The Wager Disaster Mayhem, Mutiny and Murder in the South Seas

Author/creator Layman, Rear Admiral C. H. Author
Other author H. R. H. The Duke of Edinburgh Staff.
Format Electronic
Publication InfoLondon : Unicorn Press Ltd. Chicago : Chicago Distribution Center [Distributor]
Description256 p. ill 09.250 x 06.000 in.
Supplemental ContentFull text available from Ebook Central - Academic Complete
Subjects

Summary Annotation In 1741, the British warship HMS "Wager" crashed on the shore of an uninhabited island off the coast of Chilean Patagonia. One hundred and forty men reached land. Only thirty-six made it back home. "The "Wager" Disaster" is the extraordinary story of human endurance and the perseverance of those soldiers in the face of unthinkable adversity.Britain and Spain were at war, and the "Wager" was part of a small British squadron sent to extend the battle to their Spanish possessions in the South Seas. Unfortunately, there were no accurate charts of the west coast of South America, and much of the navigation was determined by guesswork. Vicious hurricane-force winds wrecked the "Wager," separating it from the squadron. Starvation, exhaustion, hypothermia, and drowning quickly claimed most of the soldiers who survived the wreck. The rest rose up against the unpopular captain and set off in an open boat with no chart, resulting in one of the greatest survival voyages as the castaways made their way 2,500 nautical miles back to Britain.Drawing on the firsthand accounts of the survivors, "The "Wager" Disaster" tells the compelling story of a dramatic fight for survival under extreme conditions.
Access restrictionAvailable only to authorized users.
Technical detailsMode of access: World Wide Web
Genre/formElectronic books.
ISBN9781910065501
ISBN1910065501 (Trade Paper) Active Record
Standard identifier# 9781910065501
Stock number00332177

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