 " The Open Boat " is divided into seven sections , each told mainly from the point of view of the correspondent , based upon Crane himself . The first part introduces the four characters — the correspondent , a condescending observer detached from the rest of the group ; the captain , who is injured and morose at having lost his ship , yet capable of leadership ; the cook , fat and comical , but optimistic that they will be rescued ; and the oiler , Billie , who is physically the strongest , and the only one in the story referred to by name . The four are survivors of a shipwreck , which occurred before the beginning of the story , and are drifting at sea in a small dinghy . 
