The SS Viking Disaster | Sheffield News

In 1931, a film crew in Newfoundland set out to shoot “The Viking,” aiming for raw authenticity by filming a seal hunt on a real sealing ship. Director Varick Frissell, inspired by a missionary, brought in Arctic explorer Captain Bob Bartlett for credibility. But when the ship, the SS Viking, exploded mid-shoot—killing 27, including Frissell and his dog Cabot—the mission turned into a nightmare. Investigators blamed blasting powder mishandling, likely sparked by a cigarette. Survivors escaped across ice. The film, released the next summer with a prologue from the missionary, became a haunting tribute to the lost ship and crew. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c868c5620e61ec17