The Dark History of Shanghaiing with Dark History

Today, we are proud to present an episode by one of our fabulous Umbrella Podcast Collective members-Rob of Dark History. You've heard us talk about the Portland Shanghai Tunnels before, now go even deeper. Check it out!

In this gripping episode of The Dark History Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most chilling and overlooked forms of human trafficking in history: shanghaiing. From the mid-1800s to the early 20th century, thousands of men were abducted from port cities like Portland, San Francisco, and Liverpool—drugged, beaten, or tricked into signing forged contracts, only to wake up trapped aboard ships bound for Asia.

This wasn’t just the work of shady criminals in back alleys. It was a full-blown industry. Crimps, saloon keepers, hotel owners, and even police officers played their part, all for a quick payout. Some victims were lured by the promise of work or a warm bed. Others were dropped through trapdoors into underground tunnels and chained in holding cells until a ship was ready. Few escaped. Most were never seen again.

You’ll hear the real names behind the crimes, like the notorious “Bunko” Kelly, who once claimed to have sold a ship a crew of corpses. We'll uncover how this brutal system thrived in plain sight for decades, and how changing laws, technology, and public outrage eventually brought it down.

This isn’t the maritime adventure story you’ve been told. It’s about organised trafficking, greed, and the silent suffering of thousands who were stolen from familiar streets and forced into a life at sea. The legacy of shanghaiing lives on in the sealed trapdoors and forgotten tunnels beneath modern cities.

If you're fascinated by the dark undercurrents of history—the parts that rarely make it into textbooks—this episode is a must-listen.

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Looking for a funny podcast that makes history wild, weird, and unforgettable?

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is the best history podcast for fans of outrageous true stories, ridiculous history, and unfiltered humor—with the occasional dip into true crime.

Hosts Shea and Jody dig up the strangest moments in American history, with a special love for the Pacific Northwest and the rest of Western North America. From haunted ghost towns and scandalous figures to bizarre disasters and a sprinkle of true crime, no rabbit hole is off-limits!

History doesn’t have to be boring—especially when it’s filled with laughter, chaos, and jaw-dropping stories they didn’t teach in school.

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