The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-02-13
AMONG THE CANN1BALs.
from the oswego Palladium. Jan Il

From the Oswego Palladium. Jan III r.
We yesterday published from the Albany
Erening Times the announcement of the death
Of the celebrated surgeon, DR.. Cooke. Mr..
W. b. DOlmage, of this city, who has been an
intimate friend Of the Doctors for many years.
informs US that DR.. George Cooke was ninety
two years old on the 9Th of March last; that
he first came to this country in 1872, as sur
geon Of British war-ship; that he went back
to England at the close Of the war with this
country, and returned to New York in 1920.
He then went to South America for short
time. returned to New York, and. in 1880, To-
Gated himself in Albsny, and established dis
pensary, and attained fame and wealth. For
many years past he made frequent and long
visits to this city. where he had purchased
delightfully."- located residence on the Oswego
river. This property he afterwards sold to
Mr.. Dolmage, but continued his periodical vis-
its to the Dolmages, and enjoyed their h6spitali-
ty. Mr.. Dolmage relates many thrilling Incl.
dents in the early and venturesome life OF DR..
Cooke, one Of which we give in the veritable
words of the relator:
"In 1907 Dr. Cooke. then surgeon of the
British man ofwar Bclchcr, which was cruising
off the Tonga Islands, went ashore with twelve
Of the crew to gather herbs for medical pur-
poses They were all captured by the natives.
who proved to be cannibals. They were i'm
mediately bound with straps of bark and
thrown into sort Of hole or cave in the side
of hill and kept there until the next morning.
During the night the unfortunate victims heard
the yells of the savages, who were preparing
for the horrible feast of the morrow. In the
morning they were brought out into the light;
unbound. stripped entirely naked, again firmly
bandagcd trussed and laid upon their faces on
the ground in two rows and about four feet
apart. The male savages who had assembled
from the surrounding islands in large numbers.
formed a circle, the inner diameter Of which
was about sixty feet, and the women and chill
dren were placed inside the circle. The latter
beat tom toms and yelled in fiendsh chorus,
while the males performed DEVILS dance for
fully an hour.
This done. twenty.six brawny and naked
savares-the whole gathering Of demons. old
and young. male and female. were perfectly
nude-twenty. powerful savages advanced;
two of them seized each Of the victims by the
hair and dragged them about two thousand
feet to a sandy beach, upon which the copper.
colored sun sent down It's fierce, quivering.
broling and unobstructed rays. Here was
gathered wood in thirteen piles-one for each
,c;lm-and the savages were seating them
selves in groups around each pile. Another
ring was formed around DIR. Cooke and his
companions, and a short dance was performed.
when. at some signal from the chief-a magnif-
iccnt brute. nearly eight feet tall, and made
in proportion there was dead silence. The
hungry. looking savaees sank ON their launches
upon the sand. licking their chops like famished
wolves.
The chief then approached the helpless vic
Tins and began critical examination OF the
physical condition Of each. He lifted their
upper aud lower lips. examined their teeth;
drove his powerful thumb into their arm-pts;
pressed his hand upon their ribs; felt of their
legs and arms. all the while wearing the ex-
preston of a bloated epicure.
During the progress of this examination the
thirteen fires were lighted and added their
heat to that Of the relentless sun. The chief
finally approached DR.. Cooke, turned him upon
his back, wreathed his hand into his hair, and
lifted him upon his feet. The savage marked
with his finger upon.the loins Of the trembling
doctor the portion of the carcass he had select
ed for himself As he did this. the eyes Of the
savage and his dinner met. The doctor mad
vertently, and more by a spasmodic action of
the muscles than otherwise gave sem-mason.
ic sign. The chief started and gazed fixedly
upon the doctors face. The doctor repeated
the sign The chief answered it, and immedi-
ately uttered cry of amazement. followed by
soale gibberish. which was received with yell
of disappointment from the whole gathering of
demons, who sprang to their feet and rushed
upon the Christians. The chief swung his tre-
mendous war club. and plastered the bound
bodies of the Engllshmen with the brains of q
score of the heather devils before you could
lrticulate Jack Robinson. He then gave q
command to a subordinate, WHO came up and
with a sharp flint cut the bonds Of the white
men, and they were free.
The bodies Of the savages just killed we're
tewed down in six potash kettles which had
,een cast ashore from n wrecked vessel in 1904,
md the horrible wretches glutted themselves
,pon the bodies of their late comrades. DR..
Cooke and his men stayed upon the island four
lays. during which time they were guarded
With great care by the chicf--whom the doctor
hristened Chul Chug-which ia cannibal for
ife preserver. They were treated with great
ospitality, and escorted by long procession
{ snvagcs to the beach where their boat lay,
ghen they took their departure. It seems some
ve years before the date Of this narrative an
,nglish captain was cast ashore from q wreck,
q being the only soul saved. He managed to
ct into the good graces Of Chul Chug, aud
ave him the first two degrees Of Masonry.
)nring the four days that DR.. Cooke remained
a the island, he gave Chul FIVE more degrees,
consideration Of which the heather savage
ms overcome with gratitude. The doctor re-
irned to the island in 1909 He found there
large and fourishing Lodge, and two mis-
onaries from England, one of whom was
pasted and eaten In honor Of his return"
Mr.. Doluage has heard DR.. Cooke say that
henever his mind REQUIRED to that fearful
.ene on the sandy beach. he (the doctor) could
el the stnbby finger Of the giant savage trac,,
th.aU UhDsun ~~A. Sc krXr,