Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-09-07
WHOLE NUMBER 1905.
A THRILLING TALE.
SHlPWRECKED SAILORS RESORT
TO CANNIBALISM.

Dying from Cold and Hunger, Mn,
Men are Rescued Just In Time &.
Save their Lives.
The loss OF the whaling ship Jane.
Allen, last May, was reported in these
columns, but the subsequent suffering.
OF portion of the crew, have only
came to light through their rescue by
the U. S. Revenue Cutter Bear, on
Unmak aS,.--I or. u.,,,v of ,hs
wrecked bark had proceeded, with q
boats crew, to made the passage under
great risk and hardship to Oonalaska
for aid. After the captain had left, the
condition of the crew is thus narrated
by one of the survivors:
"There wasn't living thing on the
island but gulls," said William An
drews one of the most intelligent OF
the seamen, "and they were so wild
we could not get within shooting dis
tance. With the hooks gone we could
get no fish, and had to fall back on
mussels. We scraped them from the
rocks for miles along the beach, boiled
them in the pot and drank the soup
out OF our hats. Meantime we watched
and waited for help. The captain said
he would be back in nine days and we
did our best to keep up.
"But the men grew steadily weaker.
Our feet we're frozen, torn aud bleed
ing, as the sharp rocks had cut our
boots and shoes away. We were con-
stantly wet from the rain which poured
down all the time, during the twenty
five days spent on the island there but
two fine days. We took advantage Of
the lull in the weather to gather q
quantity OF grass for beds. Prior to
that time we had been sleeping on the
damp floor of the cave and were al
ways in misery night and day. At
last all hands grew 80 weak that we
were unable to hunt for mussels. Our
condition deprived us of even that
poor food, and we started to eat grass
and roots.
Fortunately there was . clear
stream near the cave, from which we
got plentiful supply of fresh water,
But another danger threa.end US
Being too weak to hunt for shellfish
we were also too weak to carry FIRE
wood, and were in danger Of freezing
to death. There were snow cappet
mountains on the island, and tn,
blasts which blew down from thei
SUBMITS chilled the men through ant
through. God alone knows what v,
suffered, for no tongue can ever tell it
Once I crawled down to the beach ant
picked up . stick of wood about three
feet long and no bigger than my arm
Even that light burden was too muct
of load for me, and l had to craw
back to the cave for man to help m.
bring in the piece. The wood wal
damp and made more smoke thar
heat and affected our eyes. I got q
blind that I couldn't see things {
ships length away. At night
dreamed of splendid dinners I wa,
eating. Great, heaping dishes Of goot
things stood before me and feastet
like q lord. Oh, it was grand an,
glorious to have q full stomach ever
in dreams. but it Was awful to wax
up and find myself gnawing at tn
grass which formed my bed.
"On Monday, June II. six days al
ter the captain left US, but one thin
stood between us and death by slov
starvation, and that was the body Q
Austin Gideon, my friend. He ha
fore, though l tried my best to sustain
given up hope and died the night be
him. But he had to 60.
"His poor, wasted body lay in tn
cave among his starving mates, an
the temptation was greater than "
could stand. We stripped portions q
the fesh from the bones, boiled it i
the pot and ate it. Famished men car
not stop to reason at such times, an
the death OF Gideon doubtless pr,
vented murder.
"Some one would surely have bee
slain to supply the rest with foo,
For three days we lived off the corps
of the dead sailor, nine of us equal
dividing the horrible food, and thel
was but little for each, at that. Agai
starvation threatened us, but as n
more of the men had died in th
meantime we dug up the body Of on
Of the men who perished on May 2
the day the boat landed on the islam,
This was on Wednesday, June L
along about noon. We had secure
the body of Joseph Pena. a Portuge.
boat.steerer, and were preparing
meal when the rescue party arrives
Five minutes before had crept out
the caves to scan the horizon, br
conld see no sign Of q vessel. Sic
and almost ready to give up, crawle
back again. Then in q short time
heard the captains voice outside, an
maybe I wasn't happy! My mate
heard the welcome sound OF the re
cuers' voices but were too far gone ,
meet them. We postponed the dir
ner in the pot and were at once take
aboard the Bear.
"She must have been in sight whe
/ went out to look for her, but my eye
were so poor that 1 could see nothin
At long range. In short order tn
boat from the cutter had taken us oI
board, and everything possible wa
done to make us comfortable. 1t wa
q fearful adventure from beginning 4
end and I want no more of tina
kind"
In Siam, until few years ago, 9