Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Letter to Editor
April 8, 1737
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
W. Fairfax forwards a remarkable account from Barbadoes of two survivors from the slave ship Mary, bound from Guinea to Lisbon. After the ship sank, they spent seven weeks in a boat, killing and eating five companions to survive, drinking their blood and rainwater.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
South-Potomack, March 31, 1737.
SIR,
Received very lately the following remarkable account; and if it appears to you worthy of a Place in your GAZETTE, you will no doubt insert it.
I am,
Your very humble Servant,
W. FAIRFAX.
Barbadoes, Jan. 23, 1736.
ON the 20th Instant, a Sloop going to Windward of this Island saw a Boat that would carry Four Hogsheads, with a Sail, bearing down towards them; when they came within Call, they begg'd Relief, upon which, the Sloop threw them a Rope, but presently found there were but Two Men in the Boat, which they immediately took on Board, and brought them ashore, where they gave the following Account, viz.
They were bound from Guinea to Lisbon, in the Ship Mary, one Dallison Commander; they made some of the Canary Islands, but lost Sight of them afterwards; the Vessel also soon after, being very leaky, the Ship's Company being Twenty Five Men, put an Awning over their Boat, and hoisted her out, and got Water and Provisions ready; which the Negroes, being about 200, (being all out of Irons to pump the Ship) took from them: Then Eight of the People jump't into the Boat and put off, (the Boat not being able to carry many more,) with only Seven Case Bottles of Water, and left all the rest on Board the Ship, which at a Distance they saw sink the next Morning. Five out of those Eight, those Two Men own'd they had kill'd and eat; the other being rotten with the French Pox, they threw over-board. They liv'd upon nothing since they were in the Boat (which was about Seven Weeks) but the Flesh of those Men, and had nothing to drink but the Blood of them, except those Seven Bottles of Water, and at some other Times what they receiv'd from the Heavens. One of the Men seems very hearty, the other is ill, and swell'd. They say, Thirst is not to be compared to Hunger; Thirst would go off sometimes by Sleep, but after they had drank a little they were ready to eat their own Flesh: Hunger was always gnawing them, and they never could be easy 'til they were satisfied.
SIR,
Received very lately the following remarkable account; and if it appears to you worthy of a Place in your GAZETTE, you will no doubt insert it.
I am,
Your very humble Servant,
W. FAIRFAX.
Barbadoes, Jan. 23, 1736.
ON the 20th Instant, a Sloop going to Windward of this Island saw a Boat that would carry Four Hogsheads, with a Sail, bearing down towards them; when they came within Call, they begg'd Relief, upon which, the Sloop threw them a Rope, but presently found there were but Two Men in the Boat, which they immediately took on Board, and brought them ashore, where they gave the following Account, viz.
They were bound from Guinea to Lisbon, in the Ship Mary, one Dallison Commander; they made some of the Canary Islands, but lost Sight of them afterwards; the Vessel also soon after, being very leaky, the Ship's Company being Twenty Five Men, put an Awning over their Boat, and hoisted her out, and got Water and Provisions ready; which the Negroes, being about 200, (being all out of Irons to pump the Ship) took from them: Then Eight of the People jump't into the Boat and put off, (the Boat not being able to carry many more,) with only Seven Case Bottles of Water, and left all the rest on Board the Ship, which at a Distance they saw sink the next Morning. Five out of those Eight, those Two Men own'd they had kill'd and eat; the other being rotten with the French Pox, they threw over-board. They liv'd upon nothing since they were in the Boat (which was about Seven Weeks) but the Flesh of those Men, and had nothing to drink but the Blood of them, except those Seven Bottles of Water, and at some other Times what they receiv'd from the Heavens. One of the Men seems very hearty, the other is ill, and swell'd. They say, Thirst is not to be compared to Hunger; Thirst would go off sometimes by Sleep, but after they had drank a little they were ready to eat their own Flesh: Hunger was always gnawing them, and they never could be easy 'til they were satisfied.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Historical
What keywords are associated?
Shipwreck
Cannibalism
Survival
Slave Ship
Atlantic Voyage
Guinea To Lisbon
What entities or persons were involved?
W. Fairfax
Sir
Letter to Editor Details
Author
W. Fairfax
Recipient
Sir
Main Argument
reports a remarkable account of shipwreck survivors who resorted to cannibalism after their slave ship sank.
Notable Details
Ship Mary Commanded By Dallison, Bound From Guinea To Lisbon With 200 Negroes
Eight Men Escaped In Boat With Seven Bottles Of Water
Saw Ship Sink Next Morning
Killed And Ate Five Companions Over Seven Weeks, Drank Their Blood And Rainwater
One Survivor Hearty, Other Ill And Swollen
Thirst Vs. Hunger Observations