Oddly, earlier last evening my daughter and I watched the Star Trek TOS episode “Space Seed”, which then lead to the movie “Wrath of Kahn”, and you just naturally get to Khan quoting Melville...
Later I actually re-read that same Wikipedia account of the Essex’ destruction and the horrors the surviving crewmen went through (cannibalism) trying to make it to civilization. But, thanks, maybe someone unfamiliar with the story will click that link - it’s pretty incredible.
Then I saw this story!
Full tale of the Essex here:
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Sea-Tragedy-Whaleship-Essex/dp/0141001828