LOSS OF THE ESSEX BY A. WHALE. 201 



dred rods from the ship, and was making for 

 her with double his former speed, his pathway 

 white with foam. Bushing head on, he struck 

 her again at the bow, and the tremendous blow 

 stove her in. The whale dived under again and 

 disappeared, and the ship filled and fell over on 

 her broadside, in ten minutes from the first 

 collision. 



After incredible hardships and sufferings in 

 their open boats, on the 20th of December the 

 survivors of this catastrophe reached the low 

 Island called Ducies, in latitude 24 40' south, 

 longitude 124 40' west. It was a mere sand- 

 bank, nearly barren, which supplied them only 

 with water and, very scantily, sea-fowl. On 

 this uninhabited island, dreary as it was, three 

 of the men chose to remain, rather than again 

 commit themselves to the uncertainties of the 

 sea. They have never since been heard from, 

 the island being seldom visited. 



On the 27th of December, the three boats, 

 with the remainder of the men, put away to- 

 gether for the Island of Juan Fernandez, at a 

 distance of two thousand miles. The mate's 



