‘Loss of the Whaleship Essex’ Program to be held at Whaling Musem

COURTESY OF THE NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Thomas Nickerson was the cabin boy on the Essex.

NANTUCKET – The Nantucket Historical Association and the Nantucket Antheneum are collaborating on a whaleship program later this month.

“Loss of the Whaleship Essex: Readings & Music” will feature staged readings of excerpts from Owen Chase’s and Thomas Nickerson’s narratives of the Essex.

The Essex was a Nantucket whaleship that was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the Pacific Ocean in 1820.

Local actors Chuck Gifford, Chris Witte and Peter Sendelbach will perform selections from the narratives, and read various letters and journals.

The program will also include sea chanteys and several poems by Herman Melville set to music performed by singer-songwriter Joe Flood.

Flood plays a rock-blues-folk blend of music and performs throughout New England.

The event will be held at the Whaling Museum on Broad Street on Sunday, October 18 at 7 p.m.

Admission is $10 per person and tickets are available at www.nha.org/tickets.