Veteran Bags 15th Wreck Bombshell

An underwater scene featuring a shipwreck surrounded by fish and coral — 15TH WRECK BOMBSHELL

A legendary luxury steamer lost in Lake Michigan for over 150 years has finally been located, revealing America’s resilient maritime heritage against the ravages of time and nature.

Story Highlights

Paul Ehorn, an 80-year-old veteran shipwreck hunter, discovered the intact wreck of the Lac La Belle in October 2022 using side-scan sonar.
The 217-foot passenger steamer sank stern-first in a gale on October 14, 1872, claiming eight lives amid a desperate struggle in heavy seas.
Remarkably preserved hull and cargo lie upright 20 miles offshore near Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin, threatened by invasive quagga mussels.
Announcement made on February 13-14, 2026, with 3D modeling underway to preserve history before decay sets in.

The Dramatic Sinking of 1872

The Lac La Belle departed Milwaukee on October 13, 1872, bound for Grand Haven, Michigan, with 53 passengers and crew aboard. A moderate gale escalated two hours into the voyage, causing an uncontrollable leak.

The captain attempted to return to port, but massive waves doused the boiler fires, driving the ship south. Around 5 a.m. on October 14, the vessel sank stern-first near Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Lifeboats launched; one capsized, killing eight people. Survivors reached shore along the coastline.

Luxury steamer that sunk in Lake Michigan more than 150 years ago has been found | CBS https://t.co/jIXGyFmS1D Shipwreck World, a group that works to locate shipwrecks around the world, revealed Friday that a team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehron found the wreck of the… pic.twitter.com/ZqKocCXJKC

— Igor Os (@igor_os777) February 15, 2026

Steamer’s History and Great Lakes Role

Built in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1864, the 217-foot Lac La Belle initially served routes from Cleveland to Lake Superior. In 1866, a collision sank her in the St. Clair River’s shallow waters; salvage crews raised and fully reconditioned the ship by 1869.

Milwaukee’s Englemann Transportation Company then purchased her for passenger service to Grand Haven and to Michigan’s Copper Country ports such as Houghton and Hancock. She returned loaded with copper ingots, thriving in the post-Civil War shipping boom of grain, timber, and minerals.

Modern Discovery Amid Preservation Challenges

Paul Ehorn, who has been searching since 1965, located his 15th wreck in October 2022 after Ross Richardson provided a crucial clue from a commercial fisherman’s snag of a 1800s steamship. Partner Bruce Bittner operated the sonar during the two-hour search.

Divers John Janzen and John Scoles filmed the deep site around summer 2025 despite weather delays. The upright wreck shows oak interiors, wooden framing, and cargo like barley and whiskey barrels, though quagga mussels cover much, and the superstructure is gone.

Ehorn delayed the public announcement to complete 3D photogrammetry, preserving details before invasive species cause irreversible decay. He described the sonar hit as pure “jubilation” and called it “one more check mark.”

Maritime historian Brendon Baillod provided images and manifests that highlight the ship’s Copper Country ties. Shipwreck World publicized the find on February 13, 2026, and CBS and AP followed with coverage.

Impacts and Future Preservation Efforts

The discovery raises awareness of Lake Michigan’s 6,000-10,000 undiscovered wooden-vessel-era wrecks, which were prone to gales and lacked modern forecasting. In the short term, it draws tourists to events like Ehorn’s March 7, 2026, presentation at the Ghost Ships Festival in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

In the long term, the 3D model documents 19th-century steamer design and aids inventory efforts as mussels accelerate the destruction. Local communities in Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee gain historical pride and economic potential from dive tech jobs and festivals.

Experts note intensified searches due to decay threats, with recent finds like the J.C. Ames in 2025 and the steamship Milwaukee in 2024. Ehorn warns that the remaining wrecks are “harder” targets.

Richardson withheld snag details amid competitive hunting dynamics. This find honors American ingenuity in shipbuilding and the perseverance of explorers safeguarding our past from environmental overreach.