The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-01-30
From the OsWego Palladium, Jan. Z.
A REMARKARLE FEIST.

From the OswegO Palladium, Jan. z.
A REMARKABLE FEAST.
Adventure among the CanHibals s-The
story q Resident Of 0SHegO Tells or
an Eccentric Albany Doctor.
We yesterday published from the
Albany Eue5lfng TfHlss the announce
ment OF the death of the celebrated
surgeon DR.. Cooke. Mr.. w. B. Dol
mage, Of this city, who has been an
intimate friend Of the Doctors for
many years, informs rs that DR.. Geo.
Cooke was ninety-tyO years old on
the Sth Of March last that he first
came to this country in 1872, as sur
geon Of q British war ship; that he
went back to England at the close Of
the war with this country, and return
ed to New York in 1S20. He then
went to South America for q short
time, returned to New York, and in
1890, located himself In Albany, and
established o dispensary, 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 visits 10 the
DOlmages, and enjoyed their hOspitali
ty. Mr.. DOlmsge relates many
! thrilling incidents in the early and
yenturesome life OF DR.. Cooke, one Of
which We givein the veritsble words
! Of the relator: --
'iIn 1901 DR.. Cooke. then surgeon Of
the British mAn-Of- war Beleher,
which was cruising of the Tonga Is
! lands, 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 eannibals.
/ They were Immediately bound with
strips of bark and thrown into q sort
I of hole or cave in the side of hill and
| kept there until the next morning.
| During the night the unfortunate VIC
tins 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 bandaged, 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 circle, the inner
diameter Of which was about sixty
feet, and the women and children
were placed inside the circle. The
latter beat tom-tom and yelled in
fiendish chorus, while the males per-
formed a DEVILS dance for fully an
hour.
This done, twenty-siN brawnv and
naked saVages-the w.I"le gath-Tin
of demons, old and y-uHs, tu.le aH'i
female, were perfectly nude-twenty-
six powerful savages advanced two
of them seized each of the victims by
the hair aud dragged them about :, 600
feet to,a sandy beach, upon which the
eOpper-cOlOred sun sent down IFS
fierce, quivering. br"illing, and np"o,
structed raYs. Here was q gathered
wood in thirteen piles-One for each
victim-and the savages were seating
themselves in goups around each pile
Another ring was formed around Dr
Cooke and his companions, and 9
short dance was performed, when, a.
some signal from the chlef-magnin,
cent brute, nearly eight feet tall anC
made in prOpOrtiOn-there was 8 adeaC
silence. The hungry-looking savages
sank on their launches upon the sand
licking their chops like famished
wolves.
The chief then approached the help
less victims and began a critical ex
animation of the physical condition o
each. He lifted their upper and Lowell
Iips, examined their teeth; drove BIZ
powerful thumb into their arm-pits
pressed his hand upon their ribs (; fell
Of their legs and arms, all the while
,, wearing the expression Of biOateC
epicure.
, During tine Progress of this exami
I nation the thirteen fires were lighted
and added their heat to that Of tn
relentless sun. The chief finally ap
preached DR.. Cooke, turned him upOI
his back, wreathed his hand into hi
; hair. and lifted him upon his feet
The savage marked with his finge
upon the lOins of the trembling doc
= tor the portion of the carcass he hai
selected for himself. AS he did this
> the ewes of the savage and his Dime
met. The doctor inadvertently, an
: more by O spasmOdic action Of tn
i muscles than otherwise, gave seIAi
masonic sign. The chief started an
gsZpd fixadlv unon the, DOCTORS faef
The doctor repeated the sign. IN
e chief answered it, and immediatel,
: uttered cry Of amazement, fOllOwe
> by some gibberIsh, which was reeeiv
ed with veil Of disappointment from
e the whole gathering OF demons, VIII
!, sprang TO their feet and rushed upO
Z the Christians. The Chief swung hi
O tremendous war club, and plastere
: the bound bodies of the Englishme
8 with the brains OF a score OF the heath
7 en- devils before you could articulat
II Jack Robinson. He then gave com
y mand to a subordinate, who came u
!. and with q sharp flint cut the bonds :
/ the white men, and they were free.
g The bodies of the savages just kille
e were steWed down In six potash kei
8 ties which had been cast ashore frOr
n a wrecked vessel in 1904, and the hOl
3 ribIe Wretches glutted themselves ar
l. on the bodies Of their late comrades
70 DR.. Cooke and his men stayed upo
'e the island four days, during whic
time they were guarded with gres
e care by the ehief-whOm the dOctC
-e christened Chul Chug-which is car
e nibal sOr life-preserver. They wei
8 treated with great hospitality, an
o escorted by long procession Of say
Is ages to the beach where their boat lay
le when they took their departure.
o seems some five years before the dat
II Of this narrative, an English eaptal
u was cast ashore from q wreek-he O'
of ing the only soul saved. He manas
D ed to get into the good graces OF CHI
, Chug, and gave him the first two d.
n grees of Masonry. During the foU
y days that DR.. Cooke remained on To
'r island, he gave "Chul' five more dc
Of gress-in consideration of which 18th
le heathen savage" was overcome wit
D. gratitude. The doctor returned to tn
D, island in 1909. He found there larG
N and hourishing Masonic Lodge, an
two missionaries from England, or
re of whom was roasted and eaten
rs honor Of his return"
ss Mr.. Dolmage has heard DIR. Cool
A say that whenever his mind reeutrC
In to that fearful scene on the sand
a beach, he the DOCTOR could feel Il
.p stubby finger Of the giant savage ira
" ing the choice parts on his body.