Al Capone's wrecked illegal booze party boat revealed at last in eerie underwater images

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The boat where Al Capone and his cronies enjoyed booze-fuelled celebrations during Prohibition has been revealed in eerie underwater snaps.

Formerly a lumber barge, in 1928 The Keuka was transformed into a floating dance hall complete with live music and bar.

However, the vessel mysteriously sank in August 1932. It has now been documented by divers Chris Roxburgh and Lee Rosenberg beneath the surface of Lake Charlevoix, Michigan.

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Roxburgh said: “My belief and local lore is that Capone and his men supplied this casino ship during its time of operation in the Prohibition era, from 1929 to 1932.

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“Capone had a house near Charlevoix and people claim to have seen him back in those years. He had several ‘hide out houses in northern Michigan’ – an easy drive up from Chicago.

“The rumour is that, after the manager of the ship was shot on board, it was scuttled by a local church group that was tired of the devil’s parties, booze, music, drinks and women.”

Describing the vessel, he continued: “Down inside, the ship has long open areas, as the ship is 200ft-long and over two stories tall.

“The limelight shines through the port holes casting shadows that move as we make our way through the party barge.

“The wreck is intact and upright with good lighting and very clear water. It eerily lurks under the surface with many stories to tell.”

The Keuka was a notorious spot for illicit alcohol when it was outlawed in the US, with an excellent vantage point from the centre of Lake Charlevoix to spy any approaching police.

It was “one of the places where everyone knew you could get a drink”, according to the Northern Express.

The man hired to pump the boat out on a daily basis was rumoured to have been paid in whiskey.

But the fun came to an end on New Year’s Day 1931 when news broke that Ed Latham, the barge’s manager, had been shot by a drunken customer, prompting Captain J.H. Gallagher to shut up shop.

It sank mysteriously the following year, with one contemporary account quoted by the Northern Express reading: “The Keuka was riding safely Saturday with no evidence that a few hours later would find her in the bottom of the lake.

“Nevertheless, something happened, and the boat went down.

“There was some cause for the changed conditions, but at this time the reason is indefinite and a subject of conjecture on the part of the public.”

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