Introduction
In "The Wager," author David Grann uncovers a fascinating and largely forgotten tale from England's naval history. This gripping account of survival, mutiny, and controversy rivals the more famous story of the HMS Bounty. Set against the backdrop of the War of Jenkins' Ear between Britain and Spain, the book follows the ill-fated journey of a British naval squadron, focusing primarily on the HMS Wager and its crew.
The story begins in 1740 with a squadron of six warships setting sail from Britain, tasked with disrupting Spanish colonies and trade routes in the Pacific. What follows is a harrowing tale of misfortune, disease, shipwreck, and human endurance that would ultimately lead to one of the most notorious mutinies in British naval history.
The Voyage Begins
A Captain's Dream Realized
The story opens with David Cheap, a 40-year-old seasoned sailor who had long dreamed of becoming a captain. Initially serving as first lieutenant aboard the HMS Centurion, the flagship of the squadron, Cheap's fortunes changed when another captain resigned. This reshuffling of personnel led to Cheap finally achieving his lifelong ambition: he was made captain of the Trial, one of the smaller ships in the squadron.
A Motley Crew
The British Navy faced significant challenges in recruiting crew members for this dangerous mission. With volunteers in short supply, press gangs were employed to forcibly conscript men and boys from all walks of life. The resulting crew was a diverse mix of individuals, including children as young as six, elderly men, former convicts, and even the "filth of London." Among the crew of the Wager was 16-year-old John Byron, who would later become the grandfather of the famous poet Lord Byron.
Early Setbacks
The squadron's troubles began almost immediately after setting sail. Rumors of a Spanish armada led by Admiral Don Jose Pizarro dogged their journey, forcing them to take evasive action. However, a far deadlier enemy soon emerged: disease. Typhoid fever, spread by lice carried by many of the hastily recruited crew members, began to claim lives at an alarming rate. By the time the squadron reached St. Catherine's Island off the coast of Brazil, 160 men had already perished.
The Perils of Cape Horn
A New Command for Cheap
As the squadron prepared to round Cape Horn, tragedy struck the Wager. Its captain succumbed to illness, leading to another reshuffling of personnel. David Cheap was promoted to captain of the Wager, a larger and more prestigious vessel than his previous command. However, this promotion came at a time of increasing peril for the entire squadron.
Battling Scurvy and the Elements
As the ships entered the treacherous waters around Cape Horn, they faced not only the threat of the pursuing Spanish fleet but also the ravages of scurvy. This debilitating disease decimated the crew, causing excruciating pain and disfigurement. The Wager's crew, which had started with 250 men, was now severely depleted.
The natural elements proved equally formidable. The squadron encountered hurricane-force winds, massive waves, and dangerous ice flows as they attempted to navigate the infamous Drake Passage. The extreme conditions took their toll on both men and ships, with the Wager losing its crucial mizzen mast to a powerful wave.
Separation and Shipwreck
Amidst the chaos of the storm, the Wager became separated from the rest of the squadron. Captain Cheap managed the remarkable feat of navigating his crippled ship around Cape Horn, but their troubles were far from over. As they sailed north along the coast of Patagonia, the relentless bad weather continued.
On May 13, 1741, disaster struck. The Wager collided with rocks in the aptly named Gulf of Pain, leaving the ship wedged between two rock formations. While this position allowed more of the crew to escape, it marked the beginning of a new and desperate chapter in their journey.
Survival on Wager Island
A New Home
Of the original 250 crew members, 145 managed to escape the sinking ship and make it to a nearby island, which they christened Wager Island. Using materials salvaged from the wreck, the survivors began to establish a makeshift settlement. John Bulkeley, the ship's gunner, demonstrated particular ingenuity by converting an overturned cutter into a shelter.
Desperate Times
Despite their initial success in establishing a camp, the situation on Wager Island quickly became dire. Food was scarce, with the survivors subsisting mainly on seaweed and wild celery. As weeks turned into months, starvation claimed more lives, and some resorted to cannibalism. The desperate conditions led to rising tensions among the survivors, particularly between Captain Cheap and the rest of the crew.
A Fatal Confrontation
The simmering resentment towards Captain Cheap came to a head when he shot and killed a crew member named Henry Cozens following a dispute. This act of violence, witnessed by many of the survivors, severely damaged Cheap's authority and accelerated plans for mutiny.
The Great Escape
A Remarkable Plan
As conditions on the island worsened, a group led by John Bulkeley hatched an audacious plan. They proposed salvaging the ship's broken longboat, repairing it, and even extending its length to create a vessel capable of carrying them to safety. Against all odds, the survivors managed to complete this herculean task, christening their new vessel the Speedwell.
A Divided Group
With the Speedwell complete, a crucial decision had to be made: what course should they take? Bulkeley advocated for a return journey around Cape Horn to reach the relative safety of Portuguese-controlled Brazil. Captain Cheap, still clinging to his original mission, insisted on sailing north to rejoin the squadron.
The majority of the survivors sided with Bulkeley, leaving Captain Cheap with a difficult choice. Offered the chance to join the group as a prisoner to face trial for Cozens' murder, Cheap chose instead to remain on the island with a small group of loyalists, including young John Byron.
Two Journeys
On October 14, 1741, five months after the shipwreck, Bulkeley's group of 71 men set sail in the Speedwell and a smaller cutter. Their journey was fraught with danger, but after three and a half months, 29 survivors reached the port of Rio Grande in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Captain Cheap and his group of 19 loyalists attempted to sail north in two small boats. After two months of futile struggle against the elements, they were forced to return to Wager Island.
The Long Road Home
An Unexpected Guide
Months passed before the remaining castaways on Wager Island encountered a Patagonian man named Martin, who offered to guide them to the nearest Spanish settlement on Chiloé Island. On March 6, 1742, nearly a year after the shipwreck, Cheap's group left Wager Island for the last time.
Prisoners of the Spanish
The journey to Chiloé Island was arduous, with some of the group perishing or choosing to strike out on their own. Eventually, Captain Cheap, John Byron, and a few others reached their destination, only to be taken prisoner by the Spanish.
An Unexpected Turn of Events
After seven months in captivity, the survivors were suddenly released. The war had apparently ended, and they even dined with their former pursuer, Admiral Don Jose Pizarro. Their long journey home was finally nearing its end.
Aftermath and Controversy
Return to London
Upon their return to London, Captain Cheap and the other survivors were met with surprise and curiosity. They discovered that John Bulkeley had published his journals of the ordeal, which had become a bestseller. These accounts painted a damning picture of Captain Cheap, accusing him of negligence and murder.
A Bittersweet Victory
While the Wager's story was one of tragedy and controversy, there was some good news for the British Navy. Commodore George Anson, captain of the Centurion, had not only survived the perilous journey but had also succeeded in capturing a Spanish treasure galleon. This rare victory provided a silver lining to the otherwise disastrous expedition.
The Court-Martial
The conflicting accounts of what transpired on Wager Island led to a court-martial in April 1746. Thirteen judges heard testimony from Bulkeley, Cheap, and other survivors. However, the proceedings focused solely on whether Captain Cheap's actions had led to the wrecking of the Wager, avoiding the more contentious issues of murder and mutiny.
In the end, no charges were brought against any of the participants. It seemed that the Royal Navy preferred to put the entire affair behind them rather than delve into the complex and potentially embarrassing details of what had occurred.
Final Thoughts
The story of the Wager is a testament to human endurance in the face of overwhelming odds. From the moment the squadron set sail, it faced a perfect storm of challenges: disease, treacherous weather, and the constant threat of enemy attack. The fact that any of the crew survived is remarkable in itself.
The events that unfolded on Wager Island highlight the fragility of social order in extreme circumstances. The breakdown of authority, culminating in mutiny, reveals how quickly conventional rules can be abandoned when survival is at stake.
The controversy surrounding Captain Cheap's actions and the subsequent mutiny raises interesting questions about leadership and responsibility in crisis situations. The decision of the court-martial to focus solely on the shipwreck itself, rather than the events that followed, suggests a reluctance to grapple with the moral complexities of the situation.
Ultimately, "The Wager" is a gripping tale of survival against impossible odds. It serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by sailors in the age of exploration and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. The fact that this story has been largely forgotten by history only adds to its intrigue, making David Grann's retelling all the more valuable.
The book also sheds light on the often-overlooked human cost of imperial ambitions. The War of Jenkins' Ear, like many conflicts of its time, sent thousands of men – many of them unwilling conscripts – into perilous situations for the sake of national pride and economic gain. The suffering endured by the crew of the Wager is a stark reminder of the personal tragedies that often lie behind the grand narratives of historical events.
Moreover, the story of the Wager raises intriguing questions about the nature of memory and historical narrative. Why did this extraordinary tale fade into obscurity while other naval stories, like that of the Bounty, became legendary? Perhaps it was too complex, too morally ambiguous for easy retelling. Or perhaps the lack of a clear hero or villain made it less appealing to contemporary audiences.
In bringing this story back to light, Grann not only entertains with a thrilling adventure tale but also invites readers to reflect on the nature of leadership, the limits of human endurance, and the complex interplay between individual actions and historical forces. "The Wager" serves as a powerful reminder that history is full of forgotten stories, each with the potential to challenge our understanding of the past and offer new perspectives on the human experience.
As we reflect on the ordeal of the Wager's crew, we're left with a profound appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit and a sobering awareness of the thin line that separates civilization from chaos. It's a story that resonates beyond its historical context, offering insights into human nature that remain relevant today.
In the end, "The Wager" is more than just a tale of shipwreck and survival. It's a complex exploration of human behavior under extreme stress, a study in the fragility of social order, and a reminder of the often-overlooked human costs of historical events. By bringing this forgotten episode to life, David Grann has not only filled a gap in our historical knowledge but has also provided a compelling lens through which to view our own capacity for both heroism and moral failure in the face of adversity.