On Friday, researchers revealed they found the wreck of a luxury steamer that sank in Lake Michigan back in 1872.
Shipwreck World, an organization focused on locating shipwrecks worldwide, made the announcement, crediting an 80-year-old shipwreck hunter from Illinois, Paul Ehorn. He noted that his team discovered the Lac La Belle wreck in October 2022, approximately 32 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Ehorn explained that the announcement had been postponed while they waited to release a three-dimensional video of the wreck, which was hindered by weather until last summer.
He has been searching for this particular spot since 1965. “It’s a bit like a puzzle-solving game,” he expressed. “Sometimes you don’t have all the pieces, but this time we found it quickly,” he added, sounding genuinely thrilled about the discovery.
Ehorn credited tips from fellow shipwreck hunter and author Ross Richardson for helping him focus his search. While he didn’t disclose the specifics, Richardson mentioned to the Associated Press that local fishermen had found items unique to the steamboat in one area.
According to Shipwreck World, Lac La Belle was built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio. This large steamer measured 66 meters (217 feet) and traveled between Cleveland and Lake Superior until it sank in the St. Clair River in 1866 after a collision. The vessel was salvaged and restored three years later.
On the night of October 13, 1872, the ship set out from Milwaukee with strong winds, carrying 53 passengers, crew members, and a cargo of barley, pork, flour, and even whiskey intended for Grand Haven, Michigan. Unfortunately, about two hours into the journey, it began to take on water uncontrollably.
As the captain attempted to tow Lac La Belle back to Milwaukee, daunting waves crashed against it and extinguished the fire in the boiler. Ultimately, the captain ordered the lifeboats lowered, and the ship sank stern first.
