The Virginia Gazette

Since our last Capt. Spier arrived here from Jamaica, who informs that on the 8th of October, about 3 leagues from the east end of that island, he took up a Frenchman out of a canoe, who gave the following account: That on the 3d of September himself and another man were going on board a vessel at Fort Royal in Martinico, but were drove out to sea by the violence of the wind, having but one loaf of bread and a bottle of wine on board; that they had been driving about ever since, without meeting any vessel; that they subsisted chiefly upon dolphins which came alongside, the blood of which they sucked to allay their thirst; they also took two large birds, that luckily lighted on the gunnel of their boat; that on the 4th of October his companion died through extreme thirst, and he expected every moment to share the same fate, until he fortunately met with Captain Spier. After he got him on board he supplied him with necessary refreshments, in small quantities at first, and so increased gradually as he was able to bear it.