Ep 283: The SS Kamloops and Old Whitey
“The fad of last-tripping claimed four victims this year, landmarks which will be pointed out in 1928 when the merciless wire ticks out again the order for “that last cargo.”
Description:
When most of us think of shipwrecks, images of rough ocean waves and sailing vessels of yore come to mind. But those familiar with the Great Lakes region of the north-central United States and southern Canada know all too well that these massive bodies of fresh water produce devastating storms and treacherous swells to rival any sea. Estimates are that around 6000 vessels and 30,000 lives have fallen victim to their notoriously severe weather and deadly waters. In December 1927, a "raging blizzard" on Lake Superior claimed the steamship SS Kamloops and all 22 souls aboard. But was she really a "Ghost Ship," as the legends often describe? The ship went missing and remained undiscovered until 1977 but is in unusually, reasonably intact condition. So, although the wreck was found, the SS Kamloops is still known for a ghost of its own. At least one crew member remains, still manning his station, who is perhaps both a ghost and a corpse. Some divers on the wreck have claimed that the body of this crewman follows them around as they explore, known as "Old Whitey" because of his appearance. Others have also claimed to see a spirit nicknamed "Grandpa" because of his appearance, still on duty in the icy depths. Are these beings the same, and are their perceived actions the result of fluid dynamics and decompression sickness? Join us as we take a deep dive to get to the bottom of the legend of the SS Kamloops and Old Whitey.
Reference Links:
“The History of the Kamloops” on the old SuperiorTrips.com website from the Wayback Machine
“A shipwreck, a young woman, and a message in a bottle” from SooToday.com
“A Place to Stand (Ontario 150 Song)” from the Jessica Belanger YouTube channel
The 1927 motion picture, The Jazz Singer, the first “talkie” movie
“SS Kamloops Shipwreck Lake Superior 2021” from Becky Kagan Schott’s YouTube channel
“Diving the SS Kamloops Wreck at Isle Royale, Lake Superior” from Brett Halderson’s YouTube channel
“The Lake That Never Gives Up Her Dead” from Caitlin Doughty’s Ask a Mortician YouTube channel
“S3E75 – The Soap Woman with Forrest Burgess” on the Loremen Podcast on their website
“Loremen S3 E75: The Soap Woman with Forrest Burgess” on Spotify
“The Alaska Triangle” series from the Travel Channel on Roku, featuring the SS Baychimo and Octavius
Location:
Isle Royale, “an island of the Great Lakes located in the northwest of Lake Superior and part of the U.S. state of Michigan,” where at least one survivor of the SS Kamloops shipwreck, Alice Bettridge, ended up meeting her cold fate after sending a message in a bottle.
Suggested Listening:
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CREDITS:
Episode 283: SS Kamloops and Old Whitey. Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess. Audio Editing by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound. Music and Sound Design by Allen Carrescia. Tess Pfeifle, Producer and Lead Researcher. Ed Voccola, Technical Producer. Research Support from The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2024 Astonishing Legends Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.