The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-02-26

| their lives. How the accident occurred is
| not known, but it is surmised that De jaeger
placed his charge against the wind, as it
is certain that he had already threatened
| to "knock hole in the craft to put an end
to the misery Of ALL" Any way he "put
an end" to himself and another, named
Reynolds, both sinking, notwithstanding
help rendered them by their fortunate COM
rades, who had found safety on the up
| turned keel. In the morning the boat was
| righted, but all the food was gone. In or
| der to prevent capsizing in future the masts
| were cut down and only the small sail set,
so that the boat might be atcered right be-
| fore the wind. Hunger and thirst charac-
| terized the day--a Sunday-and twenty
four hours later it was agreed that lots
should be cast to see which of the number
| should be sacrificed 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 entreeted them 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 sacrifice for
keeping the Others alive. To this We all
| consented. Having no other means to
make lottery, we hit upon using small
| sticks of different sizes, deciding that the
one who drew the smallest should be the
victim. After having made the sticks
! ready, held them i'll my hand while the
others drew. On comparing them togeth-
err found that the Italian, Francis Shufus,
held the smallest stick. Having also agreed
that the lottery should be thrice repeated,
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 drawing, hcsitated 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 it with the greatest calmness, and
showed the utmost resignation. He was
left alone for some two hours, while he now
and then eagerly looked around the hori.
zon to sec whether sail could be percev-
ed or any help would come. We stood
upon the thwarts. Shufus prepared him
self to meet his fate by praying or speak.
ing in Italian. He gave us no parting mes
bly, as he knew no more English than to
say Eyes" and "no." his bearing was that
of u man whose mind was made up. Sec
ing we were past help, and fearing that our
hunger and thirst had grown beyond en-
durance, we saw ourselves driven to sacri-
flee Shufus.
He laid down, bnt before that August
Muller had told him that he would take
his place and die tor him. This Shufus
refused, and, laying himself down in the
bottom of the boat, gave himself up to be
tied. Then one man held IN empty tin, so
as to catch the blood. Muller, on saying
that now some one must die for the Others,
passed the knife around the mans throat
He did not struggle or scream. The blood
was drank by us all. Muller then cut out
his liver and heart. These we cut into
| small pieces and ate them mixed with blood
and salt water. At the last moments OF
Shufus was at the helm. The head and
feet were thrown away. The trunk and
limbs were put into one Of the alright
tins of our boat, which we had opened.
We continued on our way. 1t might
have been o'clock in the afternoon when
the man Shuius died. Some three hours
afterward ship was seen, which, perceiv-
ing the boat, made for US. This vessel
turned out to be the Java packet, bound
for Amsterdam, and her commander, Capt.
Trappen, did all in his power TO relieve
the misery of the five unfortunate waits,
James Archer, August Muller. Victor Sand
storm, Manus Shurt, and Alexander Yer
menlen, who had been twenty-three days
at sea in an open boat, and sailed fully
1000 miles.--ffom the Friend 81 India.