Trapped In Ice

Sandler, Martin W. 2006. Trapped In Ice: An Amazing True Whaling Adventure.

Readers in search of amazing survivor stories need look no further than TRAPPED IN ICE, a nonfiction book telling the story of how thirty-two whaling vessels were trapped in the Arctic with only one hope to survive. Their story begins in the Spring of 1871, thirty-nine whaling vessels set sail from Hawaii full of arrogant adventurers seeking a plentiful and prosperous whaling adventure. The book provides readers with the background of the whaling industry, whaling vessels, and an in-depth glimpse of average whalers. (Primary sources such as journals, diaries, letters, etc.) When they arrive in the Arctic circle to hunt whales, they soon see something strange. Eskimos are seeking out each vessel to pass on a warning: winter is coming early. It is unsafe to stay. Most vessels (or should I say most captains) decide that they know better. After all return home with less than a full cargo? They’d be laughed out of the ports. And who would ever hire them for other expeditions? But seven vessels heed the warning and turn back. Thirty-two remain to spend weeks in the frozen waters hunting whales. They are plentiful. Always busy killing and processing whales. But soon trouble begins. One vessel after another becomes trapped, lodged in ice. Some vessels can’t withstand the pressure of the ice and begin to break apart and sink. Others seem stronger and more stable. The thirty-two vessels were carrying 1,219 officers, crewmen, captain’s wives, and children. Now there only hope for survival was to try to send a handful of men in several of the smaller whaleboats to see if the seven whaling vessels were still close enough to rescue them. A small team was elected to go and see if rescue was even possible. The others would have to stay and wait.

The amazing thing? They found the seven vessels, obtained permission for all 1,219 to be distributed among the seven remaining ships, and returned to spread the good news. The journey is not easy. The whaleboats are overcrowded and offer little protection from the harsh climate. Yet through it all, they persevere. Losing wealth and prestige but learning a valuable lessons...human life is more important than making a profit.

Martin W. Sandler is the author of many books, including The Story of American Photography, which was a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book. He has been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize, and is one of America's most respected television producers, with five Emmy Awards to his credit. He is the author of five other Library of Congress Books: Pioneers, Cowboys, Immigrants, Presidents, and Civil War. Mr. Sandler and his wife, Carol, live in Massachusetts.