Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-10-23
ENGLISH CANNIBALIsM.
A Terrible Tale Of Suffering at Sea.

suncEulS ae SCo hao joSS oS
,y. three Englishmen, the captain, |
nate and sailor of the yacht Mig
nonette, who were landed at Fal-
mouth, England, on the 29th. The
three men, Captain Thomas Dudley,
Edward Brooks, and Edwin Stephens.
together with a lad named Richard
Parke, aged nineteen, were engaged
to take the yacht Mignonette to Sgd
ney for Mr.. Henry j. Want. The yacht
was of yawl rig, fifty-two feet in
length, twelve feat beam, and fifty
two tons burden. She was owned in
1883 by Mr.. S. Hall, and belonged
to the Welsh and New Thames Yacht
Clubs. They left Southampton on
May 18th last. On the 18th Of June
dirty weather set in and for several
days succession of heavy gales was
experienced. On the Sd of July q
frightful storm was met with, and the
captain seeing that the yacht was
rapidly foundering ordered the boat
to be got out. This was done, but
with the exception of two small tins
of preserved turnips they were with
out either food or water. The tur-
nips lasted but four or five days, and
their sufferings from thirst during
that time were frightful. They killed
q turtle and drunk its blood, and
then for more than fortnight they
were absolutely without food. So
terrible did their position become
that at the end of the eighteenth day
they deliberated as to the advisability
Of casting lots as to who should be
killed to supply food for the others.
This plan was proposed by the cap
tain, but one of the men objected,
saying it was better they should all
die together, and the proposal was
not pressed. The story is best told
in their own words. The seaman,
Brooks, said:-
July goth, when Parker's life was
taken, was very fine day. Except
ing little piece of the skin Of the
turtle, with little drop of water We
had caught in storm which passed
over our heads, we had had nothing
for eight days. Dick was lying in
the bottom of the boat, groaning with
pain; but he had never said anything
to lead us to suppose that his life was
a burden to him. I believe the cap
tain and Stephens had spoken about
it in the night, though nothing had
been SAID to me, directly or indirectly
of any intention to kill the boy, and
Mr.. Stephens, 1 believe, would never
have consented to it. ] had been a
the helm three or four hours, and wa
lying in the bows of the boat; ant
Stephens made signs to me which
understood to mean that the captain
intended to take the boys life, as h
was dying. 1 believe he was dying
and if he had not been killed, l hav,
not the slightest doubt we should al
have died. 1 did not see the deet
done. had my oil-skin coat owe
my head trying to get to sleep, ant
was not aware when it was t.
happen. All I heard was the captain
say to Mr.. Stephens, ''Hold his feet,
and 1 uncovered my head, and the
saw the boy was dead. l fainte'
away for a minute or two, and whe
1 came to 1 saw the captain and MI
Stephens drinking the blood whic
was running from his neck. I said
'Give me drop" but it was yer
nearly all gone, but what 1 had wa
quite CONCEALED. felt quite stron
after that-in fact, we all made us
of the expression that We were quit
different men. 1 went aft and steer
ed for two or three hours. I don
know exactly how long. Capt. Duo
ley and Stephens cut off the boy
!. clothes and threw them overheard
. 1t was horrible sight, and no mi
take.
and the captain fed on the bod,
and so did Mr.. Stephens occasionall
but he had very little. We lived G
, lit for four days, and We ate goc
deal-I should think quite half tt
. body-before we we're picked up, ar
F, l can say that we partook of it wi
as much relish as ordinary food. "
were picked up on the 29th day on
1 was steering the boat, about hal
past six in the morning, as near as
can guess, but we had no watc
[ saw a sail, but did not at first knC
what it was, for 1 had been sittil
down talking to myself, and prayil
to the Almighty to rescue US fro
5. death, as our sufferings from thin
lc were so horrible. When Mr.. 81
"a phens ond the captain got UP, sal
to :.'Oh, my God, here's a ship comil
H. straight for u.s.
v We all prayed together out 10
r. that she would not miss US, ca
'lr promising to lead a different life
ne what we had done if the Almigt
to would only give US the strength
reach the vessel. We put our 81
st which was made out of Stephe
tie shirt, down, as the bark was lit
to wind ward, and pulled as we'll
at we could a little way. L sho'
think she was four or five miles
ist when we sighted her, and, as
10. came down upon us, Mr.. Steph
nat hoisted the shirt, and signalled
L