Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-10-18
LIFE IN THE OLD WORLD.

pusilistIc contest recently took place between
two prize fighters named Caunt and Benjgo and
the details, given in some papers, are calcua.
ted to excite a thrill of horror as well as a burst
of Indignation. We hear sad stories occasional.
ly the brutality of the bull fights of Spain. and
OF the discreditable appearance of such scenes of
the youth, beauty and fashion Of the principal ci-
ties of that country. Even the English papers
have lately teemed with the bitterest comments,
because on recent occasion, the young queen OF
Spain was present at one of these fights, and be-
came excited like the rest of the spectators. They
have also denounced in becoming terms, fright
ful massacre of deer which recently took place
in Germany, and at which Victoria looked on if
not in admratiop, without censure. But horri.
bic and disgusting as all this must have been ex.
citing and sanguinary as bull-fghts invariably
are, the long talked of, deliberately planned, Sc.
vcrcly contested struggle between Catnt and
Benaigo, two human beings who for more than
an hour endaavorcd to bruise, cut, and manglc
each other and who al times were covered with
blool was. in our view at least, equally il not
NOR" discreditablc. The fights, and yellings
and hootngs, and blasphemy, and gambling, a
round the ring, or in its immediate vicinity, were
according to all accounts horrible and not only
dsgraceful to England, but to civilization and
the age.
But we have another picture from the other
side Of the water which canEot be peruscd but
with pain. The London Times publishes the
testimony of persons employed at the Andover
Work house, proving that in repeated instances,
indeed almost constantly, the inmates of that es.
tablishment who were employed in crushing
bones, have gnawed off the flesh that hang to
them, and even the marrow from them when
both were in state of putrescence, to appease
the rage orther hunger. Often were they known
to quarrel for these bones among themselves. and
raw potatoes were frequently eaten by those en-.
ployed in gardening
Such statements almost make ones blood cur.
die, at the terrible wretchedness and starvation,
which in merry England can reduce human be-
ings to such cxtremities and yet the facts are
established by abundant and conclusive evidence
In the letter OF the Times correspondent OF Sept
IL, there is large body of this testimony. John
Cole, 81 years of age, testified that he had been
in the workhousc and employed in crushing
bones. lie goes to say -
worked at bone crushing for weeks. The
bones of all kinds There were horse
bones, and cattle bones. There might have been
human bones among them without my knowing
it. have the gnaw the bits Of meat
or hard gristle and eat the marrow out of the
bones. They were very dirty being tumbled a
bout with the rest have seen some of the men
eat the tainted grstle and marrow When got
bad bone, gave IT to some one who was not
SO particular This lasted all the time | was
there. Generally speaking, all the bones were
stale. ! have cart come with bones.
They We're not fresh. saw the men quarrel
many times for the bones. They would hide
them away from each other. | have hidden them
till got opportunity TO pick them The
stuff was not fit for them TO eat. Hunger mHde
them do it. He hal MT foad enough 10 suppm'
usm proper maY. We We're worked very
hard On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
we hal no bread at dinner time. They com.
planned among themselves about want Of sufTi,
cient food. We did not let the master see us
picking the bones if we could help it, for fear he
would blow US up. He must have known it,
have iohbcd about the garden. | have picked ur
raw potatoes, turnips and carrots, and ate them
| ate part of raw cabbage once. ! was told a
bout il, and the master scolded me for it. ] have
seen men, women and children eat raw potatoc.
wheE they engaged in getting them in
We rubbed the dirt off on our clothes. We at,
IA potatoes % wosteu our mouths and help tC
FIJI un onr s'onachs Huager and thirst mad
Us eat raw potatoes remember on one occa
son h-!ns very thirsty and sucking piece o
marrow; hu' II was So bad could not get OF
with il J vas In the house last winter and tht
winter before The houe picking was going OF
at both those times
Another named Turman, testified thus:
"While was employed in bone-crushng, th
men were in the habit of picking the bones an,
eating the marrow of them.
1t made me omit
i'll so that | could not stomach my vicrual
when thought oft. 1t made me sick. | neve
picked any OF the bones myself, nor did eat am
of the marrow. What they ate was not Gt TO
TO eat nor for a dog hardly. Very few dog
would eat it. ! believe that the cause OF III
men eating the bad stulI was hunger
lIorrbe-horrbe The world, it viii b
seen, is yet full of dark spots and there are ye
many evils, wrongs and matters of oppressio
that call loudly for reform, and the exercise q
the best energies OF the humane and pIlanthIc
mic -BicI LeD,