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Modern Mysteries

Mystery surrounds Lake Michigan shipwreck

By T.K. Randall
January 18, 2015 · Comment icon 5 comments

The lake's waters can prove perilous. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 Marco Bonavoglia
Two treasure hunters found something unexpected while hunting for gold in the lake's depths.
When Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe began their search of Lake Michigan in 2011 it was gold, not a shipwreck, that they were looking for. According to a local legend, $2 million in gold had been dropped from a ferry crossing the lake back in the 19th century and the pair had been hoping to discover its location.

What they found instead however were the long lost remains of a 17th-century ship that they believed to be the Griffin, a vessel built by French explorer Robert de La Salle in 1679.

"I didn't go down there with the expectation of seeing a shipwreck - I can tell you that," said Dykstra.

The newly discovered wreck however has turned out to be something of a mystery in itself as experts have been unable to agree upon whether it is actually the ship that the pair are claiming it is.
Another leading theory suggests that it could be the remnants of a tugboat.

According to historical accounts, La Salle had sailed across Lake Michigan in an attempt to find the mouth of the Mississippi River but ended up running out of money. He later returned to the area for a second attempt but sailed out in stormy weather and his ship was never seen again.

Despite the unintended discovery however the pair are keen to resume their original search.

"It's a mystery ship that got in our way," said Dykstra, "and now, we're going for the gold."

Source: Yahoo! News | Comments (5)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by freetoroam 10 years ago
"It's a mystery ship that got in our way," said Dykstra, "and now, we're going for the gold." http://www.unexplain...higan-shipwreck Haha, and a few others now. Note to self: buy diving gear and get to Lake Michigan..quick.
Comment icon #2 Posted by Lyko 10 years ago
Count me in freetoroam. My dad used to be a diver so i can borrow all his equipment. 50% each.
Comment icon #3 Posted by rashore 10 years ago
If you guys plan to go diving, make sure you wear the cold waters gear. Even in the summer the lake is pretty frigid for diving to wrecks.
Comment icon #4 Posted by mesuma 10 years ago
Does anyone actually ever find fabled treasure? I thought the only reward in it was for local tourism.
Comment icon #5 Posted by wobbly 10 years ago
mesuma: Look up Mel Fisher. He has found a lot but it cost him dearly. Yes, they are cleaning out the Central America right now, full of newly minted gold coins from SF in the '49 gold rush. Lots of wrecks. Find Robert Marx and learn a little.


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