New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-16

most appalling examples was IN the hnal siege OF
Jerusalem, when parents slew and deyoured their
own children. But some cases, in comparatively
recent times, scarcely less grewsome. One
was that tremendous siege Of Londonderry, III
which the defenders of the city gathered In the
cathedral and, before the altar, vowed and de-
creed the death OF a traitor TO any one who
should so much as utter the word surrender.
There are tales Of cannbalism during that fear
ful struggle, while It is related that one promi-
nent citizen whose corpulence strangely enough
was rot materially diminished by the famine
seldom ventured to show himself in public be-
cause Of the hungry and wolish looks which were
cast upon him by his starving neighbors. For
time before the relief of the city, the ratons OF
each fighting man we're half pound Of tallow
and three quarters of pound Of sailed hide.
These were given 10 the men whose strength
must be kept up SO that they might fight. AS for
the rest Of the populace pity forbids speculation
upon the scantness and the horrors of their fare.
Still more appalling, if it be possible, was the
Might OF the defenders Of Leyden. Long before
the springtide and the west wind brought succor
famine in its most hideous forms held sway over
the devoted city Bread malt cake and horse
flesh had entirely disappeared; dogs, cats, rats
and other vermin were esteemed luxuries. small
number Of cows kept as long as possible for their
milk still remained; but few were killed from
day TO day and distributed In minute portions
hardly enough TO support life among the famish-
ing population. Starving men swarmed daily
around the shambes where these cattle were
slaughtered, contending for any morsel Wnlch
might fall. and Tapping eagerly the blood as 1t
ran along the pavement; while the hides, chopped
and boiled, were greedily devoured. Women and
children. all day long, seen searching gut
tiers and dunghills for morsels of food which they
disputed fercey with the furnishing dogs. The
green leaves were stripped from the trees every
living herb was converted into human food but
these expcdents could not avert starvation"
The dying parents sent their dead children to
the Burgomaster in protest against his resolution
not TO surrender, but these moved not his iron
will Indeed, he came out before them, bearing
in his body the marks of as great privations and
suffering as any of them had endured, and babe
them kill him and eat his flesh for food rather
than expect him to surrender the city to fate far
worse than death Thus were they heartened
again so that they focked TO the crumblng battle
ments of the city wall and shrieked defiance at
their mercess besegers. "Ye call US rat eaters
and dog eaters" they cried, "and IT is true. SO
long, them as ye hear dog bark cat NEW
within its walls, We may know that the city holds
out. And when all has persisted but ourselves be
sure that we will each devour our left arms, re-
tanning our right to defend our women, our lib
erty and our religion against the foreign tyrant"
Against such resolution what could avail the
might of Spain? At last came tn spring tide and
the northern hurricane, sweeping through the
broken dikes and returning the land to the sea-
upon the van feet of ships thronged with the
wild Zealanders, more wild than the gale, more
raging than the tide, sweeping on through flooded