Narrative of the shipwreck of the brig Betsey, of Wiscasset, Maine, and murder of five of her crew, by pirates, on the coast of Cuba, Dec. 1824.

Narrative of the Shipwreck of the Brig Betsey, of Wiscasset, Maine, and Murder of Five of Her Crew, by Pirates, on the Coast of Cuba, Dec. 1824, by Daniel Collins, delivers a chilling, firsthand chronicle of one of the early republic’s maritime tragedies. Collins, one of only two survivors, recounts the voyage from Wiscasset, the wreck off Cuba, and the brutal aftermath in a plain, unflinching voice that captures the hazards of seafaring life in the 1820s. This history audiobook combines eyewitness testimony with vivid detail about crew life, navigation, storms, and the ever-present threat of piracy in the Caribbean. Beyond the dramatic events, Collins situates the ordeal in the wider context of early American maritime commerce—lumber trade, coastal communities, and the fragile legal order that left sailors vulnerable. Themes of survival, loss, and the pursuit of justice emerge without sensationalizing the victims. Perfect for listeners who enjoy maritime history, early American narratives, and true-crime-adjacent accounts grounded in primary testimony, this compact but powerful narrative brings a neglected seafaring episode to life and preserves an eyewitness perspective on piracy and peril at sea.