South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-08-27

die his opinion was, that one should
suffer for the rest, and that the lots
should be drawn between the four
boys, as they could not be considered
SO great a loss to their friends, as those
who had wives-and children depen.
ding on them. None objected to this,
except the boys, who cried out against
the injustice Of such a proceeding.
O'Brien in particular, protested against
il /; and some mutterings were heard j..
mongst the men, that led the latter to
apprehend they might proceed in a
more summary way. Friendless and
forlorn as he was, they we're well cal
culated to terrify the boy into acquies.
cence, and he at length submitted.
Mulville now prepared some sticks of
different lengths for the lots. A ban
dage was tied over O'Brien's eyes, and
ne knelt dowo, resting his face on
Mulville's knees The latter had the
sticks In his hand, and was to hold
them uP,one by'one, demanding whose
lott was. rO'Brien was TO call out a
name, and whatever person he named
for the shoraes, stick was to die. Null
vile held up the first stick ,and. deman.
ded who it'was for. The answer was,
"for little Johnny Sheehan," and the
'ot,was laid, aside. The next stick
ives held up, and the demand was're-
peated, "on myself" upon which Mul.
vile said, thai, was the death lot THAT
O'Brien had called it for himself The
poor fellow heard, the announcement
without uttering a,word. The men
|oId bin he must prepare for death,
y the Captain proposed bleeding him
in the arm. The cook cut his veios
across with small knife, but could
bring no flow Of blood the boy him
'elf attempted TO open the vein at the
End Of the elbow, but like the cook he
allied 10 bringing blood. The, Cap
ain then said-"This is cfno use, Ills
better TO put him out Of pain by blee-
ling him in the throat" I,
At this O'Brien for, the first time. |
eemed terrified, and begged that they |
would give him little time: he said |
lie was cold and weak, but il they |
fSHd s' w bin sd ae warm nd add then he
yould bleed freely. TO this tbere
we're expressions Of dissent from the |
men, and the Captain said 'twas best
!. once 10 lay hold on him, and lie, the
:ook cut bis throat. O'Brien driven
o extremity, declared be, would not let
hem ; the first man, he said, who laid
lands on him, 'lwould be the worse for
lin; that he'd appear to .him another
ime that he'd haunt him after death.
There was a general hesitation a.
nongst them, when fellow named
harrington seized the boy, and they
'ushed in upon him ; he screamed and
violsatly, addressing him
'elf in particular TO Sullivan Tarbcrt
nan. The poor youth was, however,
loon got down, aud the cook, after
hesitation, cut his throat
with case knife, and the tureen was
put under the boys neck to save the
blood.
A. soon as the horrid act had been
the blood was served TO
The men. They afterwards laid open
The body, and separated the limbs; the
after were hung over the stern, while
a portion Of the former was allotted for
use, and almost every one
par.osk Of il. This was the evening
Of the 10Th day., They ate again late
at night /; bu. the thirst, which was
before endurable, nov became craving,
and they Stacked it with salt water.
Several we're raving,and talked wildly
through be night, and in the, morning,
the cook was quite mad. His ravMg
continued during the succeeding night,
and in the morning, as his end seemed
to be approaching, the veins Of bis
neck were cut, and the blood drawn
from him. This was the second death.
On that night Behane was mad, and
the boy Burns on the following morn
ing they were obliged to be tied by
the crew, "a nd the latter eventually bled
to death by cutting bis throat. Behane
died unexpectedly, or he, would have
suffered the same fate. Next morning
Mahony distio guished sail, and rails
ed shout Of joy. A ship was Gle arly
discernable,and bearing her course to-
wards them. Signals were hoisted.
and, when she approached they held
up the hands and feet OF O'Brien TO
excite commisseratiou. The vessel
proved to be the Agenora, an Amer.
lean. She put off boat to their as
sistance, and the survivors of the Fran.