The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-05-16
THE MAN-EATER.
A STRANGE But TRUE STORY.

On the 18th of September. 1923. there
might have been seen two travellers
making their way on foot across the hill
country to the east of Macquaire harbOr
Won Dieman'S Land. Of all parties
consisting of two persons moving at the
same time upon the earth's surface. OF
at sea, we may safely affirm that there
was none placed in such strange Circum-
stances as were the men me write of.
Others, like themselves. might have been
escaped criminals, dreadiug lest they
should be pursued. and brought back to
chains and labor others. like them
selves, might have been suffering the
acutest paugs of hunger. not to he ap-
peaSed by grass and nettle-topS. boiled in
a TIN pot, which was all the food they
could procure; but even their circum-
stances would have been COMMONPLACE
compared TO the position of the two in
question. BY reason of faintneSS and
the difficulties OF the way, theirprogresS
was very tardy; yet, slowly as the lead
er advanced, who carried an AK Tor they
would never have made their wav at ALI
the other man kept well in the rear-for
he was afraid of being killed and eaten.
y few weeks back. these men who
were called Greenhill and Pierce. had
three cOmpaniOnS-Tra Traverse. BadmaD
and Matthews-wh0 had fed with them
from the penal colony, in hopes to make
their way across the island TO some of
the eastern settlements. They were
soon safe enough from pursuit of man.
but starvation, with it slow but certain
step. gradually overlook them. They
had drawn lots which of the five should
die and the fatal slip had fallen to Bad
man. Then they drew lots which should
Kill him. which fell to Traverse. who
put him to death while the others col
lected wood for The fire. This dreadful
provision lasted them some davS. and
then IT became Matthews .-turm to die. -
by the time he was all eaten. - saws
Pierce, for we have his own confession.
Universe through fatigue. fell lame in
ms knoeS-SG much so that he could not
proceed Grecnhiil proposed that /
should Kill him. which ] agreed TO- -
But now even this sUpplywas exhausted
and the two men were alone in the viii
dernesS, each pretending friendship. Vet
seeking The others life in order that ne
might, t,prOlong his own. Neither of them
dared TO sleep. The struggle resolved
itself into which could hold out the long
CT against the uverpowpriug desire for
repose and GTcCuhiI's constitution was
the first TO give way. Pierce suatched
his 8N and slew him. and with recruited
strength and carrying his ghastly Wet
uals with him, made his way to "a human
hahitation.
Convict to begin with. it is probable
That this man had but little spuSibiliiy
of any sort but the Tapidity with which
he became demoraiized was fri4htful.
Having been rcuiJted O thepenal colony
he again made his escape from ii in com
pany with one Thomas Cox. This man
had very eagerly pressed The attempt
although Pierce. from experience knew
something of its utter EOptlgssueSs. Il
had irons on at the time but Cox knock
ed them off for me with the AK. We
came TO Kings river, which Cox said
he could not swim. | remarked that
had l known that he should never he nv
companion. The arrangement for cross
ing the river created words. and killed
Cox with the AK, and ate part of him --
They had been i'm straits for provisions.
but there seemed really To have been no
necessity for such diet. Had not Pierce
already partakcn of this food four times
he would certainly not have touched il :
nay. he even appears to have been actu-
ated 10y the very feeling that prompts
the savage, he desired the flesh OF his
enemy.
After day of lone wandering and
privation, Pierce's heart failed him. and
he determined 60 go back. and give him-
self up, Il threw most of the flesh
away but some / carried I'D mE pocket
To snow the comnaudaut That Cox was
dead. " One of he WarGsus at Mac
quarie harhor, therefore, upou TeTceiyiug
"a siGHai-ijre in the direction of King 5
riVer-which was q common enough
sign of some escaped convict getting
tired of his frgcdom-took boat thither.
and found out the autIropophaGitc.-
Having confessed that he killed Cox.
Alexander Pierce was executed. June
u, 1~22