The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-26
A MAN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE ny SrAnv.-

A MAN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE ny Sr.nvA.
TON AND SUBSEQUENTLY THROWS HIM.
sELF INTO THE SEA.-A most singular
case OF endurance without food. for ap
almost Incredible length of time. occur.
reu on board the English ship Colonist,
which arrived at Savannah. on Mondav
last, from Liverpool. It appears, from
ene statement OF the captain, that u
Swede named John Watson shipped at
Liverpool for the voyage. Nothing OF
an extraordinary character was observa.
BILE in his appearance or conduct for
some time. He discharged all the duties
required of him with promptness. and
seemed to be getting along finely. After
the ship had been out several days the
Swede became invisible. A diligent hui
unsuccessful senrch was made for him in
every part of tho ship. The first time
he was actually missed was on the night
OF the 9Th of September, when he was
on watch. It was finally concluded that
he had jumped or fallen overheard dur
ing the night, and, consequently, 10 fur
ther search was made.
On the 4th of October. as one of tho
sailors was down in the hold of the shin.
looking around, for some purpose or
other, be suddenly oamo upon the miss.
ing man, lying close down among the
sacks of salt, of which the cargo Of the
ship consisted, and quite near q oask of
fresh water. Here he had been for all
that time, from the 9th of September
until the 4th of r-twenty-e eight
days. What he had suuoisted on while
there. or if he had done entirely without
tood, does not appear. There was no.
thing on board the ship among the cargo
in the shape of food, and it is quite Ger
tain he did not go in search of any, else
he would have been discovered.
The poor, unfortunate creature was
taken out, moro dead than alive, and
food and water offered to hin. hut he
refused them. Every thing that could be
done for his comfort and to restore him
to strong and healthy condition was at.
tempted, but he seemed perfectly indif-
ferent to all. As strict watch as possi-
Ole WAS kept over him, but on the se
venth day after he was taken from the
hold, he seized the opportunity and
threw himself into the sea.
As soon as he was discovered. O life
preserver was thrown to the drowning
man, but instead of attempting to save
himself by means of it, he pushed it
from him. The captain then ordered
boat to be lowered and put out for him.
This was Immediately done, but before
it reached him he sank beneath the
waves and passed like bubble from
sight and into eternity. His body was
never seen again.
There appeared to be no cause at all-
at least, 80 far as the unfortunate mans
conduct and conversation were concern
ed-upon which to base his singular and
persistent efforts at self-destruction. It
IL quite likely that some trouble or
anxiety weighed upon his mind, and the
probability is that he shipped aboard the
Colonist for the purpose Of getting an
opportunity to commit suicide while far
from home and friends.
Perhaps his resolution to drown him.
self forsook him at first sight of tho deep,
dark, blue and ever restless ocean, and
that he sought death by starvation alone,
and where no eye could see and no
friendly hand could save him; and final
~, failing in this and wrought up to des-
peration, he threw himself into the sea.
70 say the least, it is most singular
and determined case of self-destruction.