The Evansville journal., 1844-11-14
THE LIFE AND ATROCITIES OF
SAWNEY BEANE


We copy from Johnslon's "Lives of High |
waymen'' the following narrative, the de-
tails of which would be incredible were they
not attesied by public and other records Of
authority. The narrator
says:--
The following narrative presents such
picture OF human barbarity, that wese i. noI
attested by the most unquesticnable historl- |
cal evidence, it would be rejected as alto /
gelher fabulous and incredible.
Sawney Beane was born in The county OF
East Lothian, about eight miles east of Ed |
inburgh, in the reign of James vi. His Ia
ther was hedger and diicher, and brought
up his son 10 the same laborious employment.
Naturally idle andvlcious, he abandoned that
place, along with young woman equally
idle and profigate, and retired to the deserts
of Galloway, and took up their habitation by
the sea side. The place which Sawney and
his wife selected for their dwelling was cave
of about mile in length, and Of considera
Bile breadth so near the sea that the tide Of
ten penetrated into the cave above two hun
dred yards. The entry had mlny intricate
lumings and windings which led to the ex-
tremity of the subteuaneous dwelling. which
was literally ''lhe habitation of horrid cru
city,"
Sawney and his wife took shelter in the
cave, and commenced their depredatons.--
To prevent the possibility of detection, they
murdered every person that they robbed
Destitute also of the means of obtaning any
other food, they resolved TO live upon human
flesh. Accordingly, when they hadmnrder-
ed any man, woman or child, they carried
them to their den, quariered them, sailed and
picked the members, and dried them for
food. In this manner they lived, carrying on
their depredations and murder, until they had
eight sons and six daughters, all the offspring
of fincest.
But though they soon became numerous
srch was the multitude who fell into their
hands, that they had often superabnndanre
of provisions, and would, at distance from
their own habitation, throw legs and arms OF
dried human bodies into the sea by night
! These were often thrown out by the tide and
taken up by the country people, TO the great
CONSERVATION and dismay of all the surround
ing inhabitants Nor could any discover
what bad befallen the many friends, relatives
and neighbors who had unfortunately fallen
into the hands of these merciess cannl balls
! In proportion as Sawney's family increas
led, every one that was able acted his part II
their horrid asssssnatiors. They would
sometimes attack four or six men on Eso,, but
never more than two on horseback. Toprc
vent the possibility Of escape, they wonlC
lay in ambush in every direction, that if they
escaped those who first attacked, they might
Il j e.. L. 1..i,..
party, and inevitably murdered. By this
, means they always secured their prey anC
prevented detection.
At last, however, the vast number whc
were slain, raised the inhabitants of the
country, aud all The woods and lurking pla
ces were Carefully searched; and thougi
they often passed by the mouth of the horfi
, Bile den, ii was never once suspected lha
any human being resided there. In ihi.
state of uncertainty and suspense. concern
ing The authors of snch lfequent massacIes
several innocent travellers and innl1eepeR
were taken up on suspicion; because the
PERSONS who were missing had been last seen
in their company, or bad lastTesided in THEN
/, houses. The effect of this well-meani and
severe justice, constrained the greater par
> Of The inn-keeperss in those parts, 10 abandon
such empoymenis, TO the great inconven-
, ience Of those who travelled Enough that
! district.
! Meanwhile, the country became depoPn-
4 lated, aud The whole nation was surprised
!, how such numerous and unheard of vilanies
and crGel,ies could be perpetraIed, withou
the least discovery of the abominable actors
: Al length Providence inierposed in the fol
> lowing manner TO terminate this horrible
scene tine evening, man and his wife
= were riding home upon the same horse, from
: a far which bad been in the neighborhood
:, and being attacked, he made the most vigu
:. rous resistance; unfortunately, however, hi.
: wife was dragged from behind him, carried
: 10 a little distance, and her enirails taken ont
. Struck with grief aud horror, the husban,
i continued TO redouble his efforts 10 escape
e and even trod some of them down under BIZ
i horses feet. fortunately for him and ih'
inhabitants OF that part of the country, il
. the mean time, twenty or thirty in compln.
Sc came riding home from the same fair. Up
:. on their approach Sawney and his blood.
/; crew fed into thick wood, and fastened Il
their internal den.
This man. who was the first that had es
capped out of their hands, related TO his neigh
bors what had happened, and showed then
the mangled body of his wife, which lay u
;. distance, the blood-thirsly wretches no
:, having time 10 carry it along with them.--
q They were all struck with asionishment an,
: horror, took him with them TO Glasgow, ant
! reported the whole adventure TO the chic
e magistrate of the city. Upon this intelli
. gence, he wrote to the King, informing hin