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The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

Book by David Grann · 4 quotes · Wager, Sailing, Shipwreck

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All Wager Sailing Shipwreck War 1738 Ballad Boat Britain Castaways Death Ears Foul Weather Jack Hunger John Byron Madness Nautical Sail Seafare Shipwrecked Spain

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder Quotes

“Then, in 1738, Robert Jenkins, a British merchant captain, was summoned to appear in Parliament, where he reportedly claimed that a Spanish officer had stormed his brig in the Caribbean and, accusing him of smuggling sugar from Spain's colonies, cut off his left ear. Jenkins reputedly displayed his severed appendage, pickled in a jar, and pledged "my cause to my country." The incident further ignited the passions of Parliament and pamphleteers, leading people to cry for blood - an ear for an ear - and a good deal of booty as well. The conflict became known as the War of Jenkins' Ear.”

War Ears Britain Sail Spain Wager 1738 War Of Jenkins Ear

Book:The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

Source: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

“Foul-Weather Jack: A ballad about John Byron went: Brave he may be, deny it who can, Yet Admiral John is a luckless man; And the midshipmen's mothers cry, "Out, alack! My lad has sailed with Foulweather Jack!”

Sailing Ballad Wager Foul Weather Jack John Byron

Book:The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

Source: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

“The ship is arranged with the greatest nicety; her decks are as white as snow - her hammocks are stowed with care - her ropes are taught - her yards square - her guns run out - and a guard of marines, under the orders of a lieutenant, prepared to receive every member of the court with the honour due to his rank... The great cabin is prepared, with a long table covered with a green cloth. Pens, ink, paper, prayer-books, and the Articles of War are laid round to every member.”

Sailing Nautical Shipwreck Wager

Book:The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

Source: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

“On January 23, Master Thomas Clark, who had so devotedly protected his young son, died, and the following day his son died, too. Two days later, the cook, Thomas Maclean - the oldest man on the voyage, who had endured hurricanes and scurvy and shipwreck - took his last breath. He was eighty-two.”

Death Shipwreck Wager

Book:The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

Source: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder