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The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex: A Harrowing Tale of Survival and Cannibalism

Frank Mitchell

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Published in In The Heart Of The Sea: The Tragedy Of The Whaleship Essex

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In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex

by Nathaniel Philbrick

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	21988 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	338 pages

On November 20, 1820, the whaling ship Essex was attacked by a giant sperm whale. The ship was sunk and its crew was left stranded in the open ocean. The survivors endured months of hunger, thirst, and exposure, and eventually resorted to cannibalism to stay alive.

The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex is a gripping account of this harrowing ordeal. It is a story of hope, despair, and the indomitable human spirit. The book has been praised for its vivid descriptions, its suspenseful narrative, and its insights into the human condition.

The Sinking of the Essex

The Essex was a whaling ship that was launched in 1799. It was commanded by Captain George Pollard Jr. and had a crew of 20 men. The ship set sail from Nantucket, Massachusetts, on August 12, 1820, bound for the Pacific Ocean.

On November 20, 1820, the Essex was attacked by a giant sperm whale. The whale rammed the ship repeatedly, causing it to sink in just minutes. The crew was left stranded in the open ocean, with only three small boats and limited supplies.

The Ordeal of the Survivors

The survivors of the Essex endured months of hunger, thirst, and exposure. They were forced to eat their own shoes and the bodies of their dead shipmates to stay alive. Eventually, only eight of the crew members survived.

The survivors were rescued by the whaling ship Dauphin on February 11, 1821. They were taken to Valparaiso, Chile, where they were treated for their injuries and given a hero's welcome.

The Legacy of the Essex

The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex is a haunting tale of survival and cannibalism. It is a story that has been told and retold for generations. The book has been adapted into a film, a play, and a television miniseries.

The Essex disaster is a reminder of the dangers that whalers faced in the 19th century. It is also a story of the indomitable human spirit. The survivors of the Essex endured incredible hardships, but they never gave up hope.