Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-02-19
Wrecked Seamen TWenty-three Days
I'm an Open BOat-Drawina Lots.


We have received intelligence from Batavia
regarding the sufferings of some of the surviv
ors 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 a cargo of coal and a crew of
thirty-two men and excellent provisions. Eve
rything went well until the Sd of August. on
which date storm tossed the vessel about so
violently that the cargo was shifted to the STAR
board side. one man was washed overheard,
and considerable damage done to the sails and
rigging. All endeavors to right her were fruit
less, and after large quantities Of the coal had
been thrown overheard, traces of fire we've dis
covered. Although every hatch and opening
was closed as tightly as possible, the flames
made such Roadway that on the Sth of the same
month the captain decided on abandoning
his ship. They left in three boats-the captain
and thirteen men in the long boat, the first mate
and eight others in the second, and the second
mate and seven seamen in the third
1t was known that ST. Helena was $50 miles
distant, and it was determined to make for the
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
lifeboat principle. about thirty feet long, her
sides being protected with buwark Of sail
cloth. She had ten ar-tight cases. two masts,
besides foreboom, and carried set of sails
and necessary cordage. The provisions COM
prsed two cases of biscuits, ham, cheese,
twelve tins of meat, and two small casks of
drinking water.
By the ninth day the mate came to the con-
cuson that he had been steering too far to the
westward, but as the wind and sea did not adj
nit Of any change being made, it was decided
TO go on as heretofore, in the hope of meeting
with vessel or reaching the coast Of South
America. The ratons were diminished to half
biscuit and glass of water once day, and
thus the oath of August approached with no
sign of rescue or land. On this date stiff
breeze sprung up as darkness drew on. and at
midnight while a man named De Jagar was at
the helm and the rest were asleep, the boat
capsized and its occupants suddenly found
themselves struggling for their lives. How the
accident occurred is not known, but it is sur
missed that De Jagar placed his charge against
the wind, as it is certain that he had already
threatened to KNOCK Il hole in the craft to put
an end to the misery of all. ;" Any way, he put
an end to himself. end another named Rey-
nolds, both sinking, notwithstanding help rem
dered them by their fortunate comrades, who
had tonnd safety on the upiurned keel. In the
morning the boat was righted but all the food
was gone. In order to prevent capsizing in
future the masts were cut down and only the
small sail set so that the boat might be steered
right before the wind. Hunger and thirst
characterized the day-a Sunday--and twenty
four hours later il was agreed that lots should
ne cast TO see which of the number should be
sacrificed for the benefit of the remainder.
Early on the same day one Muller, after drink
ing large quantities Of salt water, declared that
he offered his body MS food for.the Others and
en,reated them to kill him. CATER a time
we quote from the affidavit of James Archer,
second 'Manus Schurt proposed that
they should cast lots " no should fall as sacri-
fee for keeping the others alive. To this we
all consented. Having no other means TO make
a lottery, we hit npon using small sticks oil
different sizes, deciding that the one who drew
the smallest should be the victim. After hav-
ing made the sticks ready, | held them in my
hand while the others drew. On comparing
them together found that the Italian, Francis
Shufus, held the smallest stick. Having also
agreed that the lottery should be thrice repeated,
and that when il should then proxs tia. -~st4rer
Nv O or thzss .S~s nau Drawn the shortest stick,
,nese should cast lots among themselves, so
that the victim might be singled out, We found
that the same man had for a second time pick
ed out the same object"
Francis Shufus, when his turn came for the
third drawing. hesitated to join and would
not draw: upon which the man Sandstrom pro-
~
and the shortest stick was found in Sandstrom' S
hand. Shufns bore il with the greatest calm
mes, and showed the utmost resignation. de
WAS left alone for some two hours, while he
now and then eagerly looked around the hori-
zon TO see whether a sail could be perceived or
any help would come. We stood upon the
thwarts. Shufus prepared himself to meet his
fate by praying or speaking in Italian. lie gave
us no parting message to be sent TO his friends,
lly he
than TO say Eyes and mo" His bearing
was that of man whose mind was made up.
Seeing we were past help, and fearing that our
hunger and thirst had grown beyond endur-
ance, we saw ourselves driven to sacrifice
Shufus.
He laid down, but before that August Null
Ter had told him that be would take his place
and die for him. This Shufus refused, and,
laying himself down in the bottom of the boat,
gave himself up 10 be tied. Then one man
held an empty tin so as 10 catch the blood
Muller, on saying that now some one must die
for the others, passed the knife around the man S
throat. lie 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 sal,
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 ar-tight tins of our boat, which We
had opened.
We continued on our way 1t might have
been 2 o clock in the afternoon when the mar
Shufus died. Some three hours afterward 1
ship was seen, which, perceiving the boat
made for US. This vessel turned out to be thu
Java packet, bound for Amsterdam, and he
commander, Captain Trappen, did all in hi
power to relieve the misery of the five unfortu
nate waits, James Archer, August Muller. Vic
| tor SandStrom, Manus Schurt, and Alexande
Vermenlen, who had been twenty-three day
at sea in an open boat, and sailed fully ZOO
miles.
OBITUAR
| Died at his residence, Cherry Hill, Charlie
county, Md, on Monday, February 9Th, 1873
i =, i ID RkN