A ship that went 'missing' was found 115 years later — but one strange detail raises more questions

On May 1, 1909, the wooden steamship Adella Shores trailed a larger ship through the icy expanse of Lake Superior. Shortly after passing Michigan’s Whitefish Point, it vanished without a trace. No one saw what happened, but all 14 crew members were presumed lost at sea. For over a century, the ship's sudden disappearance remained a mystery even as science advanced by leaps and bounds. Many believed that the ship had succumbed to adverse conditions. After decades of searching, the ship's wreckage was finally found 115 years later. 

Adella Shores was found at the depths of Lake Superior. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society released images of the ship's wreckage, resting over 650 feet below the surface. The team theorized that the ship had collapsed sideways, given its tilted position. They found scattered debris, dishes, and various items—yet, strangely, no human remains. This raises even more questions. The discovery came in 2021 when Darryl and Dan Ertel used a marine side-scan sonar system, as reported by The Sun.

Ertel said, “I pretty much knew that had to be the Adella Shores when I measured the length of it because there were no other ships out there missing in that size range. As soon as I put the ROV down on it for the first time, I could see the design of the ship, and I could match it right up to the Adella Shores." Historian Fred Stonehouse also spoke about the discovery. He said, “She [the steamship] still tells a very poignant and fascinating story.”

He gushed, "The folks that are out there actively hunting for shipwrecks like the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society are helping to answer that story. And they keep looking for the ones that are not yet told and not yet found. For that, they deserve the highest commendation." Bruce E. Lynn, executive director of the GLSHS, explained that shipwrecks in the Great Lakes occur far more frequently than many people realize. He said, “There are a variety of reasons for this, and the weather was often a prime factor. The lakes create their micro-climates, and conditions can change extremely quickly.”

He explained, “Weather reporting was not as accurate as it is today, and ships like the Adella Shores could get caught in situations...that they were unable to safely get out of." Lynn also shared that poor visibility was a significant challenge, with vessel collisions happening more often than expected. With many ships navigating the waters, the Adella Shores had already sunk twice before the ultimate disaster. Lynn explained that ice had caused the ship to submerge twice at the docks, but it was likely a storm that led to the final wreck. Without radar or GPS, ships like the Adella Shores often navigated through murky conditions almost blind, as reported by the New York Post.