Whaling disaster of 1871 in the Arctic

Background. By the 1870s, the American whaling fleet made annual Arctic voyages for bowhead whales. The 1868–1870 seasons had been profitable with favorable weather. However, the spring and summer of 1871 saw northeasterly winds pushing ice floes toward the Alaskan coast. Eskimo traders warned captains that conditions would differ from previous years, predicting ice would be pushed against the ships.

Entrapment and Decision. In late June 1871, forty whaleships passed through the Bering Strait. By September 12, dwindling supplies and no prospect of rescue for up to 11 months led captains to gather on the Florida. They signed a compact document concluding that their ships could not be freed, provisions were insufficient for three months, and abandonment was necessary.

Rescue and Aftermath. On September 14, the crews evacuated in small whaleboats, covering 70 miles of ocean and ice over two days. Seven whalers rescued the 1,219 survivors, including the Europa, Arctic, and Progress. The abandoned ships were crushed, sank, or were stripped by Inupiat. Salvage companies later recovered some oil and bone in 1872.