Farallon: Shipwreck and Survival on the Alaska Shore

by Steve K. Lloyd

Book Overview

On a snowy morning in January 1910, the Alaska Steamship Company liner Farallon ran aground on Black Reef in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. Thirty-eight men escaped in the ship's lifeboats and reached the barren, ice-strewn shore of Iliamna Bay where they huddled under make-shift tents constructed from Farallon's sails. The ship had no wireless communication, and the men were stranded on a desolate, wilderness coastline in the full grip...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874221943
• ISBN13: 9780874221947
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Washington State University Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A survival narrative that is not to be missed!

There have been a number of recent books published about disaster and survival in cold places, and Farallon: Shipwreck and Survival on the Alaska Shore is among the best. The Farallon was a wooden steamship that sunk in Alaska in 1910, and this book is the story of the men who were aboard as passengers and crew, and how they survived being cast away in the barren wilderness in midwinter.The author provides plenty of background on the various mariners and ships that played a part in the events that unfolded while pacing the narrative in a very compelling manner. Lloyd's research (which was clearly extensive) is well-documented, unlike other "true adventure" books I've read where the reader is never sure what actually happened, and what parts represent the author's artistic license.I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history or shipwrecks, and especially to those readers who enjoy a well-told story of man's strength and resolve in times of incredible adversity!

A very exciting story about shipwreck and survival

I found out about this book on the Web .............., and I'm really glad I bought it! This is a gripping tale, one that you'll find hard to put down once you begin. The author succeeds admirably in making his readers feel that they're living through the shipwreck, the cold winter camp, and then the horrible trip in a little boat to seek rescue. It's hard to believe that these men actually managed to survive their ordeal, but this book, Farallon : Shipwreck and Survival on the Alaska Shore, really portrays the kind of courage and stamina that it takes to come through alive. I was glad that I had a nice warm home in which to sit and read this one!

Extremely well-written!

Steve Lloyd's book, Farallon : Shipwreck and Survival on the Alaska Shore, is a gripping tale that contains enough excitement for any lover of high sea adventure stories. I especially enjoyed the photos in the book and the meticulous account of the men who set out in a small boat to arrange for rescue. What a horrible ordeal!

Great shipwreck story!

I read every shipwreck story I can get my hands on, and this one ranks right up at the top of my list! The author has captured the excitement and heartbreak perfectly; I felt like I was living the adventure right there with the men on the Farallon. This book makes an excellent addition to my collection. Also, there is a Web site with more information about this book and Steve Lloyd's next shipwreck adventure, which I'm eager to get my hands on! ( ).

A wonderful story about a harrowing ordeal!

What a story! This book takes a ship that nobody's ever heard of and puts the reader right on deck as it collides with a reef in the coldest month of an Alaska winter. I couldn't put Farallon down until I found out whether everybody came out alive.