The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-09-20
SAILORS as CANNIBALS.
Terrible Tale Of the Sea ReIate1 by Two
Seamen Of an IIl-Fated Bark,
KILLED AND ATE A MESSMATE.

Nine OF tho Crew OF the Bark Drot Lost
With the Yessel-survivors on Raft
Drew Lots For Death-VIctim Stoically
Submitted to His Fste-Only Two Sea-
CHARLESTON, s. C. Especial. D.-Shipwreck,
canniballsm and raving lunacy form the
fabric OF narrowing tale Of the sea brought
to Charle,ton by Captain Robert Milburn,
OF the British steamship Woodruff, bound
here from Hamburg. The story OF the ter
rlble suffering was emphasized BY the ap-
pearapce OF two OF the actors in the hor-
rlble tragedy. They are Maurice Andersen
and Goodman Thomas, survivors OF the
crew OF tho Norwegian bark Drot, which
sailed from Pascagoula for Buenos Ayres
on August 8. The men were picked up from
raft by the Woodruff 25o miles south OF
Charleston. Andersen Is a raylng maniac,
with only little chance OF again becoming
sane man, while Thomas Is so weak and
exhausted that 1t will be marvel II lie re-
gains strength and RECEIVERS his health.
Andersen Is Swede, while Thomas comes
from Stevanger, Norway.
The Drot was wrecked in the West
Indian hurricane, of the Florida Straits,
On August II. Nine members OF her crew,
including the captain, went down with
her, while eight others succeeded In get
ting on a raft formed from a part OF the
vessels deck. The following day the raft
broke 10 two parts, two men remaining on
one portion Oft. aud six on the other. The
German steamship Catania picked up ons
of the two seamen and carried him to
Baltimore. The only survivors OF the
party OF six are Andersen and Thomas.
| The men lived for davs on the raft without
water, and with only such food as was
supplied to them by small fishing line
| one OF the men had In his pocket.
After enduring untold torture the fisher
man lost his mind and jumped into the sea,
carrying his fishing tackle with him. The
| five remaining men were then left with
neither food nor water. Two OF them SICK
sned and died, and the three survivors
drank their blood and ate their flesh as
| soon as the breath had lett their bodies.
Andersen and Thomas have declared these
sailors did not die OF violence, and In view
| ot their frank confession In regard to the
| killing OF another comrade, 1t is probable
that they are telling the truth.
When only three OF the original six were
| left alive, It was agreed that one should
die to supply food and drink for the other
two. 1t was determined to cast lots to
settle who should be the victim. A German
seaman, whose name cannot be learned,
lost. Faithful to the co upact he had
made, he met death without struggle or
protest. Andersen and Thomas killed
him with @ knife and drank his blood.
They lived TOR two days on his flesh. :
When discovered bv the Woodruff the
raft presented o terrible spectacle. The
two crazed seamen sat beside the three
bodies. Thomas was throwing bits OF
human flesh tc sharks. Two Of the dead
bodies, half stripped OF flesh, were decay.
ing. The men were emaclated, covered
with sores and stains OF blood and nearly
mad. They told the men OF the woodruff
that they had agreed between them to cast
lots to see which should kill the other. II
the steamer had arrived Il few hours later
there would have been bit one live man on
rhe raft.
The men will be kept In the hospital un.
| ell they have recovered. There Is no belief
that the courts will handle the case.