In 1918, the 238 ton essex set sail from nantucket on a routine voyage to hunt whales. The ordeal of the essex was as well known as the titanic is today. A fantastic saga of survival and adventure, steeped in the lore of the whaling tradition, with deep resonance in literature and american history, and in the life of the nantucket community. Fearing canibals on the islands to the west, the 10 man crew set out in three small boats for soutg america, almoat 3,000 miles away.