The Mystery of the SS Cyprus: Lost on Lake Superior
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
- Launched in 1907, the SS Cyprus went down in a mild storm on Lake Superior only two months later. What caused the brand new 420-foot lake freighter to suddenly capsize, leaving only one survivor, remains a mystery to this day.
Support Big Old Boats by joining our crew over on Patreon! / bigoldboats
Check out our ship-shape merch! www.bigoldboats.com/shop
Instagram: / bigoldboats
Twitter: / bigoldboats
Sources:
Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes by Dana Thomas Bowen
Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivors by William Ratigan
www.boatnerd.com/pictures/his...
www.shipwreckmuseum.com/under...
www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20679934
Music sourced from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Chapters:
0:00 SS Cyprus
1:18 Chapter 1: Launching Cyprus
4:53 Chapter 2: A Routine Gale
8:24 Chapter 3: At the Mercy of Lake Superior
11:41 Chapter 4: Attempting to Solve the Mystery
Disclaimer: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue providing free high-quality historical content.
Happy New Year, crew! 🎉 Thank you for watching and can't wait to share everything we have coming on this channel in 2023!
Can’t wait! Thanks for the lake boats, they are my favorite!
@@ScarletTermite same!
Another great video. I'd never heard this story!
Happy New Year! Hope you watch The Poseidon Adventure.
P.S. Miss your celebrity product endorsements.
Looking forward to your new tales! Happy new year!
I can't wait to watch your next video. Check out my comments on the Montrose. Happy New Year Awesome Job Sir.
That crimson wake of Iron ore dust mixing with water certainly was ominous, it's miraculous that at least one crewman survived. The storms of the great lakes are infamous for taking all when they claim a vessel.
Did the ship that noticed the red wake warn the Cyprus?
@@bills6093 They likely didn’t have a way to. Radio wasn’t required for ships on the Great Lakes until 1912 and even then I think it only applied to passenger vessels. They could have used signal lamps but in a storm trying to get a message across would have been a long shot, especially since the Cyprus was faster than they were
could it have been water mixed with ore that the pumps were pumping out of the holds
oh yeah, the Mataafa case was brutal. 9 men died... feet from shore and were frozen into corpsicles. The only reason anyone survived the Mataafa's hitting a rock is because the ship was grounded. If not? she'd have been long gone.
As-is the Mataafa outlived her crew she had that night... as well as the one guy who survived the Cyprus. She was actually quite safe for the most part. Which is heartwarming in a weird way. It proves Mataafa wasn't cursed, it was just bad luck.
I work on the lakes on ships I should not watch these types of vids
I'm happy all of the crew's bodies were recovered. We lost an uncle who was ice fishing on Superior, even though he was less than 50ft from the shore, right behind his house. His fishing hut washed ashore at the neighbors in the late spring, but his body was never found.
It took 7 years for them to declare uncle Thor dead, which meant his wife had to wait 7 years for any type of death benefits, and 7 years before we could officially have a funeral.
Insurance crooks. And legal loopholes
Two of the Cypres crew were never recovered but it is astonishing they managed to recover so many.
Thor is strong ! Thor will smash you ! Me big Thor rohhhhrrrrrr
@justinwozniak5532 funny enough we have one relative that we talk about like that lol. My brother. But his name is Russell, so it's like "Russell smash". Lol
What a horrible tragedy. I'm so sorry
You have no idea of how large Lake Superior actually is until you see them. I've flown over them several times and I'm still awe struck.
Rest in Peace, Cyprus crew.
The lakes are large and the weather gets nasty on the lakes. Most have no idea.
It’s not a lake, it’s a continental sea
@@SenorTucano a sea consists of salt. This body of water would be more inner continental as land surrounds it.... That's why it's considered a fresh water lake.
Living in Ireland it's mad to think of ships just vanishing without trace in the middle of a lake.
@@alastairward2774 yes .. i think that's the case with most people. One normally associates lakes with swans and calm seas. But it's not called Superior lake for no reason ! haha
As someone who grew up a two hour drive from Lake Superior thank you for doing more Lake Freighter videos. It’s hard to grasp just how massive the Great Lakes really are unless you’ve seen them.
I grew up in Iron River so I hear ya! I saw some mean weather on that lake. Lost a couple friends in Marquette a few years back.
Those poor men, to survive 18 miles through horrible seas, being capsized repeatedly and draining their strength getting back in the raft and paddling on towards shore, only to be capsized 1 final time within sight of the shoreline and, completely exhausted, to drown just 300 feet from salvation. I know, death is death, and all the men at the stern drowned too, but somehow it feels worse, knowing they were that close and likely thought, they were finally saved.
Also, from an investigation standpoint it wouldve been a huge help, if the captain had survived, as he wouldve had the answers, we're lacking.
Another great, but sad, video!
Excellent! Well done! Nathan Lee Spencer is my great uncle. My Grandfather's brother! He was always legend in our family!
Cheers,
Pete Spencer
The fact that the hatch covers were intact indicates that the hold was full or mostly full of water when the ship sank. Hatch covers aren’t designed to be able to withstand more than a few feet of water on them, and so if the hold wasn’t flooded as the ship sank, some of them would have imploded from the water pressure. Since we know the ship capsized, that gives credence to the idea that they leaked and let in water, and that they were porous enough that they allowed the hold to fill somewhat rapidly as the ship went down. The ship capsizing would have actually helped this, by allowing water to enter through the submerged port side of the hatch covers as air escaped through the starboard sides of the covers, which would have been up in the air as the ship went on her side.
@jensnobel5843 The main reason for this design was for a greater uninterrupted cargo hold span than compared to the midship pilot house design that was then common on ocean cargo vessels. Another advantage is improved forward visibility, which was crucial before radar. No new vessels have been built since 1974 that feature such a design as with technological developments as well as the rounded bow to increase cargo capacity have made the all cabins astern design the industry norm.
@Jens Nobel The history vids on these beautiful old lakers seem to suggest they were largely designed by accountants.
But if the churning wake from the props of the Cyprus was blood red it means one thing she was taking on water below the waterline.
@Jens Nobel Long story short . The Steel back then was not proper for what it was being used for . To brittle I believe and it wouldn’t flex. You can research it but it was something along those lines
@@Alex-wx5eh yeah, i think that was more prevalent in iron ships, but yes the brittle ductile transition temperature was wrong for cold enviroments
As a Lorainite, it's hard to fathom that ships and power shovels were once built there. I grew up when US Steel and Ford were kings of the town. Now when I visit, the hospital and local government employ the most people. Still, seeing a ship built in my hometown is very interesting. To imagine what the river and lakefront were like back then...
Its awesome to see the great lakes wrecks getting recognition.
Thunder Bay Ontario, is where I lived on the shores of Lake Superior.
And can attest, that the strength of the storms on Superior, is humbling to say the least.
All you have to do is look at the November/December storms, from shore. To realize how tiny and insignificant you actually are in this world. And just how much mother nature, doesn't care.
A few years back, there was some 80ft waves measured at the Duluth lighthouse during a early December storm. I couldn't imagine being out on the lake in something like that.
Lake Superior is without a doubt one of the most beautiful areas on the planet. But as the Lake that doesn't give up her dead, it HAS to be respected.
Aye! TBay represent 🤘🏼 Lake Superior is definitely deadly.
It was a complete coincidence that my dad builds models of Great Lakes freighters, started building a model of the cypress a few months before she was found
Cyprus or Cypress?
Does he also have a model of the Edmund Fitzgerald to?
He _wants_ you to think it's a coincidence.
I recall reading an article by a captain who had worked both ocean crossings and the great lakes. He said the worst storms he was ever in were on the great lakes.
My great grandfather as well. He was from Norway but sailed around the world and on the lakes. He said the great lakes were horrible when the weather got bad but yet absolutely beautiful when the weather was calm.
That had to be Captain Earnest McSorley who was the ships master, Edmund Fitzgerald as he also has has had extensive experience sailing the oceans along with the Great Lakes, as he has 40 years sailing experience. Captain Bernie Jesse Cooper of the Arther Anderson also has 40 years experience to. When the Big Fitz went down, these two ship's masters have 80 years combined sailing experience.
@@danbasta3677 there’s other captains who had both ocean and lake experiences, there were 3 salt water ships the night the Fitz went down all 3 refused to turn back to look because of how terrible the storm was
My dad sailed the Great Lakes out of Duluth/ Superior during the 40s and early 50s. As a kid, I remember seeing the boats just like this…with the black smoke emanating from the stacks. As a kid, living on a hill in Duluth, we would watch the horizon for the black smoke, wondering if it was dad’s boat coming to port.
Growing up along the shores of the great lakes I really appreciate this channel. In remembering the past I had seen the Fitzgerald countless times before her sinking. and remember that storm clearly being only miles from White Fish Bay myself. I actually touched the Fitz hull once from a small craft (not recommended, I was 12 and stupid) as she traversed west from Sault Ste Marie. Lake Superior is really an inland sea and I can also remember the fear of being in a small craft on her waters.
Goulais Bay!
I fish for king salmon near shore on Lake Michigan. (In a kayak)
I had the honor of standing on the deck of the Fitzgerald on my 21st birthday. Moment to remember there!
This case breaks my heart ❤️. The captain was so proud to command a beautiful new ship and to have this happen...he put his people first.
I watched this vid as it was coming out and didn't leave a comment I don't think. But this ship and story was always so special to me, because I used to look at a bunch of shipwreck books with my grandpa and he said we were directly related to one of the men on the Cyprus. I get a really nostalgic feeling anytime I hear about it
Born and raised in Michigan, I've always known that many ships were lost (nobody hasn't heard of the Edmund Fitzgerald) but there are so many we haven't heard about. Thanks for this video!!
I heard Marine City and just had to comment. I grew up there and would watch the freighters go by on the St. Clair river. That was back in the late seventies and early eighties . I had the best childhood doing this and wish I could raise my kids doing the same thing. They were thousand footers by then. The one that stands out to me was the Gott. When they would pass they would displace so much water that our beach would drop by 10 or 15 feet. Fascinating
It’s nice that you take on lesser known freighters on the Great Lakes and not just freighters
Love watching the videos of those old freighters on the great lakes
"Shipwrecks are never where they're supposed to be." - Clive Cussler
The top of the champagne bottle used to launch the Cyprus was later placed into silver chalice, and made into a small trophy that was given to the lady that launched it. She later donated it to the Port Huron Museum in Port Huron, Michigan, where it remains on display.
Well done documentary! As a Michigan native, I enjoy these stories detailing our maritime heritage!
I've often thought that many tales have never been told, simply for lack of at least one survivor of the incident. At least here there was one man left to point to the memory of the tragedy that befell his shipmates.
Great video. Thank you!
Such a great loss mainly for the families, and the boat itself..it had a bright career ahead yet mother nature had other plans..and that's why I respect her. Her fury is unstoppable and unpredictable, may all who perished rest peacefully, and Happy new year to everyone!
Fun fact: The Amasa Stone is still around now as a breakwater ship, her career as a laker was done in the 60's because of newer and bigger ships so she was used as a breakwater vessel and still is.
Hasn’t that ship sank?
@@Samuel-zl7yw the Amasa Stone? No she didn't, she was purposely sunk as a breakwater.
@@bluerazor7049 I did not understand the term “breakwater” until now. Very interesting!
@@Samuel-zl7yw yes indeed, a very interesting way to reuse old vessels that would have otherwise ended up on the scrapyard, the other and most famous breakwater ship is the SS Ridgetown, formerly the U. S. Steel William E. Corey!
Define “Mother Nature”
Big Old Boats, never change. The care and aesthetic that you have on your videos is simply unrivaled. I love the rare footage, the soundtrack, and the way you lay out your videos. You make your fellow maritime history buffs proud 🥹
I never realized how deadly the Great Lakes could be.
Deadlier than the ocean, in many regards, to the much higher frequency of the waves on the lakes.
@@sd80mac That, but also the fact that those early lake freighters were utter death traps. Motorized barges, someone called them after the wreck of the Fitzgerald
It's so heartbreaking to hear how close the other three came to shore before succumbing. It's ridiculous that say they deserved to live (because Life simply isn't fair), but they were SO CLOSE :(
Shore is the most dangerous parts. You can be smashed against rocks etc... many many have died in the last 100 m. Look at the SS Atlantic, she grounded on the rocks and was close enough for cable to be tied between her and shore for some to climb over but the sea was so rough that most died in the 100 m or so journey to coast, most of them thrown against them, lifeboats smashed. If you have a lifejacket and it's not too cold you stand a better chance riding it out in the water and hoping the storm calms in a day or so. Of course the current will remove most of your input on where you end up.
@@user-lv7ph7hs7l yeah that final raft flip... was probably BECAUSE they were close to shore.
This was the year I finally embraced my obsession with maritime history, and I'm so glad I found this channel. In particular, I've truly enjoyed the ones from the Great Lakes, as it's an area I knew very little about and I've learned so much from your documentaries. I wish you much success in 2023- Happy New Year! 🎉🚢
My God I'll say it again... you make amazingly great videos. Tears to my eye's damn you put these old shipwrecks into perspective! Props for reals!
This was a well put together history lesson on the dangers of living life on the Great Lakes. Was elated to see some original footage of the Huletts working, to me that was a bonus!
Enjoyed watching, I used to unload grain boats at Maple leaf Mills in Port Colborne Ontario, there was a laker similar to this ship called the Beach Glen we hated unloading it because it's holds had shelves and meant lots of extra work lol , she used steam I remember gathering by her steam powered winches to try to stay warm ,when I was a "spare" anyway take care, peace ✌️ from Welland Ontario Canada 🇨🇦
Boy, the stories of the shipwrecks on the Great Lakes are just endless it seems like.
The fall seems like a very dangerous time out there also.
I grew up on Lake Superior, She is both beautiful and terrifying, Awesome video 💚💚
Idk what it is about your channel, but I find it infinitesimally more listenable than similarly themed channels. Perhaps it's because you use oldey-timey footage or relate the human aspect, what with crew specifics and back story.
Either way, you rock!
Mad respect to sailors! Braver men than I.
I'm so excited to see another lake boat video! These ships are really ingrained in our culture here in Michigan and my dad, brother, and I have been eating up this content. Thank you!
Wow! That archival film footage was incredibly interesting. Thanks for your great work. The voice-over work was just right also.
babe wake up new big old boats video just dropped hell yeah
I visited the "Valley Camp" in Sault Ste Marie this last summer, and I noticed the telescoping hatchcovers the ship is still equipped with, in contrast to the "James M Schoonmaker" of Toledo, which (like most latter-day lake freighters) has one-piece hatchcovers.
Exceptional content! Its story after story if just one failure of equipment leads to a chain reaction that dooms the vessel, passengers, and her crew to a watery grave.
New subscriber here and A Michigan Great Lakes nut .
New subscriber here. I am from Liverpool, boats are in my blood. Thanks for the videos!
As was made famous by the song "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald": Superior, it's said, never gives up her dead. It seems the Great Lakes have been the unfortunate final resting place of many a freighter over the years.
I was sent out into Lake Superior a call of a vessel on Fire. I was the operator/ Coxswain) of a 44' Motor life Boat from USCG Station Houghton-Hancock, My Radar showed no boat in the area + Nothing with'n miles of the reported area. Seas were 25 ft+. My Engineman reported both batteries had busted loose & we had 3 to 4 hundred gallons of water on board. I was told I should have countiued on & stayed out there & tried to find the burning Vessel.... I & My crew are Alive & doing well.. Chief Bos'n retired.
New follower here! Not only do you have a nice voice but an amazing gift of story telling!
Good tale. I had never heard of the Cyprus sinking before today. Thank you.
Love these shipwreck stories. Well told and presented with imagination and great expression.
You've recovered fantastic footage from decades long past. Thanks 👍
Happy all year and may you family and friends be healthy, safe. Inspired, and vigilant
God bless and God speed
mr boats! happy new years
Thanks for the closing image of Split Rock Lighthouse. Brings back childhood memories of a family trip up Minnesita's North Shore to Thunder Bay, Ontario (then Fort William and Port Arthur)
Another marveloes video, I just love great lakes history more than anything else.
Thank you so much sharing your videos. I enjoy all of them. I didn't realize how many ships/freighters have been lost on the waters!
I crewed a very old rust bucket tramp through one to two blows in the North Pacific back in the 80's. I remember saying little prayers as I hammered in the steel wedges that held the worn old roller hatches down. LoL! Most important thing at sea is good luck.
I just love this channel. You’ve done a great job!
I was taking on water 5 miles from shore in a small boat. Stringer had broken. Hooked up a bilge never before tested and it worked. My first instinc was head for shore.
Another great video about the ships of Great Lakes! Thank you and happy new year!
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Thank you for bringing this history back to life
Thank you for yet another story of the Great Lakes. I find these films, and the old pictures you unearth quite fascinating, as we have neither ships nor facilities like these in Britain. Those giant quayside unloaders, for all the world like monstrous dinosaurs are particularly interesting to see at work - the films of the ships themselves is equally good. Pity the poor men who went down with these vessels.
They are called Hulett unloaders and they have a small cab for the operator right above the shovel. There is a video floating around youtube taken from the cab while unloading a freighter. It was pretty cool to see. The whole Great Lakes operation is an interesting one. The scale and nature of it is unique.
The sailors all say she'd have made whitefish bay if she put fifteen more miles behind her.
Somewhere in the very distant past, a man had a thought to make a boat. There were no designs. No experiences to draw from. And maybe that same man became the first human to ever sink a boat. The entire ocean and lakes bottoms void of a single wreck.
Awesome video as well as the history.
I love your ocean liner videos but something about the lakers really hits it off for me, close to home! Keep up the awesome work
Another respectfully done documentary. Thank you for the work you put into your channel. Happy New Year!
Thank you for this past year's spectacular videos. I am already anticipating what you'll cover in 2023! A Very Happy New Year to you and yours Bradley, with love from 🇨🇦
Wonderful - enjoyed this video so much. I haven't heard of this story before. Happy New year to you as well and thanks for all the great stories you told us in 2022!
Never heard of Cyprus wreck. Very interesting. Great supporting detail!
Amazing story of tragedy and determination.
I really appreciate your work you research and the way you tell the story. I also find your voice relaxing and when I'm stressed from life your show puts me in a better way because you make my intellectual side come out and I forget what I've been stressed about. Thank you.
Happy New Year, Bradley... love your work!
Happy New Year! 🎉 Great work and a brilliant channel. Looking forward to the next ones 🤗👏
Gichigami is a mean waterhole to be messing with late in the year. I don't care to swim in that cold beast of a lake in the heat of the summer, and for there to be any wreck survivors, at anytime of year, that's just luck. There's lots of bodies in that lake, she doesn't tend to give them up most of the time.
Given that the ship only lasted 2 months, I would say either manufacturing or design flaw.
My Grandpa grew up in Michigan his entire life until he was 55 and so did my mom. My Grandpa was a well known fisherman in his community and one thing he never fucked around with was the great lakes. He fished them all the time but he would tell me all the time to watch out for the weather and he taught me how to read clouds to better predict weather. I think that's makes me such a good fisherman to this day. Definitely has come in handy in Florida where weather can turn pretty quick too
Happy new year! Thank you for your great work!
Thank you for continuing to cover the ships of the Great Lakes and Happy New Year!!
Great video, happy 2023!
Your video narration always makes me feel like I'm there on deck as these ships get in trouble. And living in the Great Lakes region too i have seen these freighters in the lakes.
Amazing video brother! Keep up the great work 👍🏻
Without a doubt this a well put together video. Great job. Love it🤘
Thanks once again, and Happy New Year.
As a retired ex-marine investigator, it is my opinion that there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to draw a reasonably firm conclusion as to the cause of this disaster.
Marvelous, outstanding video. Great narration. 💛🙏🏽
Well told - excellent program - thanks.
I love your voice, BOB. I think it is fitting for topics involving real ships and fictitious ships, includin' the SS Ourang Medan. Great vid
Great videos as always!
I enjoy watching your videos as they are very educational!
Excellent presentation
RIP TO ALL hands that lost her lives.never forget.
Superb video thank you for posting.
This is why I am a Landlubber! New Sub here. Interesting.
Great story. Thank you.
Awesome visuals to go along with the history of Cyprus. Even though it's not actual footage, it doesn't matter. Great job 👌.
Thank you for providing subtitles on your videos.
Outstanding video. 👍
Another great video, thank you!
Another great video loved it ❤❤❤❤
Big Fitz!!!!
Great video ! They don’t build them like that anymore !
Great show