Beyond the Breakers

Latest Episodes:

Episode 48 - Saint-Philibert Jan 30, 2022

Show notes

Le quatorze juin, un dimanche
De l'an dix neuf cent trente et un
Le ciel était bleu de pervenche
Et l'air embaumé de parfum
De la joie-z-au cœur, cinq cent promeneurs
Embarquent d'un quai de Nantes
Sur le vapeur " Saint-Philibert "
Sans penser qu'une mort navrante
Tenait leur cercueil entr'ouvert
- "Le Naufrage du Saint-Philibert"
This week we are back in France to discuss the loss of the Saint-Philibert, an excursion vessel that sank on its return journey to Nantes in 1931.
Sources:
Béranger, Fabienne. “Entre Noirmoutier et Préfailles, le 14 juin 1931, le naufrage du navire à passagers Saint-Philibert.” France TV, 2022. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/pays-de-la-loire/entre-noirmoutier-et-prefailles-le-14-juin-1931-le-naufrage-du-navire-a-passagers-saint-philibert-2133652.html

Le Gall, Erwin. “Le Drame du Saint-Philibert.” En Envor, 2013. http://enenvor.fr/eeo_actu/maritime/le_drame_du_saint_philibert.html

“Le Naufrage du Saint-Philibert.” La Chouette de Vendée, 9 March 2018 https://www.la-chouette-de-vendee.fr/blog/params/post/1456566/

Rouaud, Thierry. “Chanson bretonne sur le naufrage du Saint-Philibert.” Chansons en breton sur feuilles volantes. https://follenn.kan.bzh/saint-philibert.html

Support the show

Episode 47 - Sea Wing Jan 23, 2022

Show notes

In July 1890, a relaxing day trip turned tragic when the sternwheeler Sea Wing sank on Lake Pepin, taking with it scores of passengers - the majority of whom hailed from nearby Red Wing, Minnesota.
Sources:
Johnson, Frederick L. "Unlocking the Mysteries of the Sea Wing"
Kinkenberg, Dean. "The Sea Wing Disaster"
Pierce County, WI - The Sea Wing Disaster
Sea Wing Disaster, 1890
Shipwrecked on Lake Pepin: The Sea Wing Disaster

Support the show

Episode 46 - SMS Viribus Unitis Jan 16, 2022

Show notes

This week we discuss the sinking of the Austro-Hungarian dreadnought SMS Viribus Unitis in the closing days of World War One.
*Originally released 1/16/22; edited and re-uploaded 3/8/22
Sources (available in PDF on Patreon):
“Austria’s Navy and the Adriatic.” Scientific American, vol. 111, no. 10, 5 Sep 1914
Demark, Nikolina. "3000 Tonnes of Steel at the Bottom of Pula Port." Total Croatia News, 26 Sept 2017.

Gerwarth, Robert and Ugur Umit Ungor. “The Collapse of the Ottoman and Habsburg Empires and the Brutalisation of the Successor States.” Journal of Modern European History, vol. 13, no. 2, 2015, pp. 226 - 248.
Kann, Robert A. "Emperor William II and Archduke Francis Ferdinand in Their Correspondence." The American Historical Review, vol. 57, no. 2, Jan 1952.

“The Motorboat and the Torpedo.” Scientific American, vol. 118, no. 24, 15 June 1918, p. 556.

O’Hara, Vincent P. and Enrico Cernuschi. “Frogmen Against a Fleet: The Italian Attack on Alexandria 18/19 December 1941.” Naval War College Review, vol. 68, no. 3, Summer 2015, pp. 119 - 137.

Parker, L. John. “Two Drama Trilogies of Franz Theodor Csokor.” The South Central Bulletin, vol. 21, no. 4, Winter 1961, pp. 37 - 43.

Rossetti, Raffaele. “The Sinking of the Viribus Unitis: Official Report of the Destruction of the Austrian Dreadnought by Two Italian Officers.” Current History (1916 - 1940), vol. 9, no. 3, part II, March 1919, pp. 493 - 499.

Smigelski, et al. “On Deck.” Warship International, vol. 56, no. 4, Dec 2019.

Support the show

Episode 45 - USCGC Jackson/Bedloe Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

This week we discuss the loss of two US Coast Guard vessels, the Jackson and the Bedloe, in September 1944.
*Originally released 1/10/22; edited and re-uploaded 3/19/22

Support the show

Episode 44.2 - SS Noronic, Part 2 Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

To kick off Season Two of the podcast, we're undertaking our first ever two-part episode to discuss the SS Noronic. Part 1 will be released on Monday, 1/3 followed by Part 2 on Wednesday 1/5.
*Originally released 1/5/22; edited and re-uploaded 3/9/22
Sources:
Bunch, Adam. "Toronto's most deadly disaster: the nightmare on the SS Noronic." Spacing, Jan 26, 2016.
"The Burning of the Noronic..." The Hamilton Spectator, 16 Aug 2003.
Dobson, Cathy. "The Hamonic Burns at Sarnia." The Sarnia Observer, 2003.
Elliott, Robert B. "The Value of Roentgenology in the Identification of Mutilated and Burnt Bodies." The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, Vol. 43, No. 5, 1953.
Fosmoe, Margaret. "SS Noronic Disaster: 63 Years Later." South Bend Tribune, 17 Sept 2012.
Hauch, Valerie. "Once Upon A City: The day the SS Noronic turned Toronto's waterfront into a deadly inferno." The Toronto Star, 19 Sept 2015.
Lachman, Ernest. " X-Ray Studies in Establishing Identity and Manner of Death." The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, Vol. 50, No. 2, 1959
"The Northern Navigation Company Limited." The Scanner, Vol 6, No. 7, Apr 1974
Rochon, John. "The sad death of the Hamonic." The Sarnia Journal, 21 Nov 2014.
"Sept. 17, 1949: Scores killed by fire aboard S.S. Noronic." The Toronto Star, 10 Sept 2016.
"S.S Noronic Fire Worst Inland Marine Disaster in Century." Fire Engineering, 1 Oct 1949.

Support the show

Episode 44.1 - SS Noronic, Part 1 Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

To kick off Season Two of the podcast, we're undertaking our first ever two-part episode to discuss the SS Noronic. Part 1 will be released on Monday, 1/3 followed by Part 2 on Wednesday 1/5.
*Originally released 1/3/22; edited and re-uploaded 3/9/22
Sources:
Bunch, Adam. "Toronto's most deadly disaster: the nightmare on the SS Noronic." Spacing, Jan 26, 2016.
"The Burning of the Noronic..." The Hamilton Spectator, 16 Aug 2003.
Dobson, Cathy. "The Hamonic Burns at Sarnia." The Sarnia Observer, 2003.
Elliott, Robert B. "The Value of Roentgenology in the Identification of Mutilated and Burnt Bodies." The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, Vol. 43, No. 5, 1953.
Fosmoe, Margaret. "SS Noronic Disaster: 63 Years Later." South Bend Tribune, 17 Sept 2012.
Hauch, Valerie. "Once Upon A City: The day the SS Noronic turned Toronto's waterfront into a deadly inferno." The Toronto Star, 19 Sept 2015.
Lachman, Ernest. " X-Ray Studies in Establishing Identity and Manner of Death." The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, Vol. 50, No. 2, 1959
"The Northern Navigation Company Limited." The Scanner, Vol 6, No. 7, Apr 1974
Rochon, John. "The sad death of the Hamonic." The Sarnia Journal, 21 Nov 2014.
"Sept. 17, 1949: Scores killed by fire aboard S.S. Noronic." The Toronto Star, 10 Sept 2016.
"S.S Noronic Fire Worst Inland Marine Disaster in Century." Fire Engineering, 1 Oct 1949.

Support the show

The White Ship Disaster Dec 25, 2021

Show notes

Now available for everyone! This was originally the Patreon bonus episode for September
Hear us discuss the White Ship Disaster of 1120, which laid the groundwork for a bloody and chaotic time “when Christ and his saints slept” in the kingdom of England.

Support the show

Episode 43 - SS John B. Cowle Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

This week we discuss the John B. Cowle, which sank in 1909 after a collision with returning Breakers guest star the Isaac M. Scott.
*Originally released 12/20/21; edited and re-uploaded 3/3/22
Sources:
Numerous articles from the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Duluth News Tribune (shared on Patreon in a public post), accessed via the America's Historical Newspapers database.
Deadliest American Disasters and Loss-of-Life Events
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

Support the show

Episode 42 - HMT Bedfordshire Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

This week we discuss the early stages of the Battle of the Atlantic and the loss of the British vessel HMT Bedfordshire.
*Originally released 12/13/21; edited and re-uploaded

Support the show

Episode 41 - Rusalka (Русалка) Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

This week we discuss the sinking of the Russian monitor Rusalka in 1893, leading us eventually to one of the most unique shipwrecks of all those we've covered so far.
**correction**
- Towards the end of the episode Tanner mistakenly says that Rusalka sank during the reign of Nicholas II; he did not become Tsar until 1896. Rusalka sank during the reign of his father Alexander III.
This error was made presumably because Tanner does not respect the Romanov monarchy.
*Originally released 12/6/21; edited and re-uploaded 2/27/22
Sources:
"Battleships Rusalka and Charodeika." Rustrana, 11 Oct 2007.
Chikin, V.O. "The Mystery of the Disappearance of the Rusalka." Priroda, 2004, no. 4.
Delgado, J. "The Wreck of the Mermaid." Archaeology, 2008, vol. 61, no. 5.
Nikonov, A. "Rusalka Found!" Priroda, 2004, no. 10.
Nikonov, A. "From Rusalka to Kursk." 2003
Vanner, A. "The wreck of the Rusalka 1893." Dawlish Chronicles, 24 March 2015.

*Video of diving on the Rusalka"