The Foolkiller Pt 5: The White Whale

Here we are. We've examined arctic explorers, secret armies, zany daredevils, Wisconsin whiz kids and so many more only to come up empty. This is the end of the rope. Can we solve the mystery of The Foolkiller, the submarine discovered in the Chicago River in 1915, or is this one just meant to be a mystery forever. Stick around and find out.

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Music by:
Blue Dot Sessions
Lee Rosevere
Kevin MacLeod
Animeistrash

​Voice talent from:
Chad The Bird of Chad The Podcast
Sebastian Major of Our Fake History
Bilal Dardai of Unwell: A Midwest Gothic Mystery
Jake Barton of Historium
Chelsey Weber-Smith of American Hysteria
Zachary Davis of Ministry of Ideas
Tamar Avishai of The Lonely Palette
Wade Roush of Soonish
Charles Gustine of Iconography
Kavita Pillay of Subtitle
Phil Ridarelli of The Neo-Futurists
And Heather Chrisler of Virtually Everything Oh God She's Cool

One of McDougall's whalebacks. Looks pretty submarine-y, huh?

The SS Christopher Columbus, making tight circles in 1915 to prove it won't tip over like The Eastland.

Barge 101, the first--and smallest--whaleback. 

The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Louis Gathmann. Isn't he just the most inventor-looking inventor to ever invent?

And here's a drawing of his proposed "aerial battle cruiser".

The intimidating (and perhaps overcompensating?) Gathmann Gun, at Sandy Hook, New Jersey

At the end of his life, Gathmann dreamed up the depth charge, which his son Emil perfected for World War I. 

But enough of all that. Let's get to the submarine!

The L. Gathmann Company, making telephones, torpedoes and submarine boats.

The patent drawing

And an illustration from A St. Paul newspaper that seems to have taken some liberties.

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