The wreckage of the World War II-era freighter was discovered by researcher Dan Fountain and other researchers in Lake Superior.
Fountain used remote sensing data technology to find the Arlington more than 600 feet down and 35 miles north of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
On April 30, 1940, the Arlington left with a load of wheat from Port Arthur, Ontario to Owen Sound, Ontario.
It was captained by Frederick “Tatey Bug” Burke. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society described Burke as a seasoned veteran of the lakes.
The Arlington and another large freighter encountered dense fog that night. The fog would become a raging storm and the Arlington started to take on water.
First mate Junis Mackey wanted to hug the Canadian North Shore to shelter from the storm but Captain Burke countered the order and stayed the course.
The Arlington started to sink early in the morning. The crew of the Arlington abandoned ship and were taken aboard by the other freighter, the Collingwood.
Captain Frederick “Tatey Bug” Burke stayed behind and went down with the Arlington. No one knows why; nor can they explain his behavior on the trip.
Reports from back then say Burke was seen waving to the other freighter just minutes before it disappeared into Lake Superior.
Video the shipwreck discovery can be found here.
