Whaling Stories

Whaling Stories of Lost and Vanished Ships

The Lost Fleet of 1871

In 1871, a fleet of 33 whaling ships set out from San Francisco. They were bound for the Arctic, where they hoped to find whales. But they never made it. The ships were caught in a storm and were lost at sea. No one knows exactly what happened to the ships or the men who were on board. But their story is a reminder of the dangers that whalers faced.

The lost fleet of 1871 is one of the most famous maritime disasters in American history. It has been the subject of many books and articles. In 2018, the National Geographic Society launched an expedition to search for the lost fleet. The expedition was unsuccessful, but it did provide some new insights into the disaster.

The Vanished Ship of 1849

In 1849, the whaling ship Lagoda set out from New Bedford, Massachusetts. The ship was bound for the Pacific Ocean, where it hoped to find whales. But the Lagoda never made it to its destination. The ship vanished without a trace. No one knows what happened to the ship or the men who were on board.

The vanished ship of 1849 is one of the greatest mysteries in maritime history. There are many theories about what happened to the ship. Some people believe that it was attacked by a giant squid. Others believe that it was caught in a storm and sank. But the truth about the Lagoda's fate may never be known.

Whaling Stories in Popular Culture

The stories of the lost fleet of 1871 and the vanished ship of 1849 have been told and retold for generations. These stories have been the inspiration for books, movies, and songs. They are a reminder of the dangers that whalers faced. They are also a reminder of the indomitable spirit of those who went to sea in search of adventure.

Listen to the Whaling Stories Song

The British rock band Procol Harum released a song called "Whaling Stories" in 1970. The song is a haunting ballad about the lost fleet of 1871. You can listen to the song on YouTube.

Here are some of the lyrics from the song:

Whaling stories I have heard
Of a fleet that sailed from San Francisco Bay
Thirty-three ships and never a word
Of what became of them on that fateful day

They were caught in a storm and lost at sea
No one knows exactly what became of them
But their story is a reminder of the dangers that whalers faced