Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

For ad-free listening to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs and many other fantastic history podcasts, subscribe to Into History, at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod. The General Slocum shipwreck occurred on June 15, 1904, when the passenger steamboat caught fire while cruising along the East River in New York City. Carrying over 1,300 passengers, primarily members of the German-American community on an annual excursion, the disaster resulted in the loss of over 1,000 lives, mainly women and children. Outdated safety measures, locked gates, malfunctioning lifeboats, and inadequate life vests contributed to the tragedy, prompting significant reforms in maritime safety regulations and leaving a profound impact on New York City's history and the public's consciousness. You can support the podcast in multiple ways! Make a one-time donation at Buy Me a Coffee Subscribe to Into History Buy some Merch! Follow on Social Media @shipwreckspod Tell a friend! Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

Subscribe to Into History for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Get access to this, and many more history podcasts. Subscribe at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod. PJ Ornot is a retired United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, having served 24 years in the service. PJ was stationed in many locations throughout his career including North Carolina, Louisiana, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Florida. PJ and Rich discuss his experiences, including some rough rescues, a bizarre conspiracy, and emotional moments. For images, sources, and transcripts please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/04/07/pj-ornot-uscg-rescue-swimmer/ Support the Show! Subscribe to Into History at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod Donate to the show >> Buy merch! >> Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on Social Media >> Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

On March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland was struck by the container ship MV Dali. The bridge completely collapsed moments later. Eight construction workers were on the bridge at the time. Although two men were rescued, six are missing and presumed dead. In this episode, I provide a timeline of events leasing to the disaster, including clips from the police radio. I also provide a short history of the bridge, and the MV Dali. https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/03/27/the-baltimore-bridge-disaster/

The creator of the Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs original theme music, Sean Sigfried, joins me to talk about how we first interacted, the creation of the theme song, and his achievements. You'll also hear a few clips of some of his other compositions. And, in a strange twist, he winds up interviewing me! Please follow Sean Sigfried on social media @SeanSecret or visit his website at seansigfried.com. You can follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on social media @shipwreckspod or at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

Subscribe to Into History for ad-free listening, bonus content, and other perks! The French shipwreck Medusa, which took place in 1816 off the coast of Mauritania, remains one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. The vessel, carrying French officials, soldiers, and settlers to Senegal, ran aground due to navigational errors and negligence. Among the survivors, those left on a makeshift raft endured harrowing conditions, including starvation, dehydration, and resorting to cannibalism to survive. The tragic events of the Medusa disaster captivated public attention and inspired artistic works, such as Théodore Géricault's monumental painting "The Raft of the Medusa," which immortalized the plight of the survivors and the horrors they endured. For images, sources, and transcripts please visit: shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/03/11/the-raft-of-the-medusa/. Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on Social Media >> Support the show by purchasing Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise >> Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

Subscribe to Into History for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Get access to this, and many more history podcasts. Subscribe at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod. The French shipwreck Medusa, which took place in 1816 off the coast of Mauritania, remains one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. The vessel, carrying French officials, soldiers, and settlers to Senegal, ran aground due to navigational errors and negligence. Among the survivors, those left on a makeshift raft endured harrowing conditions, including starvation, dehydration, and resorting to cannibalism to survive. The tragic events of the Medusa disaster captivated public attention and inspired artistic works, such as Théodore Géricault's monumental painting "The Raft of the Medusa," which immortalized the plight of the survivors and the horrors they endured. For images, sources, and transcripts please visit  shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/03/11/the-raft-of-the-medusa/. Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on Social Media >> Support the show by purchasing Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise >> Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

From Airship, the studio behind American Scandal, American History Tellers, and History Daily, comes a new true crime history podcast that takes you inside the minds of some of our most notorious felons and outlaws, exploring the dark side to the American dream. The debut season tackles one of the country’s most sensational cases: The Menendez Murders. In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally shot their parents. Prosecutors said it was a million dollar inheritance that led two greedy kids to murder. But the picture-perfect facade this family built hid troubling abuse; could these teenagers have been driven to kill, or was it even in self defense? Episode one is out now! Go to americancriminal.com, or search for and follow American Criminal wherever you get your podcasts.

For ad-free listening, subscribe to the Into History Podcast Channel, at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod. The Vasa was a massive warship commissioned by King Gustav II Adolph of Sweden in the early 17th century. Designed to be the pride of the Swedish Navy, construction began in 1626 at the Royal Shipyard in Stockholm, under the supervision of master shipwright Henrik Hybertsson. The Vasa was intended to be a symbol of Sweden's military power and ambition in the Baltic region, with a total of 64 guns arranged on two decks. Its design incorporated the latest advancements in naval architecture, including a sleek hull and a high concentration of firepower. However, the Vasa's inaugural voyage was marked by tragedy. On August 10, 1628, the ship set sail from Stockholm's harbor amid great fanfare. But just minutes into the journey, a gust of wind caught the ship's sails, causing it to roll precariously. Water began to rush in through the open gun ports, and the ship quickly sank to the bottom of the harbor. It was a devastating loss for Sweden, with over 30 crew members perishing in the disaster. The Vasa lay submerged for over three centuries, until it was rediscovered in the 1950s and eventually salvaged in 1961. Today, the Vasa is one of Sweden's most popular tourist attractions, attracting millions of visitors each year to the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on social media @shipwreckspod or at shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Official merchandise is available at https://www.bonfire.com/store/shipwreckspod/. Original theme music is by Sean Sigfried, and you can follow him on YouTube @SeanSecret or at https://sean.sigfried.se.

For ad-free listening, subscribe to Into History at https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod. The Steamship Pulaski was an American steam packet that exploded on June 14, 1838, 40 miles off the coast of North Carolina. The explosion occurred around 11 PM, while the ship was traveling from Charleston, South Carolina to Baltimore, Maryland. The explosion caused the ship to break in two and sink within an hour, killing 128 people and saving about 66. Survivor Rebecca Lamar published an account of the disaster in 1854, titled, "The Loss of the Steamer Pulaski." Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on social media @shipwreckspod. For images, show notes, and sources related to this episode, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/02/11/steamship-pulaski/. Transcript: https://podcasts-embed.musixmatch.com/t/01HPGZ6YF8H72EKC8MPW1KG9AA.srt

Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and other great perks. The sinking of the SS El Faro on October 1, 2015 was a devastating maritime disaster that occurred during Hurricane Joaquin. The American cargo ship, owned by TOTE Maritime, was en route from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it encountered the powerful hurricane, leading to a distress call reporting a hull breach and severe listing. All 33 crew members tragically lost their lives, prompting investigations that revealed a combination of factors, including decisions made by the captain, malfunctioning equipment, safety concerns, and maintenance issues, all contributing to the disaster. The sinking of El Faro was the worst US commercial shipping disaster since the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. Visit shipwrecksandseadogs.com for a photo gallery, suggested reading, transcript, and sources related to this episode. Official Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise is available at shipwrecksandseadogs.com! Check it out, and help support the show. Original theme music is by Sean Sigfried.

Subscribe to Into History at https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod for ad-free listening! Real, modern-day pirate Capt. Tonz has led an adventurous and dangerous life on the seas, and has many stories to tell. From a young age, Capt. Tonz struck out on his own as a mariner and learned the tricks of his trade. Capt. Tonz gives us a little taste of his life-story, and you can hear the rest on his own podcast, Original Pirate Material. Visit https://www.captaintonz.com for more. For photos and more please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/01/16/real-life-pirate-capt-tonz/. Please follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on social media @shipwreckspod. Visit https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com for official podcast merch! Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

For ad-free access to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs and other history podcasts, subscribe to Into History at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod. The SS Atlantic disaster occurred on April 1, 1873, when the British steamship SS Atlantic, carrying over 900 passengers and crew, struck rocks off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. The ship was en route from Liverpool, England, to New York City but faced severe weather conditions and navigational errors that led to its tragic demise. The impact caused the vessel to quickly sink, resulting in the loss of around 550 lives, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters of its time. Despite rescue efforts by local residents, the combination of rough seas, inadequate life-saving equipment, and the remote location of the wreck contributed to the high death toll, leaving a haunting legacy in maritime history. Special guest: Maritime historian Kirby Ross. For photos and more information about this episode, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/01/01/final-voyage-of-ss-atlanti/. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

Join Into History for ad-free listening and other great perks. The Franklin Expedition of 1845 was a British voyage led by Sir John Franklin in an attempt to navigate the Northwest Passage, a coveted sea route through the Arctic. Comprising two ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, the expedition aimed to explore uncharted territories but tragically ended in disaster. The ships became trapped in ice off King William Island, and all 129 crew members perished. Despite numerous search missions, the fate of the expedition remained a mystery for over 150 years until the wrecks of the Erebus and Terror were discovered in 2014 and 2016 respectively, shedding light on the hardships faced by the crew, including exposure, starvation, and lead poisoning from poorly preserved food cans, contributing to their demise. For show notes and photo gallery, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/12/12/franklin-expedition/. Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise is now available! Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

Listen to this episode ad-free. Go to IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod and subscribe. In 1940, after Nazi Germany's Western Europe invasion, France capitulated and became a puppet state, while Britain stood alone against Germany. Concerned about the French Naval fleet surrendering to Germany, Britain proposed an ultimatum to Vichy France, leading to a breakdown in their alliance. The events led to intense battles at Mers-El-Kebir and Dakar involving leading military figures of the period. For images and sources related to this episode please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/11/24/the-world-war-2-royal-navy-assault-on-the-french-navy/. Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Follow Shipwreck and Sea Dogs on social media @shipwreckspod. Official Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/shipwreckspod/ Original theme music is by Sean Sigfried.

For ad-free listening, Subscribe at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a storm on November 10, 1975. The ship's crew of 29 men were all lost. She was the largest ship on North America's Great Lakes when it was launched on June 7, 1958. It remains the largest ship to have sunk in the Great Lakes. The Fitzgerald's mysterious demise inspired Gordon Lightfoot's hit song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976), which helped make it the most famous shipwreck in the Great Lakes. The Fitzgerald's wreckage is in two pieces at the bottom of Lake Superior. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point has a bell on display as a memorial to the lost crew. For photos and sources please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/11/13/the-wreck-of-the-edmund-fitzgerald/. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

Bonus episode! American Revolution Podcast by Michael Troy. British Admiral Augustus Keppel and French Admiral Louis Guillouet, the comte d'Orvilliers lead fleets into the Atlantic. Each hope to destroy the other's fleet. After a relatively inconclusive battle at sea both battered fleets return to port. Disputes between top officers end careers on both sides. British Admirals Keppel and Palliser create a rift that divides naval officers and political leaders for a generation. Visit https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Subscribe to Into History for ad-free access to fantastic history podcasts, bonus content, exclusive content, a members only community, and more. Subscribe at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod.

For ad-free episodes subscribe to Into History at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod. In 1909, the RMS Republic of the White Star Line was struck by the SS Florida, and sank off Nantucket in the North Atlantic. It was rumored to be carrying a large quantity of gold, silver, and other valuables, but none of it has been found. Maritime writer James B. Connolly happened to be on board the ship, and he went to great lengths to get his articles about the accident published. Descendant of James B. Connolly, Paul O'Donnell joins me as my guest. Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on social media @shipwreckspod and at shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Sources and photos can be found on this episode's show page. https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/10/16/the-rms-republic/ Official Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is now available! Original theme music is by Sean Sigfried.

Subscribe for ad-free listening at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod. August 1903. The famous Annie Oakley is arrested in Chicago for theft, a crime committed in order to obtain money to fuel her cocaine habit. And what a headline that made. America’s original sweetheart, the tiny sharpshooter who once entertained kings and queens, now reduced to petty thievery. Wasn’t long before newspapers throughout the country began to report on this fall from grace. Enter in William Randolph Hearst, son of mining tycoon George Hearst, who ruled a media empire and had his eye on the white house. There was no story too sensational or salacious for him to print, the truth be damned. What happened when the darling of the Wild West Show goes to war with one of the most powerful men in the country? A man with very deep pockets and an army of Pinkertons? Did Annie Oakley even have a chance at clearing her name? Find out on this girl power episode of The Wild West Extravaganza!

The crew of the D/V Tenacious returns to the Andrea Doria with a team of Italian divers to record the condition of the wreck from bow to stern. Italian divers Andrea Murdock Alpini, David D'Anna, and Marco Setti make an emotional dive to the legendary ship that was once the pride of Italy. Jenn Sellitti of D/V Tenacious is my guest. Photos and show notes are available at https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/09/30/return-to-the-andrea-doria/. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. Subcribe to Into History for ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive events, a private community and other perks. Subscribe at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod.

A bonus episode of History Daily, hosted by Lindsay Graham. Robert Smalls, born in 1839, was an enslaved African American in South Carolina. In 1862, during the American Civil War, Smalls commandeered a Confederate transport ship, the CSS Planter, and sailed it to the Union blockade, delivering vital intelligence to the Union forces. Smalls went on to serve as a naval officer in the Union Navy, becoming a symbol of bravery and heroism. Post-war, he became a prominent figure in South Carolina politics, advocating for civil rights and equality, and he played a significant role in shaping Reconstruction policies. Robert Smalls' life exemplifies a remarkable journey from slavery to leadership and activism in the fight for freedom and civil rights. History Daily and Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs are part of the Into History podcast channel. Subscribe to Into History for ad-free episodes, early access, bonus content, exclusive events, and other great perks. Get hundreds of episodes from all of the fantastic history podcasts. Subscribe at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod.