Question: who is the injured man in the open boat
Answer: 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 .