The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-15
DRIFTING IN THE SEA.
STARVATION AND oAASIsAusM

STARVATION AND CAHNlsALism'
uorrlble SuRcrings of the Crew
n the schooner Sallie N.
steeIman-IlOw Hunger
Was Assunged.
s,u Yat Herald, Feb. IL.
The narrative Of the sufIerings OF the
~, Of the schooner Sallie NJ. Steelman,
,bO we're brought to this port yesterday
,6,ruOOn on the schooner speedwell, Is
obor.be in detail that it sounds more
III. a chapter from a sensational sea
novel than stern reality. For seven days
tb.y hsd no sustenauce except coffee, and
Inn one Of the crew was shot in row,
,pI The survivors, cooked and ate him.
Fortunately they were not forced to sub
IL, long on such diet, as they were res
su.d BY the Speedwell on the following
i,y. When brought on board the Speed
veil they we're in very exhausted con-
Ii.iou, but through careful and judicious
treatment they gradually recovered their
strength and are now almost entirely
sell.
TUE STORY OF THE VOYAGE.
The schooner Sallie NJ. Steelman, oil
SOuers Point, n. j., 394 tons, left
Charleston, S. c., on the 18th OF Decem'
b.r, bound for Baltimore, with cargo Of
phosphate rock. The o(licers were Cap
hiu SOmers Highly, Mate R. Somers, and
he crew consisted OF the cook, Sylvester
Z Herbert, Dave Barrett and three col
Or,d men Geo. Hicks, Walter Sampson
.nd Geo. Seaman. For the first fortnight
de veulher was quite mild and the wind
isht and variable. 40 that they made lit
lie headWay'in their voysge. On the al.
ruOOn Of December S0th, when about
,Tenty miles to the southeast Of Cape
HIltera', they were caught in terrific
ns from the north'northwest, and were
literally at its mercy for seventy hours,
Daring tia, time they we're driven off the
lad 10 a terrific Beaway that stove in the
bat and washed away everything that
VIA movable. Their gaffs were carried
lTAy and their sails pplit to ribbons. On
he % Of January the storm abated
lightly, but the westerly gales still pre-.
nltd, aud as the schooner was helpless
de driiled out TO sea. The sails were
patched ar, but they proved Of little use
Mlhey could not stand the storm, and
here was nothing left for the crew but &c
patiently wait the abatement OF the gale
Day by day passed away, and still the
slnd hOWled through the rigging, and the
unfortunate mariners were tossed abou
he ocean without the slightest encourag'
isg prospect Of any relief from their per
iOus position.
FHE PROVISIONS GIVE OUT.
As Il to add to the horror OF their cit
uitioH, the Captain was at last forced L
f.duce the rations, aud on the morning o
lie go Of January they consumed thu
lot Of the provisions. Towards evening
b that day the pangS Of hunger began 4
b tlt by these suffering men, and III,
vessel was searched from stem TO stern To-
lay pArticles Of food that might hay,
been hidden away. 1t was almost fruit
la. labor, and several Of the crew begaI
10 despair. On the following day theI
|sasi.Ie on coffee, which proved very
grateful and warmed them up for The
lime being, but the want Of solid food
began to Tell on the colored portion o.
The crew. On that night January "a,
Tie wind increased to a gale from the
yst northwest and the unfortunate
|.thoOuer lAbored 40 heavily that her
decks started and she sprung aleak. A
rsv duty now deyolved on these weak
aad starving men, as II became necessary
= Keep the pumps going all the time 70
Pep tue water down. They all took
l1.li turns maniully for another couple
y days, and then the colored seamen,
Isotge Hicks, Walter Sampson and Geo.
tlaau, gave up from exhaustion and
III The captain, mate, cook and seaman
york the ship and man the pumps,
Platform Rbated somewhat on the 2Sih
!huary, and the schooner was able 10
a1pa little sail, but their prospects Of
'isaiug port were very meagre, as they
pa been driven several hundred miles
p9itO sea.
I'VE MUST EAT"
The 'even humSn beings on board thi.
saoOnsr had changed ieArtully during
" past few days, "a their eyes had sunk
70 70 their sockets, their cheeks were wan
ead hollow, and they were suffering from
'a''n'e exhaustion. The cook still kept
IRE in the galley and served out
loscotise, which was eagerly drank, al
NlH sdordiug temporary relief through
sHath 10 the stomach. Il was not cot
&, however, for which these unfortunate
Creatures Wete craving, and, although nc
Cne dared TO make 4 suggestion, there
sfe strange and dreadful thoughts il
VET hlli'crared minds. This condition
y Aaslrs continued until the morning Of
y. .tt, sub, when u trSgedy took place
.nlch 'aved The execution al q project &c
salrh they had been almost driven. Or
.ae Es'h Of January the colored man
usStee Seaman, became almost delirious
aoG Soul d occasionally leave his berth
taa wander around tho decks half mad
sAtl! on the morning OF the 30Ih hI
tptssd out Of his bunk and came up OF
ssst' lie frat met the Captain, aud, al
~ nlEing in an inCoherent way, threat
~ to shoot him. The Captain backeC
~! i!on him, and then Seaman wen
w the iOrecAsile. When he was inside ht
.4lsd on Waller Sampson, another col
M. w nan and told him 10 get up or h,
'sald shoe. him in his bunk. Sampson
% aud put on his things and backel
.l'd the door, but before he got Their,
s si1'n Put his hand In bis pocket Il
" Ng pistol and Sampson shot him
NJ M Oody lay there for some little tim,
"aOai 40! Of the six survivors veniur
r IN make suggestion a. to what die.
N S'''lon should be made oft, but tinall,
M ,ueleCt was cautiously approached
=, !. zoe Of The men said that as the maj
Saead' be, for one, intended 10 prof
@e accident and try and save his owl
M ne cut of 4 portion Of the bod,
S9k 1t into the galley, where b
ss ssu u 10 pot. The others had still /
III. w, Of isIsIiug on the body Of one o
sooS r Issiuale'i but later in the after
W. munger prevailed, and the cool