The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-10-23
EATEN ny STARVING COMRADES

EATEN BY STARvuNG COMRADES |
Horrible story Of an American Con.
sui who was DevouFed to save his |
Conpanions from Starvation. Il
CARrHAaE, October l1.-Some time |
during the year 1859 or 20, President
Grant appointed Mr.. G. l.. Smith, of
this place, as Consul at some station on
the Amoor river, in Siberia. Smith
had no family except his wffe-who,
by the way, was . very estimable lady
80 they disposed Of their household
furniture, and Mrs. Smith went to live
with relatives in Chicago. Smith ar
rived at his destination in due time,
and kept up regular correspondence
with, q gentleman of this town who
had been q boarder in the family for
years. The position was not to Smiths
liking. 80 after he had been there some
situation which had been rendered him
upon going abroad, a. representative,
OF q company of Germans in New
York city, who were trading in furs.
| I Smith was aniadept In the fur trade,
and possessed of good business qualifi-
cations. He, with other representa-
tives of the firm, went to. a remote part
Of China, and there engaged in the
trade with good success. tg..,.
How long they remained there am
not informed. but long enough SO that
only for the company, but for them
selves. This is about the lust that is
heard concerning them. Months and
years roll along, and no tidings come
from them. Letters Of relatives and
friends, addressed to the New York
firm, inquiring about Mr.. Smith, are
unanswered, or the reply is unsatisfac-
tory. Finally it is given out that the
party returning home were cast away,
and all were lost. This version was
generally accepted as true, and our cit
izens never once dreamed the terrible
fate that had Overtaken their former
neighbor aud townsmau. The true
STORY was wOrmed out of the Arm in
/ New York by a gentleman, u friend oi
Mr.. Smith, who had q personal inter-
view with them with q view to get at
the truth Of the matter. The members
i of the Arm have since quit business
and returned to Germany. From them
he learned that the party, when they
had got ready to come home, chartered
q Chinese Junk to convey them tC
some port where they could intercept
main line OF steamers and get pas.
were well under way the crew mutin.
led and set the whole party Off on 6
barren island, with just the little cloth.
ing they had on their backs, not dol
lar OF money, and no water or food.
They remained there without sight
ing any craft until they were nearly
dead with starvation, and then theI
realized that some one of the party
must die that the rest might live. They
cast lots, and Smith was the man, aui
was put to death. The remainder .o
the party, who were alive, were. res
cued soon after. .s"lfeii 4 ~
This is the story in substance which
was told to the gentleman referred to
i and which has been secret amonf
four or five, his wife not even knowini
the truth. She had been an invalid
for years, and was recently found deat
In her bed. Since then the story ha,
been made public. 9a
The gentleman who learned the par
ticulars from the New York house wa,
shown Chinaman who was one o
the survivors of the party, havinl
served them as an interpreter.