Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-08-25

all happened to be collected together ia
The cabin, the captain came of deck. and
addressed them about their desp crate con-
u'uon. he said they were now such
'ehgth OF time without sustenance. that il
was beyond human nature to endure il a.
ny 'onger-that they were already on tho
verge OF NE grave, and that the only ouex
ZION ior ihem TO consider was, whether one
or all should diep That at present Il see.
med certain that all mus, die, unless food
could be procured. but that if one died the
rest might live until some ship came in
view. His opinion was that ons should
suffer for the rest and that the lots should
be drawn between the four boys, as thew
had no families. and could not be- consd.
cred so great 4 loss 10 their friends az
those who had wives children depending
on them. The lot having been east. Il
fell upon boy named O'Brien. The poor
fellow heard the announcement without
ntterlng word. His face was very pale,
but not . feature Of il was changed, The
man now told him he must prcpare for
death, and the captain said il was better
| II should be done by bleeding him in tho
arm, 10 which 0'Brien made no objection.
The captain then directed the cook, John
Gorman. TO do il, telling him il was his
duty, but German sirenuously refused.
he was, however. threatened with death
himself by the men, if lac continued obsti.
nate, and at last consented. O'Brion then
took OIL his jacket without waiting to be-
desired, and after telling the crew If any
OF them ever reached home. TO tell his
poor mother what had happened to him,
barred his right arm. The cook cut his
vain t..,.. IL
could bring no flow Of blood. upon which
there seemed TO be much hesitation among
the men az to what should be done. They
were relieved by the boy himself, who i'm
media tely desired the cook TO give him
the knife, as he would not be looking at
HIM putting him in pain. When he got
The knife and was about 10 cut the vein.
the captain recommended him 70 try his
LEFT arm. which he accordingly did. He
attempted TO open the vein at the bend Of
the elbow with the point Of the knife ss
surgeon would, but like the cook he failed
IN bringing blood. A dead CONSERVATION
now fell upon all-but in a minnie or two
the captain said, "rhis 10 all Of no use.
It's better to put him out of pain by az
once bleeding him in the throat" and some
oil them said II was true. AT this O,Brien
Tor the first time looked terrified, and beg
ged bard that they would not do so, but
give him little time 4; he said he was cold
and weak; bat il they would let him Law
down and sleep for little time, he would
get warm, and then he would bleed more
freely 10 this wish there was some ex.
preston oil dissent from the men, and the
captain shortly after said TO them, that il
was useless leaving the boy this way ia
pain, II was best at once TO Law hold of
him and let the cook cut bis throatt, o.
Bfen DOW reused aud driven to extremity
seemed working himself up for resist
ance. and declared he would not let them
the first man, he said, who laid hands
on him, twould be worse for him that be
would appear 10 him at another time and
that he would haunt him after death, The
man now refused more strenuonsly than
before, and another alterc alton arose hat
weak and irresolute. and seeing that his
own life would absolutely DO taken instead
OF O'Briens. II he persisted, he at length
yielded 10 their menaces. Some one NJ
this time brought him down a large case.
knife. that was on the poop instead of the
clasp knife that be had al first prepared.
with which. pale and trembling, he stood
over O'bIleD, who was still endeayofinr
10 free himself from those who held him.
One OF them now placed the cover Of tho
tureen (Which they before used 10 collect
RAM under the boys neck 10 save the
blood, and several cried out TO the cook
to do his duty. The horror stricken man.
over and over again, endeavored to sum-
mon up bard,hood for the deed but when
ne caught the boys eyes his heart always
Jailed him, and then he looked supplca-
tingly 10 The men again. Their cries and
threats were, however, loud for death
he made desperate eliort-there was a
short struggle. and O'Brien was no more.
As soon AS this horrid act was pcrpe.
trated. the blood was served 10 the men:
but lew OF them. among whom was Ma
hony, refused to partake of it. They ar.
forwards laid open the body, and separa-
ted the limbs; the latter were hung over
the stern. while a portion Of the former
was allotted for immediate use. Shocked.
as, for the sake Of human nature, il IL 20
he hoped many were at the scene thew
had Just witnessed, gnawing hunger
came upon them all when they saw even
inns disgusting meal put out for them, and
almost every one, even the unwilling boys
partook more or less Of it, This was the
evening oil the 10th day. They ate again
late at night, and some greedy but.ths
thirsi, which was before at least cndora.
bic, now became craving, and as theirs
was no more blood. they Stacked il with
salt water. They then lay down to rest,
but several were raving and talking Wild
iy through the night, and in the morning.
the cock was observed 10 be quite insane
his eyes lshamed and glaring. and bis
speech rambling and incoherent he threw
his clothes about restlessly, and was often
violent. Ills raving continued during the
succeeding night. and in the morning, a.
his end seemed TO- be approaching. the veins
oil his meek were cut, and the blood drawn
rem him. This was the second Death
On the night of that day, Michael Behane
was mad, and the boy, George Burns. on
the following morning they were both 30