The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-02-18
a HORRIBLE STORY,
Wrecked seamen Twenty-three days at
Sea in an Open Boat---Murder and
Cannibalism.

1
Batavia, says The Friend of India, re-
garding the suffferings of some of the
| survivors from the British ship Euxine,
bound from Shields to Alden, which
| caught fire and was abandoned in the
South Atlantic. On the 18th of June
last the iron ship Euxine sailed from
Shields with cargo of coal and crew
of thirty-two men and excellent provis-
ions. Everything went well till the 3D.
OF August, on which date a storm tossed
| the vessel about SO violently that her
| cargo was shifted to the starboard side,
one man was washed overheard, and
considerable damage done to the sails
and rigging. All endeavors to right her
were fruitless, and after large quantities
of the coal had been thrown overheard
traces of fire were discovered. Although
every hatch and opening was closed as
tightly as possible, the flames made
such headway that on the 18th of the
same month the captain decided on
abandoning the ship. The living freight
left in three boats-the captain and 13
men IN the long boat, the first mate and
eight others in the second, and the sec
| ond mate and seven seanen III the third.
It was known that st. Helena was $50
Lll1CS anu III WIS dttSIuluGu IO
make for that island. During the first
night the boat commanded by the second
mate lost sight of the others, and at
dawn was alone upon the wide ocean.
The little vessel was upon the life-boat
principle, about thirty feet long, her
sides being protected with a bulwork of
saiJ-cloth. She had ten air-tight cases,
| two masts, besides a foreboom, and car
III - L. L.
| The PROVISIONS consisted of two cases Of
biscuits, ham, cheese, twelve tins of
meat, and two email casks of drinking
| water. By the ninth DAY the mate came
| to the conclusion that he had been steer
ing too far to the westward, but as the
wind and sea did not admit of any change
being made, it was decided to go on as
heretofore, IN the hope of meeting a YES
sci or reaching the coast Of South Amer
lea. The rations were diminished to
half a biscuit and glass of water day,
and thus the 29th Of August approached
with no sign of rescue OF land. On this
date still breeze sprang up as darkness
came on, and at midnight, while man
named De jaeger was at the helm and the
rest were asleep, the boat capsized and
its occupants suddenly found themselves
lOI OltSH 1lf0S. IOW Gn0 dc
cident occurred it is not known, but 1t
is surmised that De jaeger placed his
charge against the wind, as it is certain
that he had already threatened to s'knock
q hole in The craft to pat an end to the
misery OF ALL Anyway, he s'put an
end to himself and another, named
Reynolds. both sinking, notwithstanding
help rendered them by their fortunate
lo, ,Io no. 4 ofo4x h
upturned keel. La the morning the
boat righted, but all the food was gone.
In order to prevent capsizing in future
the masts were cut down and only a
small sail set, so that the boat might
be steered right before the wind. Hun
ger and thirst characterized the day-a
Sunday-and twentyfour hours later it
was agreed that lots should be cast to
see which of the number should be sac
riiced for the benefit of the remainder.
Early on the same day, one Muller, after
drinking large quantities of salt water,
declared that he offered his body as food
| for the others, and entreated then to
kill him. ''After time"-we quote from
the affidavit of James Archer, second
mate 'Manus Schurt proposed that
they should cast lots who should fall as
a sacrifice for keeping the others alive.
To this we all consented. Having no
other means to make a lottery, we hit
upon using small sticks of different
sizes, deciding that the one who drew
the smallest should be the victim Af-
ter having made the sticks ready I held
them IN my hand while the others drew
On comparing them together, I found
that the italian, Francis Shufus, held
the smallest stick. Having also agreed
| that the lottery should be thrice repeat
ed, and that when it should then prove
that either two or three of us had drawn
! the shortest stick, these should cast lots
among themselves, SO that the victim
might be singled out, we found that the
same man had for a second time picked
out the same object. Francis Shufus,
when his turn came for the third draw
ing, hesitated to join, and would not
draw, upon which the man Sandstrom
proposed he would do it for him. This
he did, and the shortest stick was found
in Sandstrom's hand Shufus bore il
with the greatest camness, and showed
the utmost resignation. He was left
alone for some two hours, while he now
and then eagerly looked round the
horizan to see whether a sail could be
perceived or any help would come. we
stood upon the thwarts. Shufus pre-
pared himself to meet his fate by pray.
ing or speaking in italian. He gave us
no parting message to be sent to his
friends, most probably as he knew nc
more English than to say Eyes" anG
mo-" His bearing was that of mar
whose mind was made up. Seeing we
were past help, and fearing that oul
hunger and thirst had grown beyond
endurance, we saw ourselves driven tc
sacrifice Shufus. He laid himself down
but before that August Muller had tolo
him that he would take his place ano
die for him. This Shuius refused, and
laying himself down in the bottom o
the boat, gave himself up to be tied
then one man held an empty tin, so q.
to catch the blood. Muller, on saying
that now some one must die for tn.
others, passed the knife around tn,
mans throat. He did not struggle O.