CASE OF CANNIBALISM.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 1, 14 April 1875, Page 3

CASE OF CANNIBALISM.

Tho “ Friend of India” has received inteli igencc from Batavia regarding the sufferings of some of the survivors from the British ship Enxine, bound from Shields to Aden, which caught fire and was abandoned in the South Atlantic. Two boats, containing the captain and a number of the crew, readied St. Helena, but the third boat, containing the second mate and several men, remained for three weeks in the open sea, being ultimately sighted by a Dutch ship, but not before one of the sailors had been sacrificed to provide his suffering companions with food: —“ On the L2tb of June last the iron ship Euxine sailed from Shields with a cargo of coals and a crew of 82 men and excellent provisions. Everything went well till the 3rd of August, on which date a storm tossed the vessel about so violently that her cargo was shifted to the starboard side, one man washed overboard, and couidcrablc damage done to tho sails and rigging. All endeavours to right her were fruitless, and after large quantities of coals had been thrown overboard traces of fire wore discovered. Although every hatch and opening was closed as tightly as possible, the flames made such headway that on the Bth of the same month the captain decided on abandoning his ship, whose living freight left in throe boats, tho captain and 13 men in the long boat, the first mate and eight others in tho second, and the second mate and seven seamen in tho third. It was known that St. Helena was 850 miles distant, and it was determined to make for the island. During the first night the boat commanded by the second mate lost sight of the others, and at dawn was alone upon the wide ocean. The liti le vessel was on life-boat principles, about 80 ft. long, her sides being protected with a bulwark of sailcloth. She had ten airtight cases, two masts besides a foreboom, and carried a set of sails and necessary cordage. The provisions comprised two cases of biscuits, a ham, a cheese, twelve tins of moat, and two small casks of drinking water. By the ninth day tip.', mate came to tho conclusion that he had boon steering too far westward, but as the. wind and sea did not admit of any change being made, it was deeidctl to go on as heretofore, in the hope of meeting with a vessel or reaching the coast of South America. The rations were diminished to half a biscuit and a glass of water once a day, and thus the 24th of August approached with no sign of rescue or laud. On tins date a stiff breeze sprang up as darkness drew on, and at midnight, while a man named De Jagor avas at the helm and the rest wore asleep, the boat suddenly capsized, and its occupants suddenly found themselves struggling for their lives. How the accident occurred is not known, but it is surmised that Dc Jagor placed bis charge against the wind, as it is certain that he had already threatened to ‘knock a bole in tho craft to put an end to himself and all.’ Any way, be ‘put an end’ to himself and another, named Reynolds, both sinking, notwithstanding help tendered them by their more fortunate comrades, who bad found safety on the upturned keel. In the morning the boat was righted, but all the food was gone. In order to prevent capsizing in future tho. masts were cut down, and only a small sail set, so that the boat might be steered right before the wind. Hunger and thirst characterised tho day—a Sunday—and 24 hours later it was agreed that lots should bo cast to see which of' the number should bo sacrificed for the benefit of the remainder. Early on the same day one Midler, after drinking large quantities of salt water, declared that ho offered bis body as food for the others and entreated them to kill him. ‘ After a time ’ —wo quote from the affidavit of James Archer, second mate —‘ Manus Schutt proposed that they should cast lots who should fall as a sacrifice for keeping the others alive. • To this wo all consented. Having no other means to make a lottery, we hit upon using small stick's of different sizes, deciding that the one who drew the smallest should be tho victim. After having made the sticks ready, I held them in my band while the others drew. On comparing them together, I found that tire Italian, Francis Slmfns, held the smallest stick. Having also agreed that the lottery should be thrice repeated, and that when it should then prove that cither two or three of ns bad drawn the shortest stick, these should cast lots among themselves so that the victim might bo singled out, we found that the same man bad for the second time picked out the same object. Francis Shnfns, when his turn came for the third drawing, hesitated to join, and would not draw, upon which the man Sandstrom proposed be would do it for him. This he did, and the shortest stick was found in Sandstoms’ hand. Shufus bore it with great calmness, and showed the utmost resignation. Ho was left alone for some two hours, while we now and then eagerly looked round the horizon to see whether a sail could be perceived or any help would come; wc stood upon tho thwarts. Slmfns prepared himself to meet his fate by praying and speaking in Italian. He gave ns no parting

message to send to his friends, most probably as he hardly knew more English than to say Yes and No. His bearing was that of a man whose mind was made up. Seeing we were past help, and feeling that our hunger and thirst had grown beyond further endurance, wc saw ourselves driven to‘sacrifice Sbnfus. He laid himself down; but before that August Muller bad told him that he would take bis place and die for him. This (Sbnfus refused, and laying himself down in the bottom of the boat gave himself up to bo tied; then one man held an empty tin, so as to catch in it the Wood, j Muller, on saying that now some must die fortlio others, passed the knife round the man’s throat. He did not struggle nr scream. Tho blood was drun by us all. Muller then cut out bis liver and heart. These wo cut into small pieces, and ate mixed with the blood and salt water. At the last moments of (Slmfns I was at the helm. The bead and feet were thrown away, the trunk and the limbs were put into one of the air-tight ■tins of our boat, which wc bad opened. We continued on our way. It might have been two o’clock in the afternoon ■ when the man Sbnfus died. Some three hours after a ship was sued, which perceiving the boat, made for ns.’ This vessel turned out to ho the Java .Packet, bound Amsterdam, and her commander, ; Captain Trappen, did all in bis power to i relieve the misery of the five unfortunate waifs—James, Archer, August Muller, : Victor Sandstrom, Manns Schntt and Alexander Vdrmenlen, who had been 28 days at sea in an open boat and sailed ; fully 2,000 miles.”