THE MIGNONETTE TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1327, 22 October 1884, Page 4

THE MIGNONETTE TRAGEDY.

Three men and a lad named Eichard Parker nineteen years old, were en* gaged to take out the yacht. Mignonette to Sydney for Mr Henry J. Want. They left Southampton on May 18 last, Dudley being m command, with Stephens as mate, JrJrook as able bodied seaman, and Parker, as boy. All went well until July a when a severe storm arose, and 8 heavy sea washed away the bulwarks aft. Stephens cried out, '• My God, her side is knocked m," and such was really the case. Th«y managed to get on board a small dingy before the yacht sank," taking with them some tins of what v was thought to be preserved meat, but which proved to be turnips. No water was on board* They subsisted on the two tins of turnips,- and the blood of turtle for nineteen days, the last seven of which they had nothing at all to eat. They began to discuss ' the casting of lots as to who should be killed for food for the others. Tl is plan was suggested by the captain, but Brooks would not agree to it, Raying ie would be better for them to die together. On the morning of the 19th day no sail appearing, and their starvation driving them fran« tic, the captain and mate suggested killing the boy Parker. Their rea* son for selecting him as the victim was because hewas suffering the most having drunk salt water. tHr. others obtaining moisture by &.i ;"..-;• i. " :. .uore horrible means; It was also rea* Boned that ho was only a lad with no responsibilities, while they were married men with wives and families depending solely on them. Brooks declined to be a party m the matter. Then was enacted one of , the most fearful and heartrending tragedies ever committed. Each of the men made signs to do the sickening deed, but none at.n'rst had the heart to do it. The captain and mate ultimately decided jointly to kill him, it being arranged that • Dudley should strike the blow, while Stephens should hold the lad m case, he moved. Captain Dudley having offered up a prayer for forgiveness, went to the boy and said, " Now, Dick, your time is come,". Parker faintly cried, ." What, me, sir," Dudley replied «' Yes, my boy," and thereupon ran a small penknife into Parker's jugular vein. The lad offered no resistence, dying almost instantly. Their maddest craving was for something to drink, and so they caught the gushing blood m tins, and divided it between them. Brooks, who during the stabbing of the boy had gone to the bow of the boat, and covered his face with his hands so that he might not witness the deed, taking his share with the others. The three of them took off the poor boy's clothes/ and cut out his liver and his heart, which they devoured while they were yet warm. On the nineteeth day they succeeded m catching a few drops of ram water, which they eagerly drank. For the next four days they continued to Jive on Parker's body. On the twenty».four>h d*y the joyous sight of a sail greeted Brooks' eyes while they were eating their horrible food. They were seen and taken on board the vepsel, which proved to be the German barque Montezuma, wh.ch took them on to to Falmoutb, arriv-> ing on September 6.