with a mysterious story, in Lake Superior
Feb 13, 2024 08:40AM ● By Content Editor
All photos from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society & Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point, Michigan.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 13, 2024
On April 30, 1940, the 244-foot bulk carrier Arlington, fully loaded with wheat, left Port Arthur, Ontario, and headed towards Owen Sound, Ontario across Lake Superior. According to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS), the bulk carrier was overtaken by a storm that evening and eventually started to take on water.
The ship was under the command of Captain Fredrick “Tatey Bug” Burke, who, according to the GLSHS, was a "seasoned veteran of the lakes", Junis Macksey, the Arlington's First Mate, and Fred Gilbert, the ship's Engineer. As the ship continued to take on water, Macksey "ordered a course to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would have provided some cover from wind and waves, but Captain Burke countermanded the order...and ordered his ship back on its course across the open lake."
On May 1st, around 4:30 in the morning, the ship started to sink. Without waiting for orders from Captain Burke, the crew abandoned ship, with all making it off safely and rescued by another carrier, the Collingwood, which was nearby.
However, Captain Burke remained on the ship and was last seen near the pilothouse, waving at the Collingwood just minutes before the sinking, according to reports. Burke was the only fatality. Due to the nature of Burke's behavior and counter-commands during the sinking, an investigation was held afterward, but the ship was never found, until recently.
On February 12, 2024, the GLSHS and shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain issued a press release announcing the discovery of Arlington. The ship was found over 600 feet deep, 35 miles north of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.
According to the release, Fountain has been studying remote sensing data for Lake Superior for the past seven years. He found a particularly deep anomaly and reached out to the GLSHS for assistance. Last year, GLSHS, Fountain, and a team of experts "towed a Marine Sonic Technology side-scan sonar over the suspected area and soon realized that it was a shipwreck. Later, ROV dives positively identified the submerged hulk the Arlington."
"It’s exciting to solve just one more of Lake Superior’s many mysteries. Finding Arlington so far out in the lake, I hope this final chapter in her story can provide some measure of closure to the family of Captain Burke," Fountain added.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society was founded in 1978 by a group of divers, teachers, and educators to commence exploration of historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior, near Whitefish Point in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula. Today, this non-profit organization operates two museum sites on historic properties: The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point Light Station, Whitefish Point; and the U.S. Weather Bureau Building, Soo Locks Park, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. The Shipwreck Museum is open to the public seasonally from May 1 to October 31. For more information, visit www.shipwreckmuseum.com
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 13, 2024
On April 30, 1940, the 244-foot bulk carrier Arlington, fully loaded with wheat, left Port Arthur, Ontario, and headed towards Owen Sound, Ontario across Lake Superior. According to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS), the bulk carrier was overtaken by a storm that evening and eventually started to take on water.
The ship was under the command of Captain Fredrick “Tatey Bug” Burke, who, according to the GLSHS, was a "seasoned veteran of the lakes", Junis Macksey, the Arlington's First Mate, and Fred Gilbert, the ship's Engineer. As the ship continued to take on water, Macksey "ordered a course to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would have provided some cover from wind and waves, but Captain Burke countermanded the order...and ordered his ship back on its course across the open lake."
On May 1st, around 4:30 in the morning, the ship started to sink. Without waiting for orders from Captain Burke, the crew abandoned ship, with all making it off safely and rescued by another carrier, the Collingwood, which was nearby.
However, Captain Burke remained on the ship and was last seen near the pilothouse, waving at the Collingwood just minutes before the sinking, according to reports. Burke was the only fatality. Due to the nature of Burke's behavior and counter-commands during the sinking, an investigation was held afterward, but the ship was never found, until recently.
On February 12, 2024, the GLSHS and shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain issued a press release announcing the discovery of Arlington. The ship was found over 600 feet deep, 35 miles north of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.
According to the release, Fountain has been studying remote sensing data for Lake Superior for the past seven years. He found a particularly deep anomaly and reached out to the GLSHS for assistance. Last year, GLSHS, Fountain, and a team of experts "towed a Marine Sonic Technology side-scan sonar over the suspected area and soon realized that it was a shipwreck. Later, ROV dives positively identified the submerged hulk the Arlington."
"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 Fountain 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," said GLSHS Executive Director, Bruce Lynn.
"It’s exciting to solve just one more of Lake Superior’s many mysteries. Finding Arlington so far out in the lake, I hope this final chapter in her story can provide some measure of closure to the family of Captain Burke," Fountain added.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society was founded in 1978 by a group of divers, teachers, and educators to commence exploration of historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior, near Whitefish Point in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula. Today, this non-profit organization operates two museum sites on historic properties: The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point Light Station, Whitefish Point; and the U.S. Weather Bureau Building, Soo Locks Park, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. The Shipwreck Museum is open to the public seasonally from May 1 to October 31. For more information, visit www.shipwreckmuseum.com
