The SS Arlington was a steel-hulled, propeller-driven Great Lakes steamship built in 1913 by the Detroit Shipbuilding Company of Wyandotte, Michigan. Originally designated hull No. 192, she was first christened the F.P. Jones and later renamed Glencadam in 1919. Acquired by the Mathews Steamship Company in 1936, she was subsequently purchased by Burke Towing and Salvage Company, which retained her name, Arlington. Designed as a "canaller," she conformed to the dimensions required by the Saint Lawrence River locks of her era, making her suitable for navigation on the Great Lakes. Throughout her service, the Arlington primarily transported grain and pulpwood, operating seasonally to adapt to market demands. In 1940, she was in good condition, having been inspected prior to the shipping season, and was loaded with approximately 98,000 bushels of wheat in Port Arthur, Ontario. She departed on April 30, 1940, alongside the larger steamer Collingwood, with the intention of navigating Lake Superior to Whitefish Bay. The vessel was equipped with a direction finder, giving her an advantage in foggy conditions. On the night of April 30 to May 1, 1940, the Arlington encountered worsening weather, with gale-force winds and heavy seas. Despite initial guidance to follow a sheltered course along the north shore, her captain, Captain Burke, opted for a more direct route into open waters. As the storm intensified, heavy seas boarded the vessel, and by early morning, the ship's hatches began to fail. First mate Macksey, concerned about the ship's stability, attempted to inspect and repair the hatches. By 4:30 am, the crew reported that the hull was cracking, and the ship was taking on water. Ultimately, the Arlington sank at approximately 5:15 am on May 1, 1940, after her hull failed under the storm's assault. The crew managed to launch one lifeboat and evacuated, with the vessel foundering just offshore from Michigan. The shipwreck was discovered in 2023 at a depth of 183 meters (600 feet) beneath Lake Superior, about 35 miles off the Michigan coast, identifiable by her still-readable name on the hull. The sinking marked a tragic chapter in Great Lakes maritime history, illustrating the perilous conditions faced by lake freighters.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.