After a relentless 10-year search, a steamship from the World War II era, the SS Arlington, which sank in a severe storm in 1940 along with its captain, has been located at the bottom of Lake Superior.

Resting 650 feet below the surface, approximately 35 miles north of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, the 244-foot vessel remained undiscovered for 74 years until a determined shipwreck hunter persevered in the search.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, in collaboration with researcher Dan Fountain, officially confirmed the discovery in a statement on Monday.

Fountain identified a potential site at the lake’s bottom using remote sensing data and enlisted the society’s assistance.

Last year, the society deployed a sonar device over the suspected location, confirming it as a shipwreck.

Subsequent exploration with underwater drones substantiated that the wreckage was indeed the long-lost SS Arlington, NBC News reported.

In video footage released by the society, the deteriorated remains of the ship were visible, with the smokestack collapsed, yet the helm, or steering wheel, remained intact.

The tragic incident in 1940 resulted in the loss of the vessel’s captain, Frederick “Tatey Bug” Burke, the only crewmember who did not survive.

The circumstances surrounding why Captain Burke chose not to abandon the ship and escape to a nearby vessel like the rest of the crew remain a mystery.

The SS Arlington, a Canadian bulk carrier laden with wheat, set sail from Port Arthur, Ontario, on April 30, 1940, destined for Owen Sound, Ontario, 1,000 miles to the east on Lake Huron.

The ship was discovered near Copper Harbor, Michigan.

Navigating through thick fog on Lake Superior, the Arlington and its companion, the Collingwood, encountered a storm as night descended, subjecting both vessels to turbulent waters.

The first mate, Junis Macksey, directed the Arlington to sail close to the Canadian shore for protection from the elements, as reported by NBC News.

However, Captain Burke countermanded the order, steering the ship back into open waters. At 4:30 a.m. on May 1, Chief Engineer Fred Gilbert sounded the alarm, signaling the Arlington’s imminent sinking.

Despite investigations and decades of speculation, the fate of Captain Burke has remained an enigma.

Some reports from the time suggested he was observed near the pilothouse, waving to the Collingwood as the ship descended to the lake’s bottom.

Written by B.C. Begley