The Shipwreck Archives

Dec 10 2024 150 ep. 18 mins 20

The Shipwreck Archives Podcast artwork

This podcast tells the story of a new shipwreck in every episode. This podcast does not constrain itself with nationality or century. It endeavors to tell the story of the disasters that plagued the ships that once plowed the waves as the powerhouses of global trade, warfare, and emigration. If you would like to reach us, we can be contacted at [email protected]. Want to support us? Thank you! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckarchiv If you enjoy our content please give us a positive review on your preferred listening platform, and share with your friends. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shipwreck-archives/support

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Mixed Signals on the Cimbria (1883)

Dec 10 2024 18 mins

The North Wales Express reported the following on the 9th of February, 1883: “In a recent sitting of the German Parliament, Herr Sonnemann brought forward an interpellation, asking whether, in consequence of the loss of the Cimbria, the Government intended to propose any new regulations or bring about some international arrangements for the prevention of collisions at sea. Herr S

The Rescue of the Samaritano (1860)

Nov 26 2024 16 mins

The Sea by Frederick Whymper, published in 1883, started its story about the Samaritano as follows: “One Sunday night in the month of February, a few years ago, the weather was what sailors call “dirty”, and accompanied by sudden gusts of wind and snow-squalls. Before light broke on Monday morning, the Margate lugger, Eclipse, put out to sea to cruise round the shoals and san

The Monroe Sinks Too Quickly (1914)

Nov 19 2024 20 mins

The Coast Seaman‘s Journal on May 20th, 1914 published the following: “Why was it that the “Monroe” foundered so quickly after the collision that there was little time to launch the lifeboats? The steamer had six watertight compartments, only one of which was injured in the collision. The damaged compartment was in the forward end of the ship which, nevertheless, sank stern

The Berlin in View of the Hook (1907)

Nov 12 2024 25 mins

The Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian reported on the 22nd of June, 1907: “The departure was made in the teeth of a terrible gale, but there was as much confidence in the ship as there was in the capacity of Captain Precious, the senior captain of the Great Eastern Company’s fleet. Both had weathered many a storm in the North Sea. Rarely, however, has the North Sea seen such

The Capsizing of the Sand Merchant (1936)

Nov 05 2024 16 mins

In his first-hand account of the sinking of his vessel, Captain Maclelland would write: “Everything seemed all right when we left the grounds off of Point Pelee late Saturday afternoon and started for Cleveland. It was blowing fairly hard but we were making out in good shape until about supper time. When I noticed we began to have a tougher time making headway and I wasn’t surp

The Fatal Meeting of Liban and Insulaire (1903)

Oct 29 2024 16 mins

The Evening Express and Evening Mail reported the following on June 11th, 1903: “Two directors of the Fraissinet Shipping company, to which the Liban belonged, were present. One of them, M. Alfred Fraissinet, came forward and speaking with great emotion, said that this was not the time to discuss the responsibility for the loss of life, but that he courted full inquiry. He could

The Observation in the General Slocum's Wake (1932)

Oct 22 2024 21 mins

On March 7th, 1934 the New York Times reported the following: “The observation was built in 1888, Mr Kuzmier said; adding that deckhands would testify that one side of the boat was so rotten that a rope had to be passed over the deck and fastened to the other side before she could be moored. The boiler leaked badly, he continued, and she had a bad list.” Ship Name: Observatio

Captain Lonnen Stops with Loch Finlas (1908)

Oct 15 2024 18 mins

The Grey River Argus on the 29th of September, 1908 reported the following: “The vessel lost at Cape Portland was the Loch Finlas, bound from Port Pirie to Callao. Residents state that at about 9:30 O’Clock on Saturday morning, a barque was seen coming from the direction of Boobyalla Bay. She struck the reef and within half an hour had disappeared.” Ship Name: Loch Finlas

The Long Fight of Le Lyonnais (1856)

Oct 08 2024 25 mins

The Weekly Wisconsin on November 26th, 1856 reported the following statement by Le Lyonnais fireman Nestor Fabien: “We heard the concussion, but we did not know what it was. In five minutes time the water came rushing into the engine room, carrying the coal along with it. The fires were put out almost instantly. A number of us were engaged all through the night trying to stop the

The Castaway on a Shallop (1803)

Oct 01 2024 16 mins

The fourth officer of the Europe wrote a letter to his father on September 8th, 1803, disclosing the following information: “we saw a small boat on our starboard-bow, which, upon pearing, we discovered to have only one sail set, and otherwise to be a perfect wreck. No one was observed to be on her deck, until, upon hailing her, a wretched object presented himself, apparently in