Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-04-23
A Terrible Story Of Hardship and
Starvation.
NEW YoRK. April II


4htt NEW YORK. April IL.
THE steamship Nebo, from Rio Janeiro ar
rived to-day. Her Captain reports that he tell
in with the bark Tiger, from Liverpool for
Baltimore, seventy-seyen days out, short of
provisions and supplied her The crew were
in the most deplo able condition, having sus.
talnod life for seve al days on strips of leath-
or soaked in amp-oil until the oil gave out,
and then ON the Captains dog, after which
there was nothing but cannbalism and death
staring them In the face. TO add to their suf-
ferngs, two vessels passed several days before
within short distance, but paid no attention to
their signals of distress.
As the steamer Nebo came up with the III
ger, they saw the latter lowering boat
After some moments of hard struggling she
came alongside, her occupants dressed In oil
skins, and evidently very weak.
"what do you wantr sang out Captain Cor
don.
1--WE are starving 10 death We are starry
ing "a deathi' exclaimed a man in the stern
sheets, exctedIy.
"Dld you say you were starvlng?' demanded
the Captain again, in surprise.
"Yes, we are starving. See, this is all we
have had TO eat for nine days.
He held aloft the skin OF dog, and one Of
the men held up piece of boot leather.
"God help us!' exclaimed Captain Gordon
"Come on board right away and we will do
what we can for you" A ladder was then
lowered, and the men were helped aboard the
Nebo and given food. The young German
commander Of the Tiger told the Captain
OF the Nebo he had been seventy-seven
days out from Liverpool with cargo
of common salt, and he had been
in a most dreadful condition. Hs was
bound to Baltimore, and made Cape Henry
early in January, and was blown of shore into
the Gulf Stream. From that time he had
been tossed hither and thither by the winds
and currents. He had twelve men before the
mast, all Of whom had displayed the utmost
fortitude under the most trying circum-
stances. Provisions ran short one month
ago. The beef gave out first, and then the
bread nine days ago; that is, nine days be.
fore spoken by the Nebo. The last drop of
waller was drunk and then, three days later,
everything even to boots and shoes, had been
devoured. They were literally without bit
or sup" The Captains dog had been killed,
skinned and eaten. Then lots were cast for
the cat. The poor beast was saved by the Cap
tain himself who besought the men not TO de!
stroy it, The starving men spared the cat, cut
up their boots, soaked the strips in lamp oil.
and ate them. This horrible food gave
out, and then the poor wretches eyed
each other susplciousy and hungrily,
and would have killed the cat
could they have found it. But the Captain
hid it, and the pangs of hunger were unap-
peased for five days. Some Of the men medi'
tated suicide. God knows how many Of them
thought of murder and cannibaism. Had the
steamer not come to the rescue, the Captain OF
the Tiger said he thought something more ter
rible than starvat on would have been enacted
! The Nebo sent months provisions ON board
When the first boat-load arrived the
mate leaped aboard the Tiger, eating q
biscuit. He was pounced upon by
his shpmates. who literally fought
like dogs for cracker Then they rushed
upon the other provisions and tore them In the
same way rs famished wolves miqht have
done. The officer of the Nebo adds: 1--WE got
tho provisions on board and set them at large
once more. They shook the reefs out of theil
| topsails, set their topgaant sails, AMI steered
| in our wake. The wind was right aft, but the
vessels bottom was SO full of barnacles that
she could not make muoh headway. She wa:
able to get along, however, and when last we
saw her she was sirnalin~ adeu and thanks.