, 1862-01-07
Horrible Observation-Disclosures and
Cannlba1t91m OF an American Wha-
Ierss Boats Crew.

Ier5s Boat'e Crew.
From the Boston Journal1
The st. Johns Daily Netcs Of December has
an account Of the sut1crings Of John F. Sull1-
ions, deserters from the whnleships Daniel
Webster and Ansel Gibbs, Of New Bedford, IN
Cumberland Straits, on the 4th Of August last
TIE narratiye WIS written by Sullivan. The
writer saYs that he had no reason for leaving
the ship only that he was not sufficiently pro,
vided agaiust the cold northern climate, and
WIS afraid Of dying By .scnrvy. The creT ot
the Ansel Gibbs complained of bad treatment
They were John Giles. boatsteerer, John Mar
tin, Hiram J. Davis, Willard Hawkins, Ihorn-
rs Colwel, Joseph Fisher and Samuel Fisher,
who, with Sullivan aud bis shipmate Warren
They stole a boat from the Ansel Gibbs,
into Which they managed to place very small
quantity Of provisions, two guns and Little
Gmmunitiou, and stood across the Straits.
five miles from Pcnpy's harbor. On the
fourth day ont they fell in with the bsrque
George Henry, Capt Cuddi1gton, Of New
London, who offered to take them all on
board, but they declined. He gave them some
an md he lind quarters oY a white bear they
managed to shoot before they made Resoln-
ton Island, where their provisions became
nearly exhausted. On the 10th Of August, at
Cape Chidleigh, they had nothing but uaush-
Tto4S 1Qn DUTIES ~ AfC Ap3u, tt1A utltS
Hawkins and Davis ran away from the party
and carried away everything that was useful
belonging to the boat. After an attempt to
leave the place, which Was prevented by
stormy weather, they landed again, and Dut-
tor died OF starvation. The narrative Of Sui
Ivan says:
1.-THE evening he died, Samuel Fisher pro-
posed to cat him be took his knife and cut
piece off the thigh, and held it over the fire
until it was cooked. Then, next morning,
each one followed his example; after that the
| meat was taken off the bones, and each man
took share. We stopped here three days.
We then made start; but the wind being
ahead We were compelled to put back Here
NE stopped two more dEys. During that time
| the bones were broken up small and boiled in
! pot or Kettle that re had; also, the skull
| vas broken open, the brains taken out and
| cooked. We then got o fair wind, but
| we got around a point, re had the wind
| very fresh of shore VIC could hardly manage
tho boat; ut last we drove on to an ls}and
some way out to sea; We got the boat under
large hole stove into her. Being unable to
| hanl her up, we stayed here eight DAYS; it Tas
on this isIand they tried to murder nc.
1.-THE third day we stopped here, ! was out as
usual, picking berries OF anything could find
to cat. .EComing in I CHANGED to pick up a
mushroom. brought 1t III with me, also an
ar1nful Of wood to keepatire- While kneelng
| down to cook the mushroom, received q
heavy blow Of aelub from Joseph Fisher, and
| before I could get on my feet I got three more
when Samuel Fisher got hold Of my right arm;
then Joseph Fisher struck me three more
blows on the arm. I somehow get away from
them, and, being half crazy, I did not knoH
Fbat to do. They made for me again; KEEP
begging Of them, for Gods sake, to spare MI
life; but they would not listen to my. cries
They said they wanted some meat, and wert
bound to KIN me. had nothing could de
fend myself with but small knife; this
held in my hand until they ap
hrst to come towards me he had
large dirk knife in his hand: his cousin va
coming from another direction with club ant
stone Samuel came Oh and grasped me b.
the shoulder, and had his knife Taised to sta
me. then raiscd my knife and stabbed hin
in the throat; he Immediately fell, and thcl
made step for Joe, but he dropped his clu7
. stopped down to see if Samuel was dead; Il
was still alive; begun to cry; after littl
willie the rest told me to come up-thcy wou1t
see there was nothing more done to me. I re-
ceiTcd four deep cuts in the head one Of th
fellows dressed them for NE, and washed tn
. died; bis cousin was the first to cut him up
lis body was used up tho same as my unfo1
innate shipmate's.
j" After while, we managed TO repair th
! A0Al AHN 1tIt LIt lS1AnA. " ran III W mere #
thought was mainland, but it proved to be al
, island; here we left the boat, and proceeds
on foot, walking about one mile q day. A
last NC reached the other side OF the island i
| abont four days; then put back again to til
boat. It took us four days to ret back. Whe
We got there, we found the boat stove yer
. bad since we left her. We tried to get arounl
the island i'll her, but she sunk when VIC 90
! into her; Te then left her, and went bacl
again to the other side fthe island. to renal
there until we should die or be picked up. "
, | ate our belts, boots and Eheaths, and q nun
| bcr of bear and seal skin articles VIC had wit
Es. To add to our misery, it commenced t
rain, and kept up for three days; it then bt
gan to snow. In this miserable condition n
! were picked up By boats crew Of Esquiman:
, on the 29th Of September, and brought +
, , Okoke on the Sd Of October.
, "The missionaries did all that lay in thei
, !, power to help US along, and provided us wit
food and clothing, then sent us on to Main
where We met the doctor,' psVis) who VI,
picked up three days before VIC were. He II
!, ported that his companion died, and told man
false stories after he Was picked up"
The above thrilling narrative has the air {
: romance rather than reality, and some Of th
circumstances appear very improbable, but q
the Ansel Gibbs, which arrived at New Bet
, ford On the 11th Of last November, reportc
! the desertion Of seven of her crew, with
1 whale boat, in the Arctic regions, at the dat
above given, the main facts Of the story d
= = doubtless ...ue. The misguided scamen su
- fered fra1fuiy in consequence Of their folly,
4 ~x. ~. :.