George Pollard Jr.
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George Pollard, Jr., (1791 – 1882) was the captain of the whaling ship Essex.
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[edit] Early Ages
At age 28, Pollard was an early sailor. He was born in Nantucket. He led two voyages on the ship the Essex, one as a boatsteerer, another as First Mate.
[edit] Essex
In 1819, Pollard was given the Essex and assigned as the captain. It was his responsibility to watch the other sailors as well as his cousin, Owen Coffin, whom his mother had given full capacity to Pollard. Pollard chose Owen Chase and Matthew Joy as his first and second mates from the other voyages of the Essex. Most whaleships had set off by that season and it was difficult to find sailors. Pollard asked several greenhands to join the ship.
The greenhands turned out to be disaster. Within leaving Nantucket, there was a knockdown and one whaleboat was badly destroyed. Pollard suggested heading back, but Chase and Joy disagreed. They decided the Azores would supply them. As they headed into the south Atlantic, Owen Chase took down a whale that they have spotted and replaced Benjamin Lawrence, the former boatsteerer.
[edit] Attack and Plan
On November 20, 1820, the Essex was struck by another large 90 feet sperm whale. The other sailors were off in the Pacific Ocean, the Offshores and hunting a small whale. Thomas Nickerson claimed he had seen another whale, in a strange mood, heading towards the ship. With no hesitation, Pollard, Chase, and Joy took the whale boats and took as much provisions as possible. Pollard predicted that the food would last them 60 days. The Society and Marquesas Islands were nearest, but Chase and Joy claimed cannibalism was practiced on those lands. Pollard agreed to the mates and sailed for South America.
[edit] Island
Pollard had 7 other members aboard, including Samuel Reed, Barzailli Ray, Owen Coffin, Obed Hendricks, Charles Ramsdell, William Wright, and Charles Shorter? Within near starvation, Pollard reached the Island of Henderson and stayed there for 7 days. They were unable to find freshwater until later at a spring. William Wright, Joseph West, and Seth Weeks stayed on the Island for survival as the others sailed off.
[edit] Cannibalism
Sailing east to land, Pollard and Chase had seen Matthew Joy's health decline. He was weakened to the point that he could not control the boat he was assigned to. Joy wished to die with his own people and within a few hours, he died. Days later, Chase's boat was separated from Pollard. With no commander of Joy's ship, Pollard gave Obed Hendricks to Joy's boat and they sailed off. Joy's illness prevented close management of provisions. As well as he could decide, the food would last a few days. That food ran out and Obed and his men spoke of Pollard sharing his food. Pollard gave in and shared what little provisions he had. Days later, Lawson Thomas died. Obed spoke of something no one else wanted: cannibalism. The men agreed that they would save the little crumbs of hardtack for death and ate Thomas's body. Charles Shorter died later and he was eaten. However, Hendricks's boat was far away, and the weak and thirsty men of Pollard's ship could not fire the pistol.
[edit] Drawing of Lots
The next day, Charles's body was eaten and Charles Ramsdell spoke what was next. They would cast lots and that person would have to die to feed the others. Pollard declared that that should not happen, but gave in once again. Owen Coffin was chosen. Charles shot his best friend and they all ate the carcass. Pollard would have to explain to Owen's mother what had happened to her son.
[edit] Rescued
After Owen was finished, Barzaillai Ray died. He too was eaten. However, that ended Pollard and Ramsdell's food. With no more deaths, they both cracked the bones of the dead shipmates and sucked on the marrow. Rescue came to them near the coast of Peru, and a ship saved them.
[edit] Future
Pollard's future was bright as he set sail again on ship on The Two Brothers along with fellow members, Charles Ramsdell and Thomas Nickerson. However, it sunk near the Alaskan Coast. Later, Pollard's life led him to a watcher of Nantucket, where he worked the rest of his life.
[edit] See also
Revenge of the Whale - 2004
