A scuba diver named John Janzen vividly recalls the moment when he recognized the shipwreck as the Lac La Belle, identifying its distinctive arches as the key feature. Janzen, speaking to As It Happens host Nil Köksal, highlighted the team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn, which successfully located the luxury steamer that sank in Lake Michigan in 1872. The discovery was officially announced by Shipwreck World after years of search efforts.
The breakthrough in finding the Lac La Belle came after decades of searching, with Ehorn, now 80 years old and a veteran shipwreck hunter since age 15, receiving a crucial clue from fellow enthusiast Ross Richardson. This information led to the ship’s precise location using side-scan sonar just two hours into the expedition on Lake Michigan.
The history of the Lac La Belle includes a previous sinking in 1866, followed by a refurbishment. Tragically, on October 13, 1872, the steamer sank again during a voyage from Milwaukee to Grand Haven, Michigan, resulting in the loss of eight lives. Despite being covered in quagga mussels, the wreck remains in relatively good condition, with remnants of its cargo, including barrels of whisky, still visible inside.
The Great Lakes are known for housing thousands of shipwrecks, with many yet to be discovered. Shipwreck enthusiasts are increasingly driven to locate these wrecks due to concerns about the impact of invasive mussels on the sites. Janzen expressed hope for future shipwreck searches, especially given Ehorn’s continued dedication at his advanced age. Janzen dismissed the notion of a curse on the Lac La Belle, attributing its fate to the harsh and unpredictable nature of the Great Lakes.
