Escape From the Ice

Shackleton and his crew of 28 men sailed for four months. At last, they were just one day away from reaching Antarctica. Then came that awful January day. 

Ice covered the sea like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Shackleton tried to sail between the pieces. But soon, winds pushed the ice together, and the ship became trapped. 

The men tried desperately to cut away the ice. It was no use though. The ship could not move. The men had no choice but to wait on the ship until the ice broke apart.

Shackleton tried to keep the crew cheerful while they waited. They sang songs and gave each other silly haircuts. The men were worried, but they trusted Shackleton. They called him Boss and loved him like a father. 

But nearly a year passed, and the ice didn’t loosen. Instead, it squeezed the ship tighter. At night, the men could hear the ship’s wooden sides groaning against the force of the ice. 

The ice pressed harder against the ship until one October day—crack! Ice slammed into the ship’s side and tore a hole in it. Freezing-cold water poured in. The ship started to sink. 

The crew grabbed sleeping bags, food, and three lifeboats. They raced onto the ice, dragging their supplies with them. Shackleton and his crew were now stranded on the ice. 

Shackleton and his crew of 28 men sailed for four months. At last, they were just one day away from reaching Antarctica. Then came that awful January day.

Ice covered the sea. The ice looked like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Shackleton tried to sail between the pieces. But soon, winds pushed the ice together. The ship became trapped.

The men tried desperately to cut away the ice. It was no use though. The ship could not move. The men had no choice. They had to wait on the ship until the ice broke apart.

Shackleton tried to keep the crew cheerful while they waited. They sang songs. They gave each other silly haircuts. The men were worried, but they trusted Shackleton. They called him Boss and loved him like a father.

Nearly a year passed. But the ice didn’t loosen. Instead, it squeezed the ship tighter. At night, the men could hear the sound the ship made as ice pressed against its sides. It sounded like groaning.

The ice pressed harder against the ship. Then, one October day—crack! Ice slammed into the ship’s side. The ice tore a hole in the ship. Freezing-cold water poured in. The Endurance started to sink.

The crew grabbed sleeping bags, food, and three lifeboats. They raced onto the ice, dragging their supplies with them. Shackleton and his crew were now stranded on the ice.

As a boy, Shackleton dreamed of becoming an explorer. He wanted to visit a new land. Shackleton grew up. He wanted to go to Antarctica. It was cold and dangerous. Very few people had been there before. He had to go!

Shackleton chose a crew to sail with him. They left England on August 1, 1914, on a ship called the Endurance. The word endurance means sticking with something when it gets hard. Things were about to get very hard.

The crew sailed for four months. But then they ran into the ice. The ship became trapped. The men tried desperately to cut away the ice. But the ship would not move.

Over the next few weeks, the men watched in horror as the Endurance sank into the cold, dark sea. There was only one thing to do: wait until the ice broke up. Then they could put the lifeboats in the water and row away. 

To pass the time, they played soccer and other games. But more than five months went by. The crew wondered if they would ever get home.

Finally, in April 1916, the ice started to crack. The men raced to their lifeboats. For six days they rowed, with little food or sleep. Twenty-foot waves lifted their tiny boats. Icicles froze on their beards. Killer whales burst from the sea. But the men kept rowing. 

At last, on the seventh day, they reached a tiny place called Elephant Island. But they weren’t safe yet.

Over the next few weeks, the Endurance sank into the cold, dark sea. There was only one thing to do: wait until the ice broke up. Then they could put the lifeboats in the water and row away.

To pass the time, they played soccer and other games. But more than five months went by. The ice still wasn’t melting. The crew wondered if they would ever get home.

Finally, in April 1916, the ice started to crack. The men ran to their lifeboats. They rowed for six days. They had very little food or sleep. Twenty-foot waves lifted their tiny boats. Icicles froze on their beards. Killer whales burst from the sea. But the men kept rowing.

At last, on the seventh day, they reached a tiny place called Elephant Island. But they weren’t safe yet.

Almost a year went by. One day, the ship started to sink. The crew grabbed sleeping bags and lifeboats. They ran onto the ice. The Endurance slowly sank into the sea. It was too icy for the men to use their lifeboats. So they had to live on the ice until it broke up.

More than five months passed. Finally, in April 1916, the ice cracked. The crew got in the lifeboats and rowed for six days.

They reached a tiny place called Elephant Island. But they weren’t safe yet. No one lived on the island. And there wasn’t much food there. Shackleton had to go somewhere else to get help. His crew was exhausted. He chose five men to go with him. The others stayed behind.

Shackleton made it to another island where people lived. He headed back to Elephant Island on a big boat. But he was worried. What if some of the crew hadn’t survived?

Back on Elephant Island, the men waited for Shackleton. One day they saw a ship. They ran toward it. They were saved. Shackleton lost the Endurance. But he brought every one of his crew members home. He is still remembered today for his bravery.

Shackleton knew he had to continue his journey and get help. No one lived on Elephant Island, and there was almost nothing to eat there.  

About 800 miles away was an island where fishermen lived. Getting there would be another dangerous journey. The crew was already exhausted. So Shackleton chose just five men to go with him, leaving the others behind. 

The group set out. Huge waves crashed over their tiny boat. They could hardly see. But Shackleton led them on. 

Finally, they reached the island. Now Shackleton could get a big boat and take it to rescue the rest of the crew. 

As he made his way back to Elephant Island, Shackleton was worried. A lot of time had passed. The men had been waiting in the terrible cold with barely any food. What if some of them hadn’t survived?

Shackleton knew he had to continue his journey and get help. No one lived on Elephant Island. There was almost nothing to eat there.

There was an island about 800 miles away. Fishermen lived there. Getting to the island would be dangerous. The crew was already exhausted. So Shackleton chose just five men to go with him. He left the others behind.

The group set out. Huge waves crashed over their tiny boat. They could hardly see. But Shackleton led them on.

Finally, they reached the island. Now Shackleton could get a big boat and take it to rescue the rest of the crew.

As he sailed back to Elephant Island, Shackleton was worried. A lot of time had passed. The men had been waiting in the terrible cold. They had barely eaten any food. What if some men hadn’t survived?

Back on Elephant Island, the men waited patiently for Shackleton. The days turned into months. Then one foggy August day, they looked out at the sea. Was that a ship?

The crew ran toward the ship, whooping and cheering when they saw Shackleton. As he got closer, Shackleton called out, “Are all well?”

“All well, Boss!” they cried. And they were.

It had been more than 600 days since Shackleton’s crew had set sail. They had survived a shipwreck, months of living on the icy sea, and constant cold and hunger. But the Boss had said he would rescue them. And he did. 

Shackleton lost his ship, the Endurance. But he brought all 28 of his crew members home safely. He is still remembered today for his courage and the care he showed for his men.  

Back on Elephant Island, the men waited for Shackleton. The days turned into months. Then one August day, they looked out at the sea. Was that a ship?

The crew ran toward the ship. They were whooping and cheering when they saw Shackleton. As he got closer, Shackleton called out, “Are all well?”

“All well, Boss!” they cried. And they were.

It had been more than 600 days since Shackleton’s crew had set sail. They survived months of living on the icy sea. They faced constant cold and hunger. But the Boss had said he would rescue them. And he did.

Shackleton lost his ship, the Endurance. But he brought all 28 of his crew members home safely. He is still remembered today for his bravery and the care he showed for his men.