On November 20, 1820 the whale ship Essex was attacked by a white whale in the middle of the Pacific ocean. The 20 man crew left the ship to sink and set out in three small boats. On this day, February 23, 1821 the boat with captain Pollard and Charles Ramsdale was found by the American whaler Dauphin. The two were nearly dead but survived. The other men who were in the boat had been used as food after they had died. One however, was intentionally killed so he could be eaten by the others.