Beyond the Breakers

In this episode we cover the tragic tale of the paddle steamer General Slocum, which caught fire in New York's East River in 1904, leading to the deaths of at least 1,000 people - many of whom were children.

"A Spectacle of Horror - The Burning of the General Slocum"
- This is the Smithsonian article referenced in the episode

Manhattan Melodrama (opening sequence)

Henry Slocum monument at Gettysburg

*Originally released 7/19/21; edited and re-released 2/25/22

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In this week's explosive episode we discuss the maritime disaster of the cargo ship Cason , which caught fire off Cape Finisterre in 1987, killing 23 crew and causing a months-long  potential ecological disaster.

Incident Report

Documentary - Part 1

*Originally released 7/12/21; edited and re-uploaded 2/26/22

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Do you like gold? Hurricanes? Treasure hunting? Swindling and betrayal? We have a story for you.

In this episode, we discuss the 1857 sinking of the SS Central America - known as the "Ship of Gold" - the subsequent search and recovery efforts, and some protracted legal battles.

*Originally released 7/25/21; edited and re-uploaded 2/16/22

Main sources for the episode:
Bowers, Q. David. A California Gold Rush History, California Gold Marketing Group, 2002.

Lacitis, Erik. "Seattle group helped find 15 tons of gold lost on sunken ship. It took 30 years to get their shares." Seattle Times, 5 April 2019, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-ss-central-america-ship-of-gold-and-lost-lives/. Accessed 1 July 2021.

Stone, Lawrence D. "Search for the SS Central America: Mathematical Treasure Hunting." Interface, vol. 22, no. 1, 1992, pp. 32 - 45

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This week we discuss the sinking of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS  Thresher during deep-dive trials in 1963. The loss of the Thresher with all hands constitutes the deadliest submarine accident in US history.  

https://news.usni.org/tag/thresher-inquiry

https://maritime.org/doc/fleetsub/trim/chap1.htm

Welding vs. Brazing

Originally released 6/27/21; edited and re-uploaded 2/15/22

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This week we discuss the history of one of the most unique  type of vessels in maritime history - the whaleback.

The focus of the episode is on the SS City of Everett, but to tell that story we have to also discuss Alexander McDougall and his dream of a new type of steamship, designed to be invulnerable to wind and wave.

*Originally released 6/23/21; edited and re-uploaded 3/5/22

Pacific Steel Barge Company and the whaleback City of Everett - this was the primary source in researching the episode. It's a good read if you have the time and have an interest in the business/finance side of things. This source dispels both the tall tale of Malaga's surrender to the Everett, and the alleged discovery of its wreckage in 2010.

- Ohio, Denise. "Pacific Steel Barge Company and the whaleback City of Everett." HistoryLink, 21 Jan 2021. Accessed 14 June 2021.

Information about the whaleback James B. Colgate was found via:
 
- Jackson, Matt. “Dangerous Waters.” Beaver, vol. 84, no. 3, June 2004, pp. 36–39. 

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This week, we discuss the sinking of the SS Cedarville, which went down in the Straits of Mackinac in May of 1965.

*Originally released 6/13/21; edited and re-uploaded 2/17/22

Helpful links:

Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve - Cedarville

United States Coast Guard Report

YouTube Video Diving on the Wreck of the Cedarville

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This week we answer listener submitted questions and share some of our thoughts about the show. 

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This week we visit the continent of Africa for the first time on the show. We discuss the loss of the MV Bukoba,  a Tanzanian RO/RO  ferry that went down in Lake Victoria.

Irish Times - May 23, 1996

News Bulletins covering Bukoba from Features Africa Network

"Zanzibar's ferry disaster could have been prevented" - Saumava Mitra, September 13 2011

*Originally released 5/30/21; edited and re-uploaded 2/18/22

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This week we discuss the loss of Titanic's sister ship HMHS Britannic.


Link to Documentary about Britannic

*Originally released 5/23/21; edited and re-uploaded 2/14/22

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This week we venture to South America to discuss the 2nd worst disaster in Chilean maritime history.

http://chile-catastrofes-tragedias.blogspot.com/2012/07/naufragio-transporte-angamos-6-de-julio.html

https://revistamarina.cl/es/articulo/el-naufragio-del-transporte-angamos/en

https://www.diarioconcepcion.cl/opinion/2019/07/06/el-angamos-un-naufragio-antiguo-y-cercano.html

*originally released 5/17/21; edited and re-uploaded 2/14/22

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