On the whaleship Essex, Owen Coffin and Isaac Cole were consumed by their fellow crew members as an act of survival after the ship was sunk by a whale.
The tragic voyage of the whaleship Essex in 1820 led to one of the most harrowing tales of survival at sea, including instances of cannibalism among the desperate crew. After their ship was rammed and sunk by an enraged sperm whale, the surviving crew members were left adrift in three small whaleboats for months with dwindling supplies.
Victims of Cannibalism on the Essex
As starvation and dehydration set in, the crew resorted to extreme measures to survive their ordeal. The individuals confirmed to have been eaten were:
| Role | Name | Circumstance of Death/Consumption |
|---|---|---|
| Seaman | Owen Coffin | Shot and then consumed after drawing lots for survival |
| Seaman | Isaac Cole | Died from the harsh conditions and was subsequently eaten |
Owen Coffin, a young seaman and the captain's cousin, became a victim of the desperate situation when lots were drawn to decide who would be sacrificed for the survival of the others. He was shot and then consumed. Isaac Cole, another seaman, died naturally from the harsh conditions before his body was also eaten.
This grim event underscores the brutal realities faced by sailors marooned at sea, highlighting the lengths to which humans will go to preserve life in the face of unimaginable adversity. The ordeal of the Essex crew remains a chilling testament to the human struggle against nature's raw power.
For more details on the Essex disaster, you can refer to its history on Wikipedia.
