The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-01-16
Sufferinss and Cannibalism Of an
American Whaler's Boats
Crew.

F Sullivan, of Hadley Falls, Mass, and
his. companions. deserters from the whale
ship Daniel Webster and Ansel Gibbs, Of
New Bedford. in Cumberland Straits, on
the 4th of August last. The narrative
was written by Sullivan. The writer says
that he had no reason for leaving the ship,
only that he was not sufficiently provided
against the cod northern climate, and was
afraid of dying by scurvy. The crew Of
the Ansel Gibbs complained Of bad treat
ment They were John Giles. boat-steerer,
John Martin, Hiram j. Davis. Willard
Hawkins. Thomas ColweIl. Joseph Fisher,
and Samuel Fisher, who with Sullivan
and his shipmate. William Dutton. con.
stituted the deserving party. They stole
boat from the Ansel Gibbs, into which
they managed to place very small quanti-
~ Of provisions, two guns,' and little
quantity Of ammunition, and stood across
the straits. They left the vessel in lati-
tude $3.50. about Eve miles from Penny IS
Harbor. On the fourth day out they fell
in with the bark George Henry, Captain
Cuddington, of New London, who offered
to take them all on board. but they de-
olined. lie gave them some provisions,
which were augmented by duck and the
hind quarters of white bear they mana
ged to shoot before they male Resolution
Island. where. their provisions became
nearly exhausted. On the goth Of Au-
gnst, at Cape Childeigh. they had 0otbing
but mushrooms and berries to live upon
and here Hawkins and Davis ran away
from the party, and carried away every
thing that was useful belonging to the
boat After an attempt to leave the Place.
which wa. s.prevented by stormy weather.
they landed again. and Dutton died oi
starvation. The narrative of Sullivan
says:
1.-The evening he died. Samuel Fisher
proposed to eat him; he took his knifs and
cut piece off the thigh, and held it over
the fire until it was cooked. Then, mex,
morning. each one followed his example
after that the meat was taken off the bones,
and each man took slice. We stopped
here three days. We then made start,
but. the wind being ahead, we were COM
PEELED to put back. Here we stopped two
more days. During that time the bones
were broken up small and boiled in pot
or kettle that we had; also, the skull was
broken open. the brains taken out and
cooked. We then got fair wind. but as
we got around point we had the wind
very fresh off shore; We could hardly man.
age the boat; at last we drove to an Island
some ways out to sea; we got the boat
under the lea Of it, but the same night we
had large hole stove in her. Being una
bic to haul her up, we stayed here eight
days. it wa, on this island they tried to
murder me.
1.-The third day We stopped here, l was
out as usual picking berries, or anything
| could find to eat. Coming in | ch anceG
to pick up mushroom. L brough. it
in with me, also an armful of wood. While
kneeling down to cook the mushroom.
received heavy blow of club from Jo-
seph Fisher. and before L could get to my
feet l got three more blows. then mana
ged to get on my feet, when Samuel Fish.
er got hold of my right arm, then Joseph
Fisher struck me three more blows on the
arm. | somehow got away from them,
and. being half crazy, l did not know
what to do. They made for me again;
kept begging of them. for Cops sake, to
spare my life; but they would not listen to
my cries. They said they wanted some
meat. and were bound to kill me. had
nothing could defend myself with but
small knife; this l held in my hand until
they approached me. Samuel Fisher was
the first TO come toward me; he had a
large dirk knife in his hand; his cousin
was coming from another direction with
club and a stone Samuel came on and
grasped me by the shoulder. and had his
knife raised to stab me. then raised nv
knife and stabbed him in the throat; he
Immediately fell and l then made step
for Joe. but he dropped his club and went
up to where the rest were l then stoop
ed down to see If Samuel was dead; he
was still alive; began to cry. after a
little while the rest told me to come up
they would see there was nothing more
done to me. had received four deep cuts
in the head, one Of the fellows dressed
them for me, and washed the blood off nv
face. Next day Samuel Fisher died; his
cousin was the first one to cut him up: his
body was used up the same way my un-
fortunate shipmate's
cater while we managed to repair
the boat and left the island. We run in