The Captain
The captain gives directions to the men in the boat. He has an injury that prevents him from rowing. Depending on the mood in the boat, the captain's attitude is alternately despairing, calm, sarcastic, and hopeful.
The Cook
Optimistic and somewhat feckless, the cook is not fit enough to row, and so spends most of the story bailing out the water that collects at the bottom of the boat. He provides warmth and comfort to the correspondent and Billie when they sleep next to him.
The Correspondent
The correspondent is the story's protagonist. Based on Crane himself, the correspondent is not a crew member, but was onboard the ship that sank. Nevertheless, he takes on an equal share of the rowing. He is prone to philosophical speculations about the camaraderie in the boat and the indifference of nature.
Billie the Oiler
Billie is the only man in the boat given a name. He shares rowing duties with the correspondent, but because of his superior strength and experience, he does not suffer fatigue as easily. Despite his abilities, Billie drowns at the end of the story.
