Historic “Ghost Ship” Discovered in Lake Michigan
Researchers in Wisconsin recently unearthed a long-missing “ghost ship” that has been lying hidden in Lake Michigan for nearly 140 years. This discovery was announced by the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) on September 15th.
Officials have identified the wreck as the FJ King, a schooner that sank during a late-night storm off the coast of Baileys Port in 1886.
The term “ghost ship” is being applied to the FJ King due to its storied history and relentless search efforts over the years.
“For 139 years, the FJ King has been one of the ships in Lake Michigan that has intrigued many, sparking numerous search attempts since the 1970s,” WHS noted.
Commercial fishermen had reported finding pieces of wreckage in their nets, and some local lighthouse keepers claimed they had seen the ship’s mast break the surface. Despite these reports, searchers often came up empty-handed.
This recent search involved a collaboration of 20 citizen scientists and community historians.
Brendon Beyrod, the lead investigator and president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeological Association (WUAA), viewed the discovery as a “long shot.”
However, just two hours into the search, they spotted a significant object on the side-scan sonar. “Some of us had to pinch each other,” said Baillod, who had gathered extensive documentation on the ship and its tragic end.
After all the previous searches, he admitted, “I couldn’t believe I actually found it.”
The FJ King was constructed in Ohio in 1867, measuring 144 feet. Initially built for transporting grain and iron ore, the ship sank during a storm, though remarkably, the entire crew was rescued.
Baillod mentioned that the ship remains in surprisingly good condition, given the heavy cargo it was carrying at the time of the wreck.
“We may not have known the captain’s exact location in the darkness, but we believed the lighthouse keeper’s position and the distance from the mast were likely accurate,” Baillod explained.
He added, “The hull is quite untouched. We had expected it to be compromised due to the weight of the iron ore, but it appears to be intact.”
Further comments from Baillod are anticipated as more details about the ship’s condition emerge.
This latest find is part of WHS’s ongoing efforts to promote shipwreck discoveries in the region.
Earlier this summer, the wreck of the LW Crane, which sank in 1880, was found in the Fox River near Oshkosh. Additionally, this spring, local fishermen discovered a tugboat called the J.C. Ames near the coast of Manitowoc.
