"The Open Boat" tells the dramatic story of four men who just escaped a sinking steamer at sea. Stephen Crane comes as close to reporting an event as he has ever in a story of his work. In the end of 1896, Crane was sent to Florida to investigate and report filibustering activities from Jacksonville. The Steamer, Commodore, sank very early in its voyage and Crane was one of the last men to leave the steamer on one of the life boats. Among him, were three other members from the Commodore who made it into the ten-foot long life boat. During the course of the men's voyage, they encounter many enemies, of which include sea and their own minds. In any situation, when someone is isolated from the outside world for a long period of time, the mind can start to do bizarre things like question life itself. This...