Upon arriving safely in China, they unloaded their cargo and headed back to sea with goods destined for the UK. As the weather was unusually warm, the captain decided to sail home via the Northwest Passage, a voyage which at the time hadn't been accomplished. This was the last that anyone had heard of the vessel and consequently, Octavius was declared lost. On October 11 1775, the whaling ship Herald was working the frigid waters off Greenland when it spotted a sailing ship.
Upon nearing the ship, the crew saw that the ship was in bad shape. it appeared to be weather beating and the sails were tattered and torn, hanging limply on the masts. The captain of the Herald ordered a boarding party to search the vessel, which they had then discovered was the Octavius. Upon searching the deck, they found the boat deserted.
They descended into the ship's hatch and were met with a terrifying site - an entire 28-man crew frozen to death in their quarters. In the captain's cabin, they found the captain seated at his desk, a pen in hand, with the ship's logbook open in front of him. The inkwell and other everyday items were still in their place on the desk. They also saw a woman wrapped in a blanket on the bunk, frozen to death with the body of a young boy.
Terrified, the crew grabbed the ship's log and fled. As they rushed off, they had lost the middle pages of the logbook which were frozen solid and had come loose from the bookbinding. They arrived on the Herald with just the first and last pages of the logbook. This was enough for the master of the Herald to determine at least a part of the story of the voyage. In it, they discovered that the captain of the Octavius had tried to navigate the Northwest Passage, but his ship had become imprisoned in the ice of the Arctic.
The ship's last recorded position was 75N 160W, placing the Octavius 250 miles north of Barrow, Alaska. The Octavius had been found off the coast of Greenland, and it was believed to have broken loose from the ice and some stage. The crew of the Herald were frightened that the Octavius was cursed, so they left it adrift and to this day, it has never been sighted again.
Author David Meyer has tried to track down the story of the Octavius and in his blog, he has considered the idea that the Octavius could be the same ship as the Gloriana, which was boarded in 1775 by the captain John Warrens. He recorded that he found a frozen crew that had been dead for 13 years and that the date of the discovery was spookily similar to the Octavius incident. Could they be tales of the same vessel? At this point, we do not know.
Related Articles:
The Story of Captain Henry Morgan
Joke: Some People Are Just Never Happy in Life!
Sometimes in life, you just can't get it right in the eyes of people. That's why you really shouldn't try to please everyone...
Goldin Finance - The Skyscraper That Remained Unfinished
The Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, China, was supposed to be the 5th tallest building in the world. But its construction was mysteriously halted...
From Playground to a Professional Sport: Evolution of Tag
Those who were good at tag as children might want to know that the beloved playground game is now a professional sport
Ever Hear the Tale of the 6 Elephants?
What is "truth" comprised of? This highly inspiring story will definitely get you thinking about this.
Norse Mythology: A Terrible Tale of Loki the Trickster
Norse mythology is filled with the many devious antics of Loki the Trickster. None are more devastating than the tale of Baldur.
Decency Test: Would People Cheat a Blind Man Out of Money?
If a blind man came up to you and asked for your help with his winning lottery ticket, how would you react?
This Swiss Brown Ox is a Guinness Record Holder
Meet Tommy, a gigantic Swiss Brown Ox who has registered his name in the Guinness World Records.
The Extraordinary Lives of the Oldest Record Breakers
From marathoners and skydivers to body-builders and pianists, here are some of the world’s oldest record-breakers.
How Are Men and Women Different? A Few Good Examples
In this series of funny but true pictures, we get a quick tour of some of the major differences between men and women...
The English Language Desperately Needs These German Words!
Take a look at these 21 incredibly powerful words that the English language desperately needs to adopt.
The Truth Behind These Animal Myths Will Shock You
Here are a list of facts about animals we thought to be true.
15 Jaw-Dropping Facts You'll Find Hard to Believe!
Want to find out who really built the pyramids, or how many teeth a snail has? Here are 15 of the most unbelievable yet true facts.
21 Tips to Make Your Golden Years the Time of Your Life
Many seniors will offer a different piece of advice on life. This collection of tips will allow you to live the most wondrous golden years imaginable.
7 Life Lessons Taught by Winston Churchill
To inspire others, we have compiled 7 lessons he taught us through his life's work and life.
The Grisly Origins of Madame Tussaud's Wax Empire!
Ever wondered how Madame Tussaud's became the most famous waxmaker in history? Well, if you did, you need wonder no more!
These 14 Photos Are All Remarkable For Different Reasons
There are some photos we come across that just compel us to take a second look, and these 14 are no exception. Take a look!
15 Amazing Facts That Knocked Me Over with a Feather
The world always fascinates me and everyday I learn something new. Here are 15 facts and stories to give your brain a real workout. Which of these tidbits blows your mind most?
I Can’t Get Over These Astonishing Magic Tricks!
Enjoy this magical compilation of astonishing performances by illusionist Darcy Oake.
SPECIAL: Just Wanted to Say, Have a Great Day!!!
Help someone have a great day today, by sending them one of our wonderful greeting cards.
25 Old Photos That Show How Different the World Used To Be
Check out this amazing collection of vintage pictures that show us how much the world around us has changed.
Watch Andrea Bocelli and His Daughter Perform "Hallelujah"
Watch the legendary singer Andrea Bocelli perform a beautiful rendition of the famous song "Hallelujah" with his little daughter.
11 New English Words That Are Actually USEFUL To Know
The majority of new English words are very short-lived, but these were added to various dictionaries and seem to be quite useful to know
Her Mom With Alzheimer's Didn't Recognize Her, Until...
A loving daughter experiences a moment she thought she'd never have again.
11 Relatively Unknown Peculiar Jobs That No Longer Exist
Here is a collection of lesser-known jobs that are now obsolete. Some of them may sound unusual or even funny; even though they are real.
10 Questions You Always Wanted the Answer To
Let's dive into ten questions you've always wanted to ask and uncover the intriguing science behind everyday phenomena.
Wrapping Up the Major Events of 2022 in a 7-Minute Video
Another year has come to an end. Vox has edited 2022 in its entirety into a 7-minute video. Let's take a look.
Ancient Technologies That Remain a Complete Mystery
Scientists may have solved the mystery of Egyptian pyramids, but there are still so many findings that are left completely unexplained
Can You Spot the Camouflaged Creatures in These Photos?
These wonderful animals have gone into hiding. Can you find them? If not, just click on the photo to reveal all!
The Story of the Roman Atlantis: The Ancient City of Baiae
In this article, we will explore what life was like in Baiae, why the city sank, and its rediscovery by explorers.
Find Humor & Inspiration in These Douglas Adams Quotes
May you find inspiration and humor in these quotes by Douglas Adams.
Phrases We Use Without Realizing It’s a Shakespeare Quote
William Shakespeare had a huge impact on modern English, so much so that most of us are quoting the great bard every day without even realizing it!
The Many Calendars of the Modern World - Fascinating!
This video reviews some of the most common calendars in the modern world.
10 Underrated Movies That Should be Seen by More People
Imploring all cinema buffs to check out these criminally underrated movies!
Mark Twain's Tips For a Better Kind of Life...
Mark Twain was not only a talented writer but a man of wise, witty words. Here are 12 of his best quotes.
Some of These Facts About the US Will Leave You Speechless
We have collected the 50 most fascinating facts about each state. Some of them historical, some funny, and some straight out hard to believe.
10 Mysteries that have Shocked Human History
10 incredible mysteries we know very little about.
What Went Right This Year: The Good News You Should Know
The Happy Broadcast brings you some incredibly good things that have happened recently.
20 Unforgettable Last Words Spoken By Famous People
There’s something poignaant about reading famous last words.
Romeo & Juliet Ballet: A Timeless Tale of Love and Tragedy
Watch the famous balcony scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in a captivating ballet duet.
A Nostalgic Look Back at Prices in the Past (14 Pics)
Travel back to the time when things cost just a few cents.
The Mandela Effect: When Everyone Misremembers History
The Mandela Effect is a strange phenomenon, where large amounts of people seem to remember things differently.
When it Comes to Inventive Solutions, These Guys Are Top!
We all face different issues every day and our solutions to these minor problems vary widely...
Hark Back to Meiji-Era Japan With These Stunning Pictures
The Meiji Era was a time of great change for Japan, transforming from a feudal state into a capitalist, imperialist one. Take a look at these stunning pictures.
This Is One of The Most Beautiful Duets I've Ever Seen
Watch this mesmerizing duet from 1981 featuring Donovan and Crystal Gayle. This live performance is their rendition of the classic 60s song ‘Catch the Wind’
15 Latin Phrases We Use to This Day Without Even Realizing
As an English, speaker you likely know more Latin than you ever thought you did. Just look at these 15 Latin phrases and see if you know what they mean...
10 Cool Maps That Show How Much Unpopulated Space There Is
These maps will utterly surprise you when you realize just how unevenly the world's population is spread out. Most of the world is quite free of people!