The Impossible Rescue

The Impossible Rescue

by Martin W. Sandler

Narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner

Unabridged — 3 hours, 50 minutes

The Impossible Rescue

The Impossible Rescue

by Martin W. Sandler

Narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner

Unabridged — 3 hours, 50 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

$28.99
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Overview

Whaling in the Arctic waters off Alaska's coast was as dangerous as it was lucrative in 1897. In that particular year, winter came early, bringing with it storms and ice packs that caught eight American whale ships and about three hundred sailors off guard. The ships were imprisoned in ice with no hope of escape. With limited provisions on board the ships that hadn't been crushed by the ice, there was little hope that these men could survive until warmer temperatures arrived at least ten months later.

Martin Sandler tells the incredible true adventure story of three men who were ordered by President McKinley to carry out an overland rescue that covered 1,500 miles of treacherous Alaskan terrain in the dead of winter. Their mission was to drive two herds of reindeer the distance to feed the starving men. With their own survival in the balance, these men battled raging storms, killing cold, injured sled dogs, and their own will to continue to bring relief to the stranded whale men. Entries from the journals of two of the rescuers and photographs taken by the third key member of the unlikely expedition dramatically document every mile of their heroic, unprecedented journey.


Editorial Reviews

JANUARY 2013 - AudioFile

Malcolm Hillgartner recounts this astonishing story of a 1,500-mile trek across Alaska in winter to rescue 265 crew members of iced-in whaling ships from certain starvation in 1897. His delivery is characterized by a deep, gravelly voice, a tone of sustained suspense, and an appropriate dash of awe. Hillgartner rolls through the names of native Alaskans and places without hesitation and distinguishes the narrative from the plentiful primary sources of diaries, letters, and reminiscences. The three-man rescue team received indispensable help from the native Alaskans who gave up their reindeer herds (and their livelihoods) to feed the starving whalers without receiving any recognition—or the promised compensation. To appreciate the scores of photographs taken by one of the rescuers, listen with a hard copy of the book in hand. A.B. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2013 - AudioFile

Malcolm Hillgartner recounts this astonishing story of a 1,500-mile trek across Alaska in winter to rescue 265 crew members of iced-in whaling ships from certain starvation in 1897. His delivery is characterized by a deep, gravelly voice, a tone of sustained suspense, and an appropriate dash of awe. Hillgartner rolls through the names of native Alaskans and places without hesitation and distinguishes the narrative from the plentiful primary sources of diaries, letters, and reminiscences. The three-man rescue team received indispensable help from the native Alaskans who gave up their reindeer herds (and their livelihoods) to feed the starving whalers without receiving any recognition—or the promised compensation. To appreciate the scores of photographs taken by one of the rescuers, listen with a hard copy of the book in hand. A.B. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID: 2940169582437
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication date: 09/11/2012
Edition description: Unabridged
Age Range: 8 - 11 Years
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