Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-24
A WEEK WITHOUT FOOD.
Horrible Experience OF 4 Six Days
Drift on the Chesapeake.

A correspondent Of The Somerset Md)
Herald, writing from Whitestone, Va,
gives the following terrible experience
of a family which was found adrift III n
sail-boat on tae Chesapeake bay;
Early on Sunday morning a small
sailing. boat was seen drifting up to
Chase's Landing, few miles distant
from this place. Ii was brought in and
moored, and an examination made at
once. Six persons, who appeared as
lifeless rs stone were found in the boat.
The discovers of the mysterious boat
were filled with amazement, and horri-
fled at the thought suggested that the
occupants had been stricken down by
starvation, or pei laps by some fatal
disease. None would venture to inves-
tigate the matter properly or touch the
bodies at first, rs the whole scene wore
the hldeous and solemn aspect of death.
The belief prevailed that il was sub
ject for eoroner's jury. Mr.. l.. NJ.
Lippo i'll the meantime came up and
recognized the people rs y poor family
named Davis who had immigrated into
Lancaster county about two months be-
fore under very peculiar circumstances
Of penury and heggary, but had disap-
peared suddenly on Monday last for
parts unknown. Upon examining the
bodies thoroughly he discovered that
life was not quite extinct, and conclud
cd that they might revive by careful
medical treatment and nursing.
William Davis, the father ofthe starry
ing family was in the worst condition of
them all, and after being revived lived
but few minutes. He was cadaverous
looking and sank exhausted, n corpse.
He and his family had not tasted NOR
sci of food for SIX days or more, and
their sutferings were intense and be-
You'd the powers of human mind TO
conceive. Davis death was one oil Sc
we're bodily pain and mental suffering,
and was marked by frequent outbursts
of agony. Mr.. Lippo took the surviving
wife and mother and four children to
his house, where the kindest nursing
and the best medical attention was pro-
yided for them, and they will probably
be restored to health,
The man and family first came Fl ON
Sheltown, Md, to this place about two
months since i'll the same boat i'll which
they were rescued adrift. His voyage
across the bay was regarded Mt the time
rs the brave act of brave man in
straitened circumstances, and the
family upon their arrival were
kindly welcomed to the village OF
Whitestone. A house was provided for
them, and the naighbors gave them fish
vegetables, and everything they need
ed, but Davis proved to be lazy, good
for nothing, and unworthy man. He
could not be coaxed to work although
he was able-bodied and in perfect health
He traded off the provisions, groceries,
and produce for whisky, and wss in a
state of beastly intoxicatiCn almost all
the time he lived here People then shut
down on him and would give his family
nothing to eat, hoping that this would
awaken him TO mis- senses and force nm
to work. He preferred to starve, and,
being without food for several days, he
and his family started for parts unknown
in the little sailing boat. They took
nothing to eat or drink on the voyage,
and no beds or bedding to lie upon at
night. Why he should go in this way
is a mystery, and looks like self-destruc-
ton or an attempt to murder his fami-
ly by slow degrees. The boat was not
seen from Monday till Saturday, and be.
ing these six days without food, besides
beng starved before starting out, rem
dered their condition miserable beyond
conception.