Stephen Crane: "The Open Boat"

          "The Open Boat" is a short story about four men who whose ship wrecked. The oiler, the captain, the correspondent and the cook where all trying to survive the fierce water on a small life boat. When they see land, they also see a light house and realize that there is civilization up ahead, however the water is so rough that they do not think that they can make it to the shore. They then see people on the shore who signal for the men to come to shore. Finally, after a few weakening days with no attempt of a rescue, the men decide they need to try to get to shore. They swim to shore and the waves become so rough that they are banged around, washed up onto the shore where the people then help them. Once they reached shore, they saw the oilers body washed up face down. Even though the oiler was the strongest man out of the bunch, the sea took his life.
          It is ironic how the sea took the strongest mans life. This shows how powerful nature can be. This relates to the naturalistic belief that man is not better that nature. It shows that nature can in fact conquer man. These men were fighting for their lives against the universe who does not care weather they live or die which is exactly a naturalists view on life.

Question: How closely does this relate to his own shipwreck experience?