Scuba diver John Janzen vividly recalls the moment he recognized the sunken ship before him as the Lac La Belle, noting the distinct arches along its length led to the identification. Janzen, speaking to host Nil Köksal on As It Happens, shared his experience as part of a team, led by shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn from Illinois, that located the luxury steamer submerged in Lake Michigan. The discovery, made in October 2022 and announced by Shipwreck World, had been delayed due to adverse weather conditions and scheduling challenges that hindered efforts to capture additional footage of the wreck.
Ehorn, who has been searching for shipwrecks for over 60 years since he was 15, credited a crucial tip from fellow wreck hunter Ross Richardson for narrowing down the search area and aiding in the successful find of the Lac La Belle. Utilizing side-scan sonar, Ehorn located the ship within two hours of venturing out onto Lake Michigan, emphasizing the excitement of solving the puzzle-like search endeavor.
The history of the Lac La Belle includes a previous sinking in the St. Clair River in 1866 and its subsequent refurbishment before it met its final fate on October 13, 1872. Departing Milwaukee bound for Grand Haven, Mich., with passengers and cargo onboard, the ship began to take on water, leading to its tragic sinking during a fierce gale. Despite the vessel now being adorned with quagga mussels, divers noted its upright position and relatively good condition, albeit with missing upper cabin structures and evidence of its cargo of whiskey barrels inside the wreck.
The Great Lakes harbor thousands of shipwrecks, with many still undiscovered, prompting increased efforts among shipwreck hunters to locate and document these sites before natural elements degrade them further. Janzen expressed hope for continued searches in the future, particularly with Ehorn’s unwavering enthusiasm for uncovering more maritime mysteries. While some may attribute the misfortunes of the Lac La Belle to a supposed curse, Janzen emphasized the harsh and unpredictable nature of the Great Lakes as the true force behind such tragedies, underscoring the perilous environment that ships and crew face on these vast waters.