Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-02-08

and sank. Three men died. having first
become mad in consequence of drinking
salt water. We threw their bodies over
board Monday. Esd, blowing hard.
and high sea running. which kept us
constantly baling water out We wore
seats and stern-sheets ont. and made
drag. which caused the boat to lay cast
er, but it only being fastened with
strands of the painter. We lost it. Four
men died the same as the others, but we
were SO hungry aud thirsty that VIC
drank the blood and ate the liver of two
of them. We lost our only ear this day,
by the man steering falling asleep.
Tuesday, 9th. strong gales rugged an
other drag, fastened with braces and
belts and clothing of the dead. Six
more deaths to-day. Wednesday, 25th. |
light breeze. and awfully hot. Some /
more died, and we were reduced to eight |
three of these out of their minds. We |
all felt very bad that day. Early on the |
morning of Thursday, 26th, not being |
daylight, barque passed close to us.
running. We hailed. but got no answer
which made US lose all hope. More died.
Light. fine weather. We kept sucking
the blood of those that had died Fri
day, 9th, squally all around. with light
showers, but we never caught drop of
water. Two more died We threw one
overheard. but were too weak to move
the other. We were 6ve-two able-bod-
led seamen. one ordinary seaman, N.Y.
self and passenger, who was mad. and
attempted to drown himself three times.
WE WERE ALL PAINFULLY BAD.
and had all drunk sea water We were
all doing when being wakened by the
mailman biting my feet, ] saw a vessel
bearing down on us. God bless her, and
all on board The vessel proved to be
the British ship British Sceptre (of I.iv-
erpool) from Calcutta to Dundee. We
were five in all taken on board, and
treated with every kindness. but two,
viz. Robert Hamilton, able seaman, and
the passenger (name unknown died and
Thomas Lewis, able seaman; Edward
, Cotter, ordinary seaman. and myself
, were brought to st. Helena and landed.
Another mans account says the boats
, did not leave the immediate vicinity of
the burning ship until the afternoon of
the 10Th. All that night the boats drift
| ed in company. Both boats were with
, out anything to eat or a mouthful of wa
/ ter to drink. They had neither of them
; masts nor sails. but the boat that Mac
| donald and his companions were aboard
5 utilized the frieze petticoat of an Irish
e girl, and made something of sail of it.
E They then shaped their course towards
the Cape. with what result is known.
With regard to the subsequent suffer
ings of the boats crew. we cannot do
better than append the following colo
= guy:
o Some one ON board one of the tugs
: which met the Nyanza said to Cotter.
b the boy -
n well. Cotter, when you managed to
) get into the boat, and the boat was fair
e ly off. how was it you could not pick up
r some of those who were floating away
o from the burning ship and being drown
e ed ?'-.'We did pick up as many as our
e boat would hold. If we had taken in
t. another we should have gone down our
/ selves. Such a high sea was running
+ that we could not see many of the peo-
? pie when they once threw themselves
to over the ships side to avoid being burnt. .
: Where are the rest of those who went
re in your boat ?"
% ''They all died. sir. every one. except
r. US three and the man who went mad be-
!. fore he landed from the British Sceptre,
r. and who afterwards died, too
re did any more go mad beside this
10 one I''-"Yes, sir; most of the men die
E. before they died.
Dt Ibid they jump overheard ?''-"They
as would have done so. but we prevented
ne them: but they did not last very long
ST alive after the madness took them"
3 ..What provisions had you on board
( the boat? What did you eat Owe
he had nothing in the boat, and We ate ont
r. another" was the horrible reply, given
be however. with practical earnestnesi
D which showed that this dreadful steE
re was only resorted to as matter of dire
r. necessity.
III But you did not eat one another
he alive 2''-"oh, no ; no one was eater
an until be was dead.
of because. said the questioner. .ths
Is other day We had a story of a shipwrecE
al in which the men in boat had to casi
e lots a. to who should die and an italian
ne was killed in order to be eaten 1--WE
,e did not do that. and do not think W
. should ever have done it.
IL By the time this much too short. but
/, still real conversation was spoken. the
er poor lad was ordered to get ready to q
he on shore.
he