Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs: Recent Episodes
Rich Napolitano
Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs tells the tales of the most notorious, tragic, unfortunate, and mysterious events in the history of ocean voyages, spanning ancient shipwrecks to very recent!
Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs and Her Half of History are both part of the Into History podcast channel. Subscribe for ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive events, an online community, and more. Your subscription will help independent podcasts such as these continue to bring you fantastic history content.
Mata Hari fit society’s profile of a female spy so perfectly: beautiful, seductive, and duplicitous. That’s why the Germans, and the British, and the French all thought she must actually be a spy. Even when they couldn’t find any evidence of it. Here is the story of a woman who had many faults, but almost certainly not the one she was executed for. Hosted by Lori Davis.
In December 2023, the women of the Salty Science team will row 3000 miles unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean, participating in the "World's Toughest Row." Starting in the Canary Islands and ending at Antigua, they will row unsupported and be completely self-sufficient. They have committed their lives to understanding the threats facing our oceans and are raising money for three amazing organizations that are fighting to protect our oceans and its resources. The four women of Salty Science are a multigenerational team of marine scientists connected through years of research, mentorship, and education, and have a common penchant for pushing our limits.
To donate to Salty Science and their cause, please visit saltysciene.org.
Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.
For episodes and more, please visit shipwrecksandseadogs.com.
Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is part of the Into History podcast channel. For ad-free listening, bonus content, exclusive events and more, subscribe at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod.
North Sentinel Island is one of the most isolated places on the planet, and its people are extremely determined to keep it that way. The 1809 shipwreck of the HMS Primrose and the1867 wreck of the Nineveh found their passengers and crews as unwelcomed guests. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.
For photos related to this episode please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/08/22/north-sentinel-island/.
Subscribe to Into History for ad-free episodes of this and other great history podcasts. Also get bonus content, early access, exclusive events, an online community and other perks. Subscribe today at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod.
Captain Carolyn Kurtz became the first ever female pilot in state of Florida in 1995. Her lifelong passion for ships took her to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and then a job as an officer on a commercial ship, before becoming a maritime pilot out of the Port of Tampa. Capt. Kurtz is still piloting and serves on the National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee to the United States Coast Guard.
For photos related to this episode please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com
Subscribe to Into History for ad-free episodes of this and other great history podcasts. Also get bonus content, early access, exclusive events, an online community and other perks. Subscribe today at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod.
Introducing 2 Complicated 4 History! "2C4H" is just one of the many fantastic history podcasts in the Into History podcast network. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, exclusive content, an online community, and you can even get 7 days free!
Subscribe at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod
Ever heard a story of someone being hit on the head at a bar and ending up on a British naval vessel? Dr. Denver Brunsman studies the process in between! He joins Isaac S. Loftus and Dr. Lynn Price Robbins to discuss impressment gangs and privateers - in other words, legal pirates in the 18th century. It's another world on the water.
An interview with renowned archaeologist Dr. Eric Cline, author of 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed. Dr. Cline and Rich Napolitano discuss the Bronze Age shipwreck at Uluburun, dating back to 1300 BCE. The vessel was carrying vast amount of riches and valuable items that can be traced to kingdoms all over the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Near East Asia. The cargo found on the ship has changed what we knew about the Late Bronze Age and the trade relationships between the Mycenaeans, Minoans, Egyptians, Cypriots, Canaanites, Hittites, and Mitanni.
For images, links, and sources, please visit www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com.
John Paul Jones was a Scottish born mariner and captain whose name became synonymous with courage, strategic brilliance, and unwavering determination. But to some, he was a murderous traitor. He is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished naval officers in American history. As an early advocate for a strong United States Navy, Jones played a pivotal role during the American Revolutionary War, leading daring naval expeditions and inflicting severe damage upon the British Royal Navy and merchant ships. His remarkable achievements, including the capture of enemy ships and the establishment of a foundation for American naval power, solidified his reputation as a fearless and skilled commander. With a career marked by bold actions and a relentless pursuit of victory, John Paul Jones remains an enduring symbol of naval excellence.
For images and sources please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/07/15/john-paul-jones/.
Subscribe to Into History for ad-free episodes, early access, bonus content, exclusive events, from all the Into History member podcasts.
John Paul Jones was a Scottish born mariner and captain whose name became synonymous with courage, strategic brilliance, and unwavering determination. But to some, he was a murderous traitor. He is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished naval officers in American history. As an early advocate for a strong United States Navy, Jones played a pivotal role during the American Revolutionary War, leading daring naval expeditions and inflicting severe damage upon the British Royal Navy and merchant ships. His remarkable achievements, including the capture of enemy ships and the establishment of a foundation for American naval power, solidified his reputation as a fearless and skilled commander. With a career marked by bold actions and a relentless pursuit of victory, John Paul Jones remains an enduring symbol of naval excellence.
For images and sources please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/07/15/john-paul-jones/.
Subscribe to Into History for ad-free episodes, early access, bonus content, exclusive events, from all the Into History member podcasts.
Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is now part of Into History, a brand new subscription channel of podcasts made by history lovers for history lovers. Get instant access to hundreds of ad-free episodes, plus exclusive curated feeds, a weekly newsletter, and a community hub to keep the conversation going after the episodes end. But don’t worry, nothing has changed, and Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs can still be found in your podcast app, just as always. But if you want to enjoy the perks of being an Into History subscriber, go to intohistory.supercast.com.
And even better, get 50% off your first three months, now through July 31st! Subscribe to Into History at intohistory.supercast.com.
The Cod Wars were a series of conflicts that took place between Iceland and Great Britain during the 20th century. Centered around disputes over fishing rights and territorial waters, these confrontations showcased the struggle between Iceland's efforts to protect its valuable cod fishing industry and Britain's interests in maintaining access to these fishing grounds.
For photos and sources please visits https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/07/11/cod-wars/.
In 1854, the SS Arctic of the Collins Line sank off the coast of Newfoundland after colliding with the French fishing vessel, SS Vesta. As it became clear the ship was sinking, many of the crew ignored chivalry, rushing the lifeboats, and pushing women and children aside. About 300 lost their lives, and not a single woman or child survived. The shameful behavior of the crew and devastating loss of life makes the SS Arctic one of the most notorious and tragic shipwrecks in history.
For photos, illustrations, and sources, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/06/25/the-ss-arctic/.
The SS Pacific was a sidewheel paddle steamer, which by 1875 had 25 years of service up and down the west coast of the US and Canada. In November of 1875, she collided with the sailing vessel Orpheus, and was fatally damaged. Only two aboard the Pacific survived, and an estimate of 325 perished. It is the greatest loss of life in the history of the waters nicknamed The Graveyard of the Pacific.
For images and sources please visit shipwrecksandseadogs.com.
The Georges Phillippar was a luxurious passenger liner of the French Messageries Maritimes line. She and other ships built by the Ateliers et Chantiers shipbuilding company were plagued by fires over the years, culminating in several tragedic accidents. In May of 1932, the Georges Phillippar experienced a cabin fire while returning to France from Japan. The crew struggled to control the fire and soon it burned out of control. At least 41 were killed, but possibly as many as 100. Controversy surrounded the accident as political jockeying was ramping up in the years leading up to World War 2.
For show notes, photos, and sources, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/05/21/georges-philippar/.
In the early morning hours of September 8, 1860, the beautiful sidewheel paddle steamer The Lady Elgin was rammed by the schooner Augusta during a violent gale on Lake Mighigan. Over 300 passengers and crew lost their lives, including many members of the Irish Union Guard of Milwaukee's Third Ward. Residents of Winnetka, Highwood, and other nearby communities sprung into action, rescuing survivors from the shores or recovering bodies to be identified.
Joining me is Paul Timm, author of The Lost Lady: The Lady Elgin Tragedy (published under the pen name M. Paul Hollander) and Lara Zielin, creator and host of Archive Unknown podcast.
This episode features the song "Lost on the Lady Elgin" written by Henry Clay Work, and performed by Lee Murdock. You can find more of Lee Murdock's work at www.leemurdock.com.
For show notes, photos, links, and sources, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/05/15/lady-elgin/.
Author and historian Richard M. Jones joines me to discuss the British cargo ship Lulworth Hill. Just after midnight on 19 March 1943, the Lulworth Hill was torpedoed by the Italian U-Boat Leonardo da Vinci. The ship split in two and sank within just 90 seconds. Only 14 out of 47 made it to a small, cramped liferaft. They were stranded in a tiny lifeboat, with very little fresh water and food. The unbearable heat, dehydration, starvation took their toll on the men, all while sharks continually circled them. After 50 days adrift, only Colin Armitage and Kenneth Cooke were alive when they were rescued. This is the story of their unbelievable suffering and survival.
For show notes, additional reading, photos, and sources, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/04/27/lulworth-hill/.
Captain James Cook was one of the most successful explorers and navigators of the 18th century. His scientific discoveries and charting of the Pacific islands, New Zealand, and Australia proved invaluable. But his legacy is tarnished with the baggage of colonialism, racism, and conflicts that are still felt today. His three Pacific voyages were legendary, and he would pay for them with his life.
For images and sources related to this episode, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/04/16/captain-james-cook/.
I'm very excited to bring you this mashup of murder and shipwrecks! This bonus episode is a collaboration with Reyna from Those Murder Girls Podcast. Reyna is a friend of the show and her podcast is one of my all-time favorite True Crime podcasts. For those who listened to the Empress of Ireland episode, I briefly described how Captain Henry Kendall helped capture Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, the London Cellar Murderer, using the newly installed Marconi wireless set. This bonus episode tells the whole story of that murder, the coverup, and the capture of Dr. Crippen and his accomplice Ethel LeNeve. I hope you enjoy! Remember to rate and review, subscribe/follow and tell a friend!
Follow Those Murder Girls Podcast here: https://linktr.ee/thosemurdergirlspodcast
For this episode's show notes, images, and sources, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/04/05/dr-harvey-crippen/.
For helpful maps of Houtman's Abrolhos, visit this episode's show notes>>
Dr. Howard Gray joins me again for this final installment of Batavia's Graveyard. Jeronimus Cornelisz and his fellow mutineers begin their reign of terror on the other survivors of the Batavia shipwreck. Cornelisz orders the senseless murders of countless survivors. Francisco Pelsaert, Ariaen Jacobsz and over 40 others reach the Dutch settlement of Batavia on the island of Java in the longboat, and Pelsaert is dispatched with a rescue ship to recover survivors and cargo. Meanwhile Cornelisz launches attacks on Wiebbe Hayes and his soldiers on West Wallabi Island. Pelsaert arrives just in time during a pitched battle. Cornelisz and the mutineers are captured, and the interrogations begin.
Helpful maps of Houtman's Abrolhos are in this episode's show notes, for a better idea of the layout of the islands and the distances involved. You will also find photos, links, and sources, related to this episode.
https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/04/02/batavias-graveyard-3/
Helpful maps showing the geography of this area is available on this episode's show notes at https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/03/26/batavias-graveyard-part-2/.
In Part 2 of Batavia's Graveyard, the Batavia and its crew depart Table Bay in southern Africa and continue their voyage to the Dutch East Indies. The Schipper, Ariaen Jacobs had just been publicly dressed down in front of the crew for his drunken rowdiness, and both Jacobsz and Jeronimus Cornelisz begin planning a mutiny. As the ship races across the Indian Ocean, they run into an unexpected archipelago of coral islands, the Houtman's Abrolhos, off the coast of Western Australia. The Batavia is wrecked, and those on board struggle to make it to dry land. Pelsaert and Jacobsz depart for Java in the longboat to get help, and Cornelisz makes his move and assumes command of the survivors. Dr. Howard Gray joins me again as my guest.
For images, links, and show notes please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/03/26/batavias-graveyard-part-2/.
In 1628, the Dutch East India Company sent its brand new flagship vessel Batavia from The Netherlands on a voyage to the settlement of Batavia (modern day Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies. The cast of characters on board would produce one of the most bizarre maritime stories in history. After being wrecked on Houtman's Abrolhos archipelago off the coast of Western Australia, a horrible tragedy of survival, manipulation, torture, sexual assault, and murder took place at the hands of the monstrous Jeronimus Cornelisz.
Dr. Howard Gray joins me as my guest for this multipart episode series. Dr. Gray is one of the world's foremost experts on the Batavia shipwreck, Houtman's Abrolhos archipelago, and Western Australia history.
For images, maps, links, and show notes related to this episode, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/03/18/batavias-graveyard-part-1/.
I appeared as a guest on this episode of Archive Unknown, hosted by Lara Zielin. Join us as we discuss the curious disappearance of the USS Cyclops in 1918.
https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/03/14/uss-cyclops/
Samuel Bellamy, or "Black Sam" Bellamy, was an extraordinarily successful pirate, albeit for a very short time. Called the "Robin Hood of the Seas," he abhorred violence, treated his victims humanely, and was very generous to his men. When he and his fleet captured the slave ship Whydah Gally, he scored a huge payday, but it all wound up lost for almost 300 years when the Whydah was wrecked in a storm off Cape Cod in 1717. This is the story of the Gentleman Pirate, a ship laden with riches, and the discovery of its treasure.
For images and sources please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/03/04/black-sam-bellamy-the-whydah-gally/
The Carlskrona was a 19th century corvette of the Swedish Navy. In 1846, the fast but unstable ship encountered a freak storm which came out of nowhere in the Florida Strait. The crew was not able to adjust the sails fast enough and the ship went down, with only 17 survivors ever making it back to Sweden.
For show notes, transcripts, images, and sources, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/category/episodes/.
On October 7, 1916 the German U-Boat U-53 showed up unexpectedly at Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. World War 1 was raging, although the United States remained firmly neutral. The U-53 captain, Hans Rose, paid courtesy visits to local US Navy commanders, and in return had them visit his U-Boat. The visit was friendly and accommodating, if not a bit strang. Curious onlookers snapped photos and gathered their boats around the U-53. The next morning, the U-53 commenced sinking Allied ships, and within 24 hours the U-53 sank 3 UK ships, 1 Norwegian ship, and 1 Dutch ship. Seventeen US Destroyers were dispatched to rescue survivors, but, being neutral, did not fire on the U-53 and Rose slipped away. In total, the U-53 sank 70 ships from 1916 to 1918.
For notes, links, and photos related to this episode, please visit https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/01/28/wrecks-of-the-u-53/.
Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @shipwreckspod, and on Mastodon @shipwreckspod@c.im.
On the evening of January 28, 1980, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn was leaving Tampa Bay on its way to its home base in Galveston, Texas. It was a cool, calm, and pleasant night as the Blackthorn headed out. At the same time, the SS Capricorn was inbound to the bay. Through a series of missteps and miscommunications, the Blackthorn and Capricorn collided, almost head-on, killing 23 Coast Guardsmen.
For a transcript of this episode please visit ...
For photos and sources related to this episode please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/01/24/the-uscgc-blackthorn/.
The Achille Lauro has a storied history from its beginnings as a Dutch-built ship in wartorn Netherlands. Several accidents and mishaps plagued the ship before being purchased by the Italian Flotto Lauro Line and transformed into a beautiful and stylish passenger liner. The Achille Lauro made international news in 1985 when it was hijacked off the coast of Egypt by members of the Palestinian Liberation Front, resulting in the death of Leon Klinghofer and a tense political standoff. In 1994 an engine fire erupted during a voyage from Genoa to South Africa. The fire raged out of control causing the passengers and crew to abandon ship. The Achille Lauro continued to burn and sank on December 2, 1994.
For images and sources please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/01/10/the-achille-lauro/
On July 24th, 1915, the SS Eastland rolled on its side in the Chicago River, just 19 feet from the dock, killing 844 people. The ship, along with 4 others were scheduled to transport over 7000 employees of the Western Electric company to a fun-filled day at the company's annual outing. Paul Durica, Director of Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum joins me.
For show notes, photos, and sources, please visit
https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2022/12/13/the-ss-eastland/.
The Empress of Ireland was a luxurious and beautiful steamship of the early 20th century, carrying passengers across the North Atlantic between Quebec City and Liverpool. She and her sister ship, the Empress of Britain, were an important cog during the peak of Canadian immigration. In the early morning hours of 29 May, 1914, the Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian ship Storstad in dense fog on the St. Lawrence River. Over 1000 people on the Empress of Ireland perished, and more passengers died than on the Titanic just two years prior. Because of the massive loss of life, she has been called "Canada's Titanic."
Dan Conlin, Curator of the Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia joins me to share his knowledge.
For show notes, images, and sources please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2022/11/29/empress-of-ireland-canadas-titanic/.
In 1968, Hugo Vihlen broke the record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the smallest vessel when he crossed in his 6 foot long vessel April Fool. Thirty-five years later, at age 61, he again broke the record in his 5 foot 4 inch vessel Father's Day. He served as a combat pilot in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, was a pilot for Delta Airlines, and wrote two books about his record breaking voyages. I had the pleasure of interviewing Hugo and hearing his first hand account of his experiences.
For show notes, images, and links to Hugo's books, visit : https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2022/11/15/hugo-vihlen/
The RMS Queen Mary long served as a luxury passenger liner for the Cunard White Star Line. Her speed and beauty made her one of the finest ships on the water, and she even served as a transport ship during World War 2. Since being retired to Long Beach, California, she has earned the reputation as being one of the most haunted places in the world. Many of the ship's crew and guests have claimed to have experienced paranormal activity throughout its long history.
Wrecktoberfest special! The spooky tales of the ghost ship Ourang Medan, and the haunted St. Augustine Lighthouse. The Ourang Medan might be the creepiest ghost ship of all time, with all of its crew found dead, frozen in panic stricken terror. And the former residents of the St. Augustine Lighthouse don't seem to want to leave. Their spirits haunt the lighthouse to this day.
For this episode's show notes, images, and sources, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2022/10/18/wrecktoberfest-special-volume-1/.
The luxury passenger line Andrea Doria was the pride of post World War 2 Italy. The ship was the embodiment of beauty. In 1954, she and the Swedish ship Stockholm collided during dense fog off Nantucket Island. This is the story of the loss of one of the most luxurious ships in history. I am joined by professional diver and researcher Andrea Murdock Alpini.
In 1994 the passenger and vehicle ferry MV Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea. 852 of the 989 on board were lost. The cause of the ship's demise is still controversial.
For show notes, photos, and sources please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2022/09/20/estonia-ep4/.
On the morning of May 9, 1980, the large freighter Summit Venture smashed into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge while entering Tampa Bay, Florida. The center section of the southbound span was destroyed, killing 35 motorists. This is the story of how it happened, and the tragedy it left in its wake.
For show notes and images: https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/episodes/summit-venture
The S.S. Sultana was transporting former Union prisoners of war at the end of the American Civil War when it suddenly exploded on April 27th, 1865. Jerry Potter, author of The Sultana Tragedy: America's Greatest Maritime Disaster, offers fantastic insight and perspective into this horrible shipwreck. An estimated 1200 people lost their lives due to greed, corruption, negligence, and incompetence.
Show Notes and Images: https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/episodes/ep-1-the-s-s-sultana-part-2
Sources:
Potter, Jerry O. The Sultana Tragedy : America’s Greatest Maritime Disaster. Gretna La., Pelican Pub. Co, 1992.
Berry, Chester D., Loss of the Sultana and Reminiscences of Survivors. Lansing, Michigan: Darius D. Thorp, 1892.
https://www.npr.org/2015/04/27/402515205/the-shipwreck-that-led-confederate-veterans-to-risk-all-for-union-lives
https://mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/surviving-the-worst-the-wreck-of-the-sultana
https://ualrexhibits.org/steamboats/virtual-exhibit/understanding-the-sultana-tragedy-the-long-way-home/
https://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/tsla/exhibits/disasters/sultana.htm
https://www.history.com/news/why-the-civil-war-actually-ended-16-months-after-lee-surrendered
http://www.mifamilyhistory.org/civilwar/sultana/berry_chester_d.aspx
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-prisoner-of-war-disaster-overshadowed-by-lincolns-death
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2009/august/death-river
https://icl.coop/the-worst-civil-war-tragedy-few-remember/
https://www.historynet.com/sultana-a-tragic-postscript-to-the-civil-war/
The S.S. Sultana was transporting former Union prisoners of war at the end of the American Civil War when it suddenly exploded on April 27th, 1865. Jerry Potter, author of The Sultana Tragedy: America's Greatest Maritime Disaster, offers fantastic insight and perspective into this horrible shipwreck. An estimated 1200 people lost their lives due to greed, corruption, negligence, and incompetence.
Show notes and images: https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/episodes/sultana-shipwreck
Sources:
Potter, Jerry O. The Sultana Tragedy : America’s Greatest Maritime Disaster. Gretna La., Pelican Pub. Co, 1992.
Berry, Chester D., Loss of the Sultana and Reminiscences of Survivors. Lansing, Michigan: Darius D. Thorp, 1892.
https://www.npr.org/2015/04/27/402515205/the-shipwreck-that-led-confederate-veterans-to-risk-all-for-union-lives
https://mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/surviving-the-worst-the-wreck-of-the-sultana
https://ualrexhibits.org/steamboats/virtual-exhibit/understanding-the-sultana-tragedy-the-long-way-home/
https://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/tsla/exhibits/disasters/sultana.htm
https://www.history.com/news/why-the-civil-war-actually-ended-16-months-after-lee-surrendered
http://www.mifamilyhistory.org/civilwar/sultana/berry_chester_d.aspx
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-prisoner-of-war-disaster-overshadowed-by-lincolns-death
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2009/august/death-river
https://icl.coop/the-worst-civil-war-tragedy-few-remember/
https://www.historynet.com/sultana-a-tragic-postscript-to-the-civil-war/
Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs will regale you with the most notorious, tragic, unfortunate, and mysterious events in the history of ocean voyages, spanning ancient shipwrecks to very recent! Discover the real stories of these disasters and those who were responsible. If you like history, true crime, and story telling podcasts, you will love Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs.