20. William Bligh and the crewmen from His Majesty’s Armed Vessel Bounty
When William Bligh and 18 crewmen from Bounty were cast adrift following the famous mutiny aboard the ship in April of 1789, they took with them barely enough food and beverages to sustain life. Following a brief stop on the island of Tofua, where hostile natives killed one of the party, the remainder determined, under Bligh’s leadership, to make for the Dutch settlement at Timor, 4,000 miles to the west. One ounce of bread and a quarter of a pint of water was the agreed daily ration for the men, occasionally supplemented with salt pork or portable (dehydrated) soup, as Bligh determined necessary. They also had a small supply of wine and rum, which Bligh dispensed medicinally as needed.
The voyage, which eventually saw them land on deserted islands to add to their meager stocks and regain their strength, took 44 days. They suffered from continuous exposure to win and waves, mountainous seas, and rain so intense that they were forced to bail fresh water – badly needed – over the side to remain afloat. It was an astounding achievement in defiance of what should have been certain death. Though several of the men died after arriving in the Dutch settlements, victims of the harsh climate and disease, none were lost on the voyage of the 23 foot launch. Bligh’s determination to remain alive extended to the men under his command, and he saw them all through, proving themselves to be exceedingly hard to kill.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“The Wonderful Leaps of Sam Patch”. Richard M. Dorson, American Heritage Magazine. December, 1966
“Sir Douglas Bader”. Entry, The Douglas Bader Foundation. Online
“Lachhiman Gurung VC”. Entry, The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria and George Cross. Online
“Tito: A Biography”. Phyllis Auty. 1970
“Washington: A Life”. Ron Chernow. 2010
“On The House: The Bizarre Killing of Michael Malloy”. Simon Read. 2005
“The Man Who Wouldn’t Die”. Karen Abbott, Smithsonian.com. February 7, 2012. Online
“Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times”. H. W. Brands. 2005
“James Bowie Texas Fighting Man: A Biography”. Clifford Hopewell. 1994
“Ned Kelly: A Short Life”. Ian Jones. 2008
“A Voyage to the South Sea”. William Bligh. 1792. Project Gutenberg. Online
