Emergencies and World Disasters
When Life Jackets Drifted Alone: The Vanishing of S.S. Ira H. Owen
21 min•28 augusti 2026
Om avsnittet
When Life Jackets Drifted Alone: The Vanishing of S.S. Ira H. Owen
The discovery of life jackets stenciled S.S. Ira H. Owen floating intact and legible while none of the ship's 19 crew ever came ashore creates a chilling gap between object and body. What could leave a ship's life preservers afloat yet erase every man who wore them?
In this episode, we tell the sequence of facts surrounding the Ira H. Owen, from her construction and repeated rescues to her final departure into the Mataafa Storm, and pose the unanswered question that follows the last sighting and the washed-up wreckage: what happened in those hours at sea?
Person: Captain Thomas Honner
Date: November 28, 1905 (departure); December 1, 1905 (wreckage found)
Event: Mataafa Storm with winds 80-90 mph and deadly Lake Superior waves
Ship dimensions: 278 ft length, 39 ft beam, 19 ft draft
Cargo: 116,000 bushels of barley
- 19 men were aboard the Ira H. Owen when she sailed out of Duluth on November 28, 1905.
- Life jackets found floating on December 1, 1905 were still legible and stenciled "S.S. Ira H. Owen."
- The ship was built July 7, 1887 at Globe Iron Works Company as yard number 14.
- The Owen's engine was a double-cylinder compound steam engine rated at 750 horsepower with two Scotch marine boilers.
- The Owen had survived a boiler-room fire on December 5, 1903 that burned her to the bottom in 20 feet of water and was later raised and repaired.
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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
The discovery of life jackets stenciled S.S. Ira H. Owen floating intact and legible while none of the ship's 19 crew ever came ashore creates a chilling gap between object and body. What could leave a ship's life preservers afloat yet erase every man who wore them?
In this episode, we tell the sequence of facts surrounding the Ira H. Owen, from her construction and repeated rescues to her final departure into the Mataafa Storm, and pose the unanswered question that follows the last sighting and the washed-up wreckage: what happened in those hours at sea?
Person: Captain Thomas Honner
Date: November 28, 1905 (departure); December 1, 1905 (wreckage found)
Event: Mataafa Storm with winds 80-90 mph and deadly Lake Superior waves
Ship dimensions: 278 ft length, 39 ft beam, 19 ft draft
Cargo: 116,000 bushels of barley
- 19 men were aboard the Ira H. Owen when she sailed out of Duluth on November 28, 1905.
- Life jackets found floating on December 1, 1905 were still legible and stenciled "S.S. Ira H. Owen."
- The ship was built July 7, 1887 at Globe Iron Works Company as yard number 14.
- The Owen's engine was a double-cylinder compound steam engine rated at 750 horsepower with two Scotch marine boilers.
- The Owen had survived a boiler-room fire on December 5, 1903 that burned her to the bottom in 20 feet of water and was later raised and repaired.
To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.
© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
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