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Death On The Ice
Death On The Ice: The Great Newfoundland Sealing Disaster Of 1914 | Cassie Brown
6 posts | 5 read | 12 to read
Each year, for generations, poor, ill-clad Newfoundland fisherman sailed out 'to the ice' to hunt seals in the hope of a few penniew in wages from the prosperous merchants of St. John's. The year 1914 witnessed the worst in the long line of tragedies that were part of their harsh way of life. For two long, freezing days and nights a party of seal hunters--one hundred thirty-two men--were left stranded on an icefield floating in the North Atlantic in winter. They were thinly dressed, with almost no food, and with no hope of shelter on the ice against the snow or the constant, bitter winds. To survive they had to keep moving, always moving. Those who lay down to rest died. Heroes emerged--one man froze his lips badly, biting off the icicles that were blinding his comrades. Other men froze in their tracks, or went mad with pain and walked off the edge of the icefield. All the while, ships steamed about nearby, unnoticing. And by the time help arrived, two thirds of the men were dead. This is an incredible story of bungling and greed, of suffering and heroism. The disaster is carefully traced, step by step. With the aid of compelling, contemporary photographs the book paints an unforgettable portrait of the bloody trade of seal hunting among the icefields when ships--and men--were expendable. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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review
rabbitprincess
Pickpick

132 men were stranded on the ice for two days and nights in a blizzard during the seal hunt. Two thirds of them died. Inadequate supplies, poor communication and faulty assumptions set up this tragedy. The book is particularly instructive in showing how if even one of the circumstances had been different, this wouldn't have happened.

Content warning: hunting of animals

review
Mdargusch
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Pickpick

This was another great survival story that took place in Newfoundland in 1914. One hundred and thirty two seal hunters were left stranded on the ice while being caught in a blizzard. The ego of the senior captain and lack of communication between ships caused confusion resulting in the men trying to survive with little warm clothing and supplies. Thank you @LeahBergen for putting another wonderful book in my hands!

ElishaLovesBooks This looks good! Stacking! 5y
Mdargusch It‘s a quick read. I finished it in one day @ElishaLovesBooks because I couldn‘t put it down! 5y
ElishaLovesBooks @Mdargusch Wow! Love those kinds of books! 5y
See All 9 Comments
LeahBergen Yay!! 👏🏻👏🏻 I‘m so glad you liked it! 😘😘 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Glad you liked it! I had never heard of this disaster before and found the story fascinating and so scary, really. great book 👍 5y
Mdargusch Definitely check it out @ElishaLovesBooks 5y
Mdargusch Such a tragic story that was unavoidable! @LeahBergen @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled 5y
Reviewsbylola Borrowing! 5y
Mdargusch I thought you would want this one 😀 @Reviewsbylola 5y
90 likes4 stack adds9 comments
blurb
Mdargusch
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I ❤️ my Litsy friends!

Surprise birthday #bookmail today from my sweet Canadian friend @LeahBergen ! I can‘t tell you how much this made my day. 🥰. And I can‘t wait to start reading this survival story 👍🏼

My favorite- David‘s teas, black cat accessories, and bookmarks! My heart is happy. 💖Thank you so much!

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled NICE!! 🥰 and happy birthday! 5y
squirrelbrain Cute gifts! And Happy Birthday! 🍰 5y
wordzie 🎉📚 5y
See All 14 Comments
TrishB Lovely ❤️ happy birthday 5y
readordierachel Wonderful! 5y
LeahBergen Yayyy!! 👏🏻👏🏻 I‘m so glad it arrived and you‘re so welcome! 😘😘 5y
MicheleinPhilly Happy Birthday! 5y
Tanisha_A Happy birthday! 🎂🎈🕯️ 5y
Mdargusch It was so unexpected @LeahBergen so it was so fun to open. 😁 5y
Reviewsbylola Leah is such a sweetheart. What a wonderful gift! 5y
emilyhaldi Wow how lovely!!! 💕 5y
emilyhaldi Ps. Those iclips bookmarks are the best. I might steal one 😉 5y
Mdargusch I can share @emilyhaldi 👍🏼 5y
92 likes14 comments
review
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Pickpick

Pick! A must-read for anyone who in interested in polar survival stories.
The first half is somewhat slow-going and you have to adjust to the dialect, but the latter half is riveting. A tragic and horrifying story.
Thank you so much @LeahBergen for this book! It‘s one I won‘t forget.
Thought this might interest you @Tamra and @Mdargusch

Tamra Thank you - stacked! 5y
LeahBergen I‘m so glad you enjoyed it 😘 (and I should‘ve warned you about the Newfoundland dialect 😆😆). 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @LeahBergen I really enjoyed it! And I caught on to the Newfoundland-speak 😆 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @tamra Yay! I thought it would be right in your wheelhouse! 5y
Mdargusch Oooh! I‘m definitely interested in this one!!! 5y
56 likes2 stack adds5 comments
blurb
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Had to start this one right away! Thank you, @LeahBergen !! 🇨🇦

Reviewsbylola Ooooh sounds really good! 5y
LeahBergen You‘re very welcome! 😘 5y
49 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
LeahBergen
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Pickpick

In 1914, a group of Newfoundland fishermen headed out to hunt seals ... and were left stranded on the floating ice in the North Atlantic. Thinly dressed and with no food or shelter they had to keep moving or die. Some froze to death while standing and others "went mad" and walked off the edge of the icefield. This harrowing true story is required reading in Newfoundland high schools. #ChillyReads #PhotoADayNov16 #NonfictionNovember

BookishFeminist Yikes!! 😳🌬❄️ 7y
Spiderfelt As a cautionary tale to any who thinks riches are to be found seal-hunting? 7y
Hobbinol In North Carolina they go mad before the first snowflake hits the pavement.🙂The book sounds very chilly indeed! 7y
See All 9 Comments
LeahBergen @Spiderfelt Yep. A "scared straight" sort of thing, I guess. ? 7y
LeahBergen @Hobbinol I laughed out loud. 😂 7y
Hooked_on_books Nice! I just picked this up as part of my Book Outlet Black Friday mega-haul. I go mad over book sales. 🙃 7y
LeahBergen @Hooked_on_books So do I! 😬 7y
RealLifeReading Wow. That's some story 7y
shawnmooney Wow, sounds great! 7y
72 likes4 stack adds9 comments